It’s How He Plays Game, Not How He Bets on It

Yes, everyone, baseball is the All-American sport. Retired players, active players and managers in baseball abide by ethical standards and are corruption free.

Isn’t that what we’re told as Little Leaguers? I remember coaches saying, “Brad, Pete Rose hustles--now go shag that ball--on the double!” and “Brad, Steve Garvey doesn’t use profanity, and neither will you,” and “Brad, Wade Boggs keeps his eye on the ball. That’s why he gets so many hits.”

Times have changed. What do coaches tell their players today? “Brad, if you ever want to make it to the big leagues, you’ll need a mistress, a few girlfriends with whom you can have children out of wedlock, a bookie and maybe even a few good drugs.”

Is that what it takes to be one of the innocent boys of summer these days?

BRAD STERN

La Jolla