8/31/2008

I was very disappointed with the whole softball experience today... although I did have a nice hit down the third base line. You see when I was in high school we still had these family get together gatherings at the park the day before or of Labor Day, but the difference was that little kids could not participate in softball and people actually tried and outs and scores were kept track of. The fun part of competition, for me at least, is keeping tabs on things and trying to defeat the other team. What we did today was mostly a waste of time... although it was exciting for the little ones. We had all 9 or 10 guys/gals on both teams bat each inning, no more no less and we did not keep score. If I would have been made aware of those parameters prior to playing I would not have participated. No strikeouts, scoring, or keeping track of outs defeats the point of a game. There was no trying done by most.As stated before I strive to succeed in competitions, but there was none today. I did have a rocket shot hit over third base, but there was no point. That sort of playing is what they do nowadays in t-ball, and it was the first time we did it in family softball, but I do not see it as a feasible way to approach ball at any level. Kids as well as adults should play games with winners and losers. That is what competitors love. If losing the game deflates your morale then don't play! I definitely won't play next year if score and outs do not mean a thing. I cant figure out why t-ball of today has taken that approach, either! I guess kids and adults are just becoming soft. Competition is about winning and losing, and it is ridiculous what we did today. It is like playing with a bunch of two year old kids, only then it is acceptable to make sure there are no losers. Even then it is debatable. I am drastically miffed about the situation and feel dumb for partaking in the event without keeping track of outs or score. What is the competition? Who wins? There is is none and nobody, respectively. The immense socializing that went on afterwords was fun as it always is. But I would rather run around indoors rather than outside if there is no competition. How foolish I felt afterwords!!!