Romney Oaks, My MVP

As many of you know, I am a baseball fan. Well, that's not really true, I am a baseball junkie, one capable of recalling stats of a seldom-used backup outfielder, up for a cup of coffee from the minor leauges in 1972 type of baseball fan. Baseball is the American game. It is hot dogs, it is apple pie, it is Peter Gammons and Yogi Berra, it is the smell of sausage and peppers outside of Fenway Park and special sauce on greasy brats in Milwaukee.It also about kids and Little League.

It is because of Little League that we have stars we all watch on television and at ballparks. Little League gave us Roger Clemens, Jason Gimabi, A-Rod and many more. Little League also gave us millions more "ball players" that will never take the field at Yankee Stadium or Camden Yard. And, little league also gave us Romney Oaks, someone who gets my nod for MVP, even though he may never don pin stripes and due battle in the Fall Classic.

Romney is a 9-year old little leaguer from Utah who played this Summer for the Bountiful Red Sox. Romney's team fought hard all Summer and advanced to the Mueller Park Mustang league championshiop for his 10 and under league. Now, Let's go to the play-by-play of the championship game (of course, you knew this game would be against the Yankees!)


The undefeated Yankees were in the field, up by one run, in the bottom of the last inning. With the tying run on third, two outs and the Red Sox (Romney's team)best hitter, Jordan, at the plate; the Yankees coaches decided to do something they had not done all season long---They told their pitcher to intentionally walk the batter-Jordan. (NOTE: INTENTIONALLY WALKING PEOPLE IN A 10 & UNDER LITTLE LEAGUE NEVER HAPPENS!)

Next up to bat is Romney Oaks, recovering brain cancer patient, who only wanted to play little league so that he could be a normal kid in the neighborhood. Because of the numerous treatments and surgeries Romney's baseball skills are not as advanced as other kids on his team. His bat is slower and his reflexes are perhaps are not as quick.

That's right, Romney's teamate was walked intentionally so that Yankees coach, Bob Farley, could have his pitcher throw to Romney. Of course, Romney, over matched by the pitcher, struck out. Game over....Red Sox lose....


Coach Bob Farley of the Meuller Park Little League disgraced our game. Coach Bob Farley insulted anyone who has ever donned a a glove and ball, ate a hot dog in the bleachers at Wrigley, or skinned their knee sliding into second base.

Bob Farley's team may have won their championship, but Romney Oaks showed everyone that courage and desire is more important than hitting it out of the park.