In a close scoring, well-fought championship game, our boys are down 2 runs in the bottom of the fourth. Having gone through their line-up 3 times, the opposing team inserts a new batter, without notice, who had been scratched from the batting order at the start of the game. By all technical accounts, this is an illegal substitution and would count as an automatic out. Now mind you, we still have at least a 1/2 hour of baseball left to play, so every out and every run count. After a meeting with the umps and the calling over of the "commissioner" the act is ruled illegal and the out is granted. Our coaches return to the dugout to send our players back to the outfield. However, the coaches from the other team continue their "convincing" conversation with the "commissioner" until he pulls out his flip phone and uses a life line. After closing his phone, he reverses the call.
Now I know there are some who are completely clueless to the reality of what I'm about to say. You'll dismiss it with, "It's a kids' baseball game," or "This isn't the major leagues, no one's getting paid," or my personal favorite, "Just let the kids play." Let me preface this post with a simple request: Miss me with your simplicity. Allow me to paint a VERY clear picture of the scene of EVERY tournament we attend: We are the ONLY black team...ONLY. And we're good...REALLY GOOD. Over the course of the seasons (yes plural...seasons) we have witnessed BLATANT disregard for the rules of baseball in the favor of teams that just so happen to not look like us. We've persevered. We've talked to our boys about what it means to be black and male in these "United" States. And they have played past each and every questionable call, tournament after tournament. Why? Because this is the life they will face as men...if they are blessed to live that long.
As a result of the "commissioner's" clearly biased decision, our coach directed us to pack up. It was an emotional roller coaster from there. Watching the other team celebrate as if they had "won" the game, feeling empowered by taking a stand and walking off the field, while also watching our boys angrily pack their things with tears of frustration soon to follow. In our post-game meeting, coach gave a rousing speech about taking a stand and understanding their worth and value as young men..Kings. He talked to them about integrity and how we play the game. He talked to them about injustice, something for which we would not stand. He assured them that as they are still young Kings in training, it was up to us as overseeing Kings and Queens to protect them from ills like the one they just experienced. He told us all to go to the trophy presentation, where we would accept our awards. However, on the way out, each of our Kings placed those $2 plastic trophies in the walkway as a sign of protest.
We will not accept second place in a game that wasn't played to the finish. We will not be pawns in an unfair game. We have trophies...lots and lots of trophies. We have wins, we have losses, we have presence, but we also have pride. And that pride will not allow us nor our children to stand by helpless and appeased while the "rule-makers" get to also be the "game-changers" time and time again. Nah. Not us.
And it is with this that our boys will develop their own faith. They will have their own testaments of it and reveal it to the world in their own way. They now know that they are more valuable than baseball tournaments and trophies. They are sons of the true and living King. Therefore, they will face adversity. They will have to overcome many obstacles. And sometimes, they will have to make a call. To stand up for what they believe in, no matter what it costs them. The truth of the matter is that the life lessons and cultural pride those boys gained that day far outweigh a trophy. Instead of being named tournament champions, they were officially crowned as Kings. Be Blessed XOXO
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