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Sounding Board Letter to the Editor: I read the comments J.M. Thomas of Richmond made regarding the WHS coach and his choice of boys to play football. One comment he made was, "...football is about the best eleven kids...and it is not happening...." I don't know Mr. Thomas, but his letter seems to relay that race is a factor also - but I could have misinterpreted the points he wanted to make. I am 92 years old and in 1951 Wharton received their Little League charter. Seventy boys were signed up to play and I volunteered to be a coach. I was given charge of the Blue Jays. The Little League charter set out the rules and guidelines for play, and to maintain that alliance you followed them. One rule stated that all boys got to play, regardless of their ability to play baseball. I told my team that if they came to every practice they would play the most innings; those who skipped practice without a good excuse would play the least innings. This worked for me. Prior to 1951, there was summer baseball but it was not as sanctioned Little League play. The town of Wharton got behind this program and donated a lot of money to create ball parks, buy uniforms, get sanctioned and approved equipment, etc. Boling, Hungerford and East Bernard did not have Little League baseball, so a few families brought their young boys to Wharton to give them a chance to play America's favorite sport. Most of these country boys were assigned to my team. They would have preferred to play barefoot, but Little League dictated the kind of shoes the players had to wear. Rules are for everyone. I cannot speak for the other coaches during the 1950s, but all my players got to play ball. This was a learning experience for the boys, not a contest to win. Those boys that played followed the rules set by coaches and Little League. Mr. Thomas may not have all the facts, but only he can address that area. Did the boys he make reference to come to practice every day, follow the coach's directions, display sportsmanlike conduct on and off the field, keep passing grades, show respect to all persons involved, etc.? These attributes make a player, not skill, not race, not a "somebody's son", nor pressure from fans, parents and administration. My great-grandson plays for Texas State and is the No. 2 fullback in the nation in their conference. He was a walk-on, made the team due to his physical ability, but his academic achievements and his exemplary sportsmanship on and off the field has won him many awards. His team gave scholarships to several boys this year who, when they found out they would be red-shirted their freshman year, told the coach they were too good to sit out and quit. Are these the attitudes and actions being instilled in our youth? The pressure for teams to win from coaches, parents, administration, and the fans will always be there. I like to see my great-grandson's team, but it's a game, not a war. I lived in Wharton from 1945 until my retirement and continue to subscribe to the paper even though most of the people I knew during those years have died. Melvin W. Reue Sealy |
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