Joe Orr Road Rod wrote:
There's a fine line between helping your kid with an activity he or she enjoys and becoming a mini-Marv Marinovich. I know a guy whose dad took him out to California from Park Ridge to play ball. The kid did make the big leagues so maybe it was worth it.
I am not trying to get my kid to the big leagues. I am much more worried about getting into a good college. That aside, I view baseball as one of the best ways to build a tight bond between me and my son. We go to games together, we watch games every night, and we play catch regularly. One benefit of travel ball is that we take road trips, to the Dells, Louisville, and Des Moines in the past year and spend time together. I have built a very close bond with my son because we both love baseball. Therefore, regardless with what happens, we both win.
I'll defer to folks on a lot of topics, but when it comes to baseball, it is one of my passions. Ok to disagree, but I am coming from an informed perspective.
One of the things that I miss the most now that my kids are adults, is everything that you mentioned...coaching them, encouraging them, traveling with them & the Father & Son time, both baseball & football. Those moments are precious. I would give anything to do it all over again.