NON FOOTBALL topic but very refreshing

Ugly Duck · 08-26-2000, 09:13 PM

I live in Williamsport, PA and attended nearly every game this week including todays final. While everyone there was pulling for the kids from Bellaire (They were my pick from the start, no really) it was a great game with the game won on 2 mistakes. As expected, when Venezuela got the final strike to take the title there was a dog pile on the mound with tears of joy and tears of frustration in the home dugout. Now what was really refreshing was after the Texans got their Runner-up banner and the kids from Maracaibo got their champtionship banner, the Venezuelans started off on the traditional victory lap around Lamade Stadium. However, they made a stop at the home dugout. Speaking only the language of true champions and great sportsmen, the Venezuelans invited the Texans to take their lap with them. I don't know if this was seen on TV, but it should have been. It warmed my soul to know that people in our world don't need to hoot and gloat when they shock the world, and are so unselfish as to share their glorious moment with their foes. It put my recent bad attitude toward the upcoming Chiefs season into perspective and made me realize there are things in this life that are more important than winning. Just thought I'd share this great moment in my life with you all.

Frazod · 08-26-2000, 09:27 PM

Great story. Thanks for posting it.

Dan

DoubleWannaB · 08-26-2000, 10:01 PM

My thanks also for sharing this story.

A nice change from the attitude that we see, all too often, of a winner taunting and denigrating the defeated foe.

Maybe only children can be so gracious in victory today.

Eric

redbrian · 08-27-2000, 09:34 AM

Who was that 12 year-old that stood 6'-2" tall and weighed 230lbs.?

Someone should either check his I.D., or introduce him to the concept of a salad bar!

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This is my signature!! There are many like it but this one is mine!!

htismaqe · 08-27-2000, 09:46 AM

Thanks DJay23,

These things do happen, it's just that our press doesn't want to report them anymore.

Thanks for posting this.

Luz
loves these kind of things...

ddpatterson · 08-27-2000, 01:01 PM

Thanks for sharing this with us DJ. I wish I had been there to see it myself.

------------------

[b]Red Eyes[/b]
[i]Chinn Up, it ain't nothin' but a thang.</I>

redshirt32 · 08-27-2000, 01:17 PM

In a world steeped in greed and Me-First'ism
it takes children to remind us, that, first amd foremost it's only a game, and that you only win when you don't embarass your worthy opponent.

mmaddog
*********

------------------
"When you're not the lead dog in the pack, the view is always the same"

Ugly Duck · 08-27-2000, 02:30 PM

Clint, the big kid's name is Justin Vandervelde. Much was made of his enormous size for a 12 year old (already larger than the average MLB player). He was a fan favorite around Williamsport all week. What may be more of a shock, and again its children teaching adults, he had one of the best attitudes I've ever seen on a Little Leaguer. No doubt he was the star of his team and he still was always the voice of encouragment to his teammates and opponents. He always tried his best too. The best example of this was in Thursday's US championship. He was brought in to pitch when the game was already academic. He hadn't pitched once all year and accepted the challenge with a laugh. He promply gave up a homerun and afterward what did he do? He shrugged his shoulders and laughed because he was having fun.

Sorry if I ramble but I find it easier to root for kids who act like adults than adults who act like kids.

chiefs2034 · 08-27-2000, 07:06 PM

Some day I hope to grow up enough to act like a kid!!!!!

08-27-2000, 07:13 PM

i was really hoping that those kids from bellaire would take it all the way. i'm just partial I gues since they're from houston. I still think they were great! All of houston was rooting for them.

Ugly Duck · 08-27-2000, 10:09 PM

Trust me 2034 so was everyone in that stadium yesterday. You could feel the nervous energy just reverberating in there when they had 1st and 3rd with two out. But don't get me wrong, Bellaire lost to a worthy champion and all should be proud of what they did this year.

[This message has been edited by DJay23 (edited 08-27-2000).]

