To be clear, I mean “bad” as in “sucked at” and not that I was a mean kid.
As a kid I loved baseball and some of my best memories are of the game in one way or another. My dad’s company had season tickets for the California Angels and some seasons it seemed like we lived at the ball park.
My Little League days were mostly unremarkable. In three seasons I believe I had a total of one hit and that was a fluke. Baseball was clearly not going to pay the bills but I still loved going to games and to watching my friends play.
In the summer of 2008 I was lucky enough to be the color commentator for the Long Beach Armada, a now defunct minor league team. The Manager was L.A. Dodgers World Series MVP Steve Yeager and it was a blast to spend the summer listening to his stories and watching him interact with Little League players.
Skipper doled out advice and is as good a teacher as I’ve seen. I wish I’d had coaches like that when I was a kid. Because of my lack of skill I spent a lot of time, both practice and game, sitting on the bench.
Those memories stuck with me and when I began coaching soccer I used them to remind myself to make sure everyone got the practice they needed and deserved. I know most coaches aren’t and in fact there are some spectacular baseball and softball coaches in leagues around the country.
Hilton HHonors and Little League are in the midst of their “HHonors Outstanding Coach” contest and want you to nominate your favorite baseball or softball coach. Go to their Facebook page by June 13 and tell them who and why. Five finalists will be announced on June 28 and each finalist and their nominator will receive a two night stay at any hotel within the Hilton Worldwide portfolio.
The winning coach will be flown to the Little League World Series in Williamsport, PA and will throw out the ceremonial first pitch at a Little League World Series game and will receive five nights at any hotel within the Hilton worldwide portfolio. Pretty cool, huh?
Hilton HHonors is hooking up two of my readers with a baseball related prize package. Two winners will each receive: an official Little League Sports Bag, Little League Aluminum Water Bottle, Rawlings MLB Official Baseball, DVD of Moneyball, The Art of Fielding novel, David’s Sunflower Seeds and a pack of Topps 2012 baseball cards.
To be clear, I was not compensated by Hilton in any way for this post. I’m using Rafflecopter to make everything fair and I’m hooking you up with some cool stuff because I believe in recognizing good people. My reward is in spreading the word.
Enter below and keep an eye out for a Fathers Day giveaway from Custom Bucket Seats.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Photo of Steve Yeager and Gary Carter courtesy of Mark Mauno.
california
Hawaii
I would spend my five night in St. Louis Mo.