"GET THE BALL!!!"

How many of you have young children, or grandchildren who participate in T-Ball or little league? Kids are so much fun to watch when they are just learning a sport. I used to coach girls softball, and I can't remember a time when I had more fun. It was great when I could make a "break-through" with any of the girls, showing them something that would make them a better player. Smiles were large when a young girl hit a softball for the first time, or made that first catch of a ball that previously scared them to death. Mistakes were always part of the game; otherwise,the coach's job wasn't necessary. I'll bet everyone reading this has seen a young boy or girl stand in the outfield, looking around at nature, while a ball bounces by them, totally unaware of the game being played at the time. Suddenly, they hear the shouts of coaches, and parents, "GET THE BALL!!!", echoing all around them. Almost immediately their eyes flash and they spin around like a runaway top, charging after the ball. For some in the crowd it is a disaster, for others it is just funny. That child will remember that play for a very long time, as many of his team mates will remind him of it regularly. A valuable lesson can be gleaned from that experience; pay attention to what is going on around you! As years pass, some of those kids will move along to high school and college level sports. They will have received years of instruction in their chosen sport. Some of them, a select few, will move to the professional level. At that level, mistakes take on a whole new meaning, and are not easily tolerated by coaches and managers. Players are expected to know their business.

A few days ago there was a town hall meeting held in the 27th congressional district of California, by Congressman Brad Sherman. Mr. Sherman had one of those caught unaware moments while taking questions from his constituents. He was questioned about allegations that the Department of Justice had a policy of non-prosecution of voter intimidation if the complainant was white and the defendant was black. He responded with this statement, "I am extremely sure we do not have a policy at the Department of Justice of never prosecuting a black defendant when the victim is white." He was then asked about the New Black Panther party incident at the Philadelphia polling place during the last national election, which has been on the FOX NEWS network recently. Now the real OOPS moment came! Mr. Sherman said he was unaware of the incident! The chorus of catcalls and boos are probably still echoing through the California redwood trees. He was like the deer caught in the headlights, frozen and clueless!

Mr. Sherman now has made statements that he didn't know about the incident because the "main stream" media didn't cover it. Perhaps that's true (it probably is). Shouldn't a congressman be informed on levels higher than cable news? Is he saying that not one senator or congressman ever mentioned this incident at all? Does this mean that FOX NEWS is the only voice in America that believes this incident has important implications on our justice system?

Washington needs to pay attention to what is happening around them. The ball has passed them by and the crowd is screaming. They are supposed to be "Big Leaguers", not "T-Ball" players. It's time for our representatives to get their "heads in the game", or we will bring in players who will!!!