Jul 20
They say there’s no crying in baseball, but this is the sport of Lou Gehrig’s farewell speech and Field of Dreams. We don’t like cheesy sentiment or flowery expressions of emotion, yet we dance around the field and hug each other in victory, or weep in the dugout and slam locker room doors in defeat.
So, how do I say goodbye to something I’ve devoted my time, energy, and passion to for the last two years? Read the rest of this entry »
One of the things I enjoy doing at Little League games is to serve as the announcer. It seems that the players and parents enjoy it too. The only complaints I’ve received are from other teams who are unhappy that I don’t announce at their games. But there are some rules I need to follow when announcing at a Little League game. Read the rest of this entry »
Apr 18
As a league president, I don’t need to go to a movie to see a Little League drama. Just this weekend, I had to deal with a coach being ejected from a game, a complaint about parents bringing their dogs on a school district field, an issue a manager had with parents, and parents who had an issue with a manager. The great thing about the movie The Perfect Game is that it reminded me of why all this work in Little League is worthwhile.
It was an enjoyable movie, but I was especially struck by a couple of important lessons, ones that can turn anyone into a champion. Read the rest of this entry »
Mar 5
One of my duties as a Little League president is to give a speech at the Opening Day ceremony. Unfortunately, it looks like we’re going to be rained out for the second Saturday in a row. So, we had to cancel the ceremony. Here is what I would have said to the parents of Saddleback Little League if we had an opening ceremony. Read the rest of this entry »
Jan 21
This year, my son’s Little League team is the Angels. Although I am an Orange County resident, there is a lot more to my relationship with the Angels than it just being the team in our community.
I grew up in the San Fernando Valley, so the Dodgers became my ball club. The Angels in the sixties and seventies were second fiddle. They were like the Clippers of baseball but with a much better owner. Furthermore, my mom was a Hollywood Stars fan growing up. The old Los Angeles Angels of the PCL were the Stars’ hated rivals. Read the rest of this entry »
I am an award-winning public speaker and writer and past president of Saddleback Little League. In this site, I share my speeches, writing, and thoughts on a variety of subjects. Enjoy!
Matthew Stern