Little League?

I see it's that time of the year, again. The Little League World Series is underway. I have no problem with Little League Baseball, I do, however, have a problem with ESPN televising so many of the games. I didn't mind that the championship game was broadcast, but coverage of regional contests is just ridiculous.

Right now, ESPN is showing the LLWS Great Lakes Regional contest and ESPN2 is broadcasting the game between the Boston Red Sox and Tampa Bay Devil Rays. This implies that the two events are of equal or nearly equal importance. That's laughable, of course. But, if you are one of the kids playing on ESPN explain that to them.

One day they are playing in front of parents and friends in some rural setting, the next round their team's game is on in primetime on the same network that shows Major League Baseball. Once you explain how this game isn't of any greater important just because it's on worldwide tv to the participants, then clarify it for their parents.

We already had to many horror stories about "Little League Parents" long before these games were on worldwide tv. How is broadcasting a LLWS game on ESPN, while relegating a MAJOR LEAGUE game to ESPN2 not going to make their game appear more important? Do you think these over zealous parents are going to back off because the cameras and lights go on?

Some will say don't watch. For them, I would point out that I'm not. (Technically, I'm typing this.) Some will argue these things happened thirty years ago, too. That's correct, but when some kid playing in the Great Lakes Regional in 1974 made an error to cost his team the game, only his community knew. Now, the kid is on international television in primetime.

We can't go back. I realize that. The ratings for the LLWS are probably good. At least, good for cable ratings in August. The games may even be profitable for ESPN. We all know that's the bottom line, literally and figuratively. Primetime games on cable tv's superpower. Regional coverage of playoff games. Ratings and possible profit for the network. I guess Little League isn't so little anymore.