True North

The following story illustrates the suicidal impact of political correctness, and the overall pussification of America.

NEW HAVEN, Conn. -- Nine-year-old Jericho Scott is a good baseball player -- too good, it turns out.

The right-hander has a fastball that tops out at about 40 mph. He throws so hard that the Youth Baseball League of New Haven told his coach that the boy could not pitch any more. When Jericho took the mound anyway last week, the opposing team forfeited the game, packed its gear and left, his coach said.

Officials for the three-year-old league, which has eight teams and about 100 players, said they will disband Jericho's team, redistributing its players among other squads, and offered to refund $50 sign-up fees to anyone who asks for it. They say Jericho's coach, Wilfred Vidro, has resigned.

Does anything scream "liberal" like the idiotic notion that someone is "too good" to compete? Heaven forfend we instill the objective of excellence in our children. In New Haven (ironic name), it's more important that all the kids feel equal. I bet their youth soccer leagues don't keep score.

But Vidro says he didn't quit and the team refuses to disband. Players and parents held a protest at the league's field on Saturday urging the league to let Jericho pitch.

"He's never hurt any one," Vidro said. "He's on target all the time. How can you punish a kid for being too good?"

Because liberals hate inequality, and they feel compelled to lower standards because that is the easy way to assure equal outcomes.

The controversy bothers Jericho, who says he misses pitching.

"I feel sad," he said. "I feel like it's all my fault nobody could play."

Get used to it, kid. In the brave new world of Hope and Change being prepared for us in Denver this week, all achievement will be punished. Can't we all just get along?

"I think it's discouraging when you're telling a 9-year-old you're too good at something," said his mother, Nicole Scott. "The whole objective in life is to find something you're good at and stick with it. I'd rather he spend all his time on the baseball field than idolizing someone standing on the street corner."

Ms. Scott, you sound like a reasonable person. You have just experienced the dark side of liberalism in all of it's ugly, subversive glory. No, glory is a bad word. Perhaps bile is more appropriate.

Cross-posted and comments welcome at Anti-Strib.