08-26-2000, 09:27 PM	#2
Frazod WE ARE THE CHAMPIONS Join Date: Aug 2000 Casino cash: $2825085	Great story. Thanks for posting it. Dan
Posts: 119,531

08-26-2000, 10:01 PM	#3
DoubleWannaB Starter Join Date: Aug 2000 Casino cash: $10004900	My thanks also for sharing this story. A nice change from the attitude that we see, all too often, of a winner taunting and denigrating the defeated foe. Maybe only children can be so gracious in victory today. Eric
Posts: 940

08-27-2000, 09:34 AM	#4
redbrian Veteran Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Kansas City MO Casino cash: $10004900	Who was that 12 year-old that stood 6'-2" tall and weighed 230lbs.? Someone should either check his I.D., or introduce him to the concept of a salad bar! ------------------ This is my signature!! There are many like it but this one is mine!!
Posts: 3,899

08-27-2000, 09:46 AM	#5
htismaqe 'Tis my eye! Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Chiefsplanet Casino cash: $10269900	Thanks DJay23, These things do happen, it's just that our press doesn't want to report them anymore. Thanks for posting this. Luz loves these kind of things...
Posts: 100,022

08-27-2000, 01:01 PM	#6
ddpatterson Starter Join Date: Aug 2000 Casino cash: $10004900	Thanks for sharing this with us DJ. I wish I had been there to see it myself. ------------------ [b]Red Eyes[/b] [i]Chinn Up, it ain't nothin' but a thang.</I>
Posts: 943

08-26-2000, 09:13 PM
Ugly Duck MVP Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Petaluma, CA, USA Casino cash: $9955920	I live in Williamsport, PA and attended nearly every game this week including todays final. While everyone there was pulling for the kids from Bellaire (They were my pick from the start, no really) it was a great game with the game won on 2 mistakes. As expected, when Venezuela got the final strike to take the title there was a dog pile on the mound with tears of joy and tears of frustration in the home dugout. Now what was really refreshing was after the Texans got their Runner-up banner and the kids from Maracaibo got their champtionship banner, the Venezuelans started off on the traditional victory lap around Lamade Stadium. However, they made a stop at the home dugout. Speaking only the language of true champions and great sportsmen, the Venezuelans invited the Texans to take their lap with them. I don't know if this was seen on TV, but it should have been. It warmed my soul to know that people in our world don't need to hoot and gloat when they shock the world, and are so unselfish as to share their glorious moment with their foes. It put my recent bad attitude toward the upcoming Chiefs season into perspective and made me realize there are things in this life that are more important than winning. Just thought I'd share this great moment in my life with you all.
Posts: 10,146

08-27-2000, 01:17 PM	#7
redshirt32 Fire Controlman Vet Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: By the Sea Casino cash: $5954936	In a world steeped in greed and Me-First'ism it takes children to remind us, that, first amd foremost it's only a game, and that you only win when you don't embarass your worthy opponent. mmaddog ********* ------------------ "When you're not the lead dog in the pack, the view is always the same"
Posts: 5,026

08-27-2000, 02:30 PM	#8
Ugly Duck MVP Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Petaluma, CA, USA Casino cash: $9955920	Clint, the big kid's name is Justin Vandervelde. Much was made of his enormous size for a 12 year old (already larger than the average MLB player). He was a fan favorite around Williamsport all week. What may be more of a shock, and again its children teaching adults, he had one of the best attitudes I've ever seen on a Little Leaguer. No doubt he was the star of his team and he still was always the voice of encouragment to his teammates and opponents. He always tried his best too. The best example of this was in Thursday's US championship. He was brought in to pitch when the game was already academic. He hadn't pitched once all year and accepted the challenge with a laugh. He promply gave up a homerun and afterward what did he do? He shrugged his shoulders and laughed because he was having fun. Sorry if I ramble but I find it easier to root for kids who act like adults than adults who act like kids.
Posts: 10,146

08-27-2000, 07:06 PM	#9
chiefs2034 Starter Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Houston,TX,US Casino cash: $10004900	Some day I hope to grow up enough to act like a kid!!!!!
Posts: 358

08-27-2000, 07:13 PM	#10
Milissa Guest Casino cash: $	i was really hoping that those kids from bellaire would take it all the way. i'm just partial I gues since they're from houston. I still think they were great! All of houston was rooting for them.
Posts: n/a

08-27-2000, 10:09 PM	#11
Ugly Duck MVP Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Petaluma, CA, USA Casino cash: $9955920	Trust me 2034 so was everyone in that stadium yesterday. You could feel the nervous energy just reverberating in there when they had 1st and 3rd with two out. But don't get me wrong, Bellaire lost to a worthy champion and all should be proud of what they did this year. [This message has been edited by DJay23 (edited 08-27-2000).]
Posts: 10,146