Please tell me it's not so. Now Little Leaguers need to get paid, at least those that end up on National Television as a part of the Little League World Series. Enough.
According to Dan Wetzel from Yahoo Sports , these 12 year old athletes deserve a piece of the corporate pie. I'm surprised Dan isn't waving the flag for those National Spelling Bee participants that show up on ESPN to get paid as well.
You know, if any money should be doled out, it should go to the Little League teams to cover travel, hotels, meals, etc. Maybe every Little League program in the country should receive a small check to help off set the cost of balls and bats for next year. But pay the athletes. These kids never expected to get paid when they signed up for the team. It's not even within their wildest imagination, that is until some writer decides to stir the pot and bring it up.
Besides, if these players would accept some money, doesn't it affect their status as an amateur. What if one or more of these players go on to have the talent that could warrant a college career. That could be out the window just because they took some money as a 12-year old.
How about this. Maybe we stop televising the Little League World Series. Maybe we stop paying any attention to the little kids programs all together. Then nobody gets rich, of course nobody will know that they're even there either. Now which would you rather have?
Stop the greed! 12 year olds playing baseball is supposed to be about the fun, not the money.
