Column: Baseball is full of real-life lessons

In a baseball game, you have two teams and an umpire.

The umpire is like the police. He enforces the rules, and he keeps the peace.

I have been an umpire for more than 10 years, and have been called everything but a child of God.

Parents, coaches and kids watch pro athletes who act like babies. They whine, snivel and throw temper tantrums — and think they can do that on my field, until they learn they can’t.

Here are some secrets that you won’t hear on the sports channel ESPN. When a 14-year-old child questions my authority, I tell him, “I wear the black hat here.” I reassure him that I’m not your wimpy father, and if you say another word, I will throw you out of the game — no excuses.

I then stop the game and go to the coach, and tell him that everyone gets a warning: The kids, the coaches and the fans. I have even warned the dogs to lighten up. Otherwise, they’ll have to leave the field.

The importance of having an umpire who has control issues is that he or she needs to keep law and order, especially on the field. We have parents who think little Johnny is going to make it to the Major Leagues where he can retire. Not true. We have parents who are living their lives through their child. Now that may work for Oprah and Dr. Phil, but on the baseball diamond, I’m the law.

We live in a society of pampered kids and wimpy parents. But on the baseball field, the umpire doesn’t care if you come from Bellevue or Belltown. It’s all the same. I get paid whether the rich kids win or the poor kids win. The goal of youth sports, especially baseball, is to teach the child that it is a team sport. You win some, and you lose some. There will be times when you will be called out on a close play. You complain, but the umpire says, “Enough.” He gives you a stern look, the look that your father should have given you, but never has. If you decide to show off and confront the umpire, rest assured, you will be in the parking lot six blocks away — because that’s where you’re going.

If the fans become just as unruly, they will suffer the same fate. What people don’t understand is that umpires do the best they can. If you harass them or scream at them, you and the team you are representing will pay a price. I was umpiring a girls fast pitch game, and a mother told me to do something that is “anatomically impossible.” Her husband was sitting next to her. I asked him, “If she talks to me that way, what does she say to you?”

One other time, I was umpiring a T-ball game — or coach pitch for 5- and 6-year-olds. I subsequently had to call the Federal Way police to quell the disturbance by the out-of-control parents.

I mention baseball instead of other sports because it mirrors life more than football or basketball. Every time a pitcher throws a ball, you will be given the opportunity to hit a home run or strike out. Baseball is one pitch at a time, one day at a time, much like life. Baseball teaches you about patience, teamwork, second chances and the importance of practice. Baseball doesn’t build character. Baseball reveals character. It allows children to learn that some days, they will hit a home run, and other days, they will strike out.

The problem with this generation, besides wimpy parents, is that these kids are allowed to quit five minutes before the miracle happens, with their parents’ permission, never understanding that part of winning is losing, and part of losing is winning.

Life is difficult. It always has been. It is easy to accept the wins in life and easier to accept the yesses in life. How you accept the no’s in life will ultimately determine your destiny. We must teach these children that when the umpire makes a bad call, take a deep breath, understand that’s part of life, and get back up to the plate. You will have more no’s in life than yesses. Understand that you need both of them to grow. No excuses.