Youth Baseball

Since 1996 2.5 million kids played youth baseball but since then the amount of kids that play has decreased 25%. The number of kids that play youth baseball is slowly decreasing and Major League baseball is trying to help increase the popularity in the inner city. Reviving Baseball in Inner Cities (RBI) is a youth outreach program designed to promote interest in baseball, increase the self-esteem of disadvantaged children and encourage kids to stay in school and stay off the streets. It was started in 1989 by John Young. In 2003 this organization reached 185 cities. It is crazy to think it started in one city and it now spreading and helping so many kids.This great organization is now giving the inner city kids a better opportunity to play baseball. 

http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/official_info/mlb_official_story_headline.jsp?story_page=rbifacts_rookie

NCAA and Baseball

University of Bloomsburg baseball player was dismissed off the team after tweeting a nasty comment towards Little League pitcher Mo'ne Davis. Joey Cassleberry was sent off the team after tweeting about how Mo'ne is going to have a Disney picture about her story and how it is a joke. His tweet had some crude language and has been deleted from twitter along with his account. Bloomsburg has since tweeted and has apologized about what he has said  does not represent Bloomsburg. Cassleberry was having a great season with a batting average of .389/.522/.778. I agree with Bloomsburg for taking action against what he said about her but I would not have made him leave the team. The NCAA does not have any rules about inappropriate comments made on social media but players should be punished if they say something that does not represent their school.

http://www.cbssports.com/mlb/eye-on-baseball/25118154/college-player-kicked-off-team-for-controversial-mone-davis-tweet

Should College Athletes Get Paid For Playing?

The NCAA basketball tournament brings in a lot of money. In the year 2012 the tournament brought in over $871.6 million dollars. Most of this money comes from the television air that the tournament receives. The NCAA said " While the amount of revenue is large, little of the money is retained by the NCAA national office. About 96 percent is distributed directly to the Division I membership or to support championships or programs that benefit student-athletes. The remaining 4 percent goes for central services, such as building operations and salaries not related to particular programs." I believe that the student athletes should receive some of the money that is made off this tournament. I think that all sports of any division should get paid a portion of what their sport makes. I understand that most of the division I athletes are getting a free education but how great is the education. They are traveling all the time and always practicing. Are they getting the best education as another student who has plenty of time to study and prepare for his or her classes. Another reason athletes should get some money is because the sports consume most of their life and time and there is no times for the student athletes to get a part time job.  Student athletes are constantly practicing and playing. They are bringing so much money for their school they deserve some money. 

Fans Should Stay True to Their Team

I have been born and raised a Phillies fan. I have stuck by the Phillies side when they won the World Series and even now when the Phillies are struggling and trying to rebuild. I will always stay by the Phillies side and root them on. I think that every sports fan should do that for any sport. People should not flip flop back and forth to whatever team is predicted to win this season. I was very upset when the Phillies traded my favorite right fielder, Jayson Werth. Werth was traded to the Washington Nationals and a lot of fans were upset and some even became National fans because of it. This is completely wrong. Fans should stay loyal to their team  not just one player.