Nine times out of 10 when you're trying to watch a baseball game and the camera angle is stuck on the stands, it's time to change the channel. The announcers have found something that interests them and ONLY them. But fans who were watching the San Francisco Giants game on Comcast this week got a little something special -- a pouty little kid got a second chance at every baseball fan's dream ... and they had the Comcast Sportsnet Bay Area broadcasters to thank for it.
When a ball went flying into the stands in AT&T Park, it landed just in front of a dad hanging in the stands with his kids. Another fan scooped it up, and that would have been the end of it. But the pint-sized fan who was thisclose to where the ball landed settled back in his seat, crossed his arms across his chest, and stuck out his lower lip in full pout mode. Typical kid, he missed out on the ultimate fan moment, and he was pissed.
But watching the whole thing go down, you had to feel bad for the dad. How could he enjoy the game while his little boy was verging on tantrum time? Ooh man, I've been there. Sooooo been there. Everything's fine and dandy and suddenly your kid suffers a disappointment ... and the world ends. Or at least, your fun does.
Ah, but the announcers, those eyes in the sky, came to Dad's rescue, sending someone with a ball in hand to give to the little boy. While the web is serving up a hearty helping of nasty for the announcers, saying they just taught the kid that being a brat is the best way to get ahead, I'd like to send them a hug and a kiss. Kids are kids. They're still learning how to deal with their feelings. And parents could always use a little sympathy from understanding folks -- even baseball broadcasters.
Catching a ball in the stands is pretty much the next best thing a kid can think of ... besides getting to take in a real Major League game in a real Major League ballpark. I love that these announcers got that. Watch them in action and let us know if you think think they did the right thing:
Image via YouTube
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Comments 43
I don't think the boy should have gotten a ball for pouting and being a brat. I agree with the "web people." Life doesn't work that way and it's best to learn that young. What's going to happen the next time things don't go this boy's way? Are these announcers going to follow him around for life making sure things all go his way?
This is NOT how to teach a child. If that had been my child, I wouldn't have let him accept the ball and if he kept this up, I'd have left the game.
Eh. So what.
There are times when it's important to teach a lesson, and there are times when it's fine to let kids be kids. So what if he was pouting? He wasn't harming anyone. He didn't try to hit the girl that caught the ball. He didn't demand a baseball. He didn't throw a complete tantrum.
He's entitled to his reaction. He's a little guy with a lot of emotion. Throw him a freakin' ball, here. It's a baseball game. They're there to have fun. It's fun to watch a kid smile. Not everything warrants a life lesson.
I think it was sweet! And they didn't just bring a ball for him - they gave a ball to the other little guy too. Love the commentary!
I think it was real sweet.
So he was just pouting? He hadn't thrown a fit? He wasn't screaming and crying? Just a sad face, and body language that showed his disappointment? That's all? I don't see the big deal. If the kid was throwing a fit, screaming, kicking, crying, etc, I would agree that giving him a ball would not be appropriate, it would seem to be rewarding him for throwing a fit. But, if he was just pouting and sulking, to me, that means he knew he wasn't getting the ball, and while he was upset, he knew that throwing a fit wouldn't change anything, and he was being rewarded for NOT pitching a fit. I mean, this is all assuming I correctly understood the story. If that's the case, I don't see the big deal.
Aww I think it was sweet! Yeah the little kid was being a booger and pouting, but hey, the announcers understand how hard it is for a little kid. I'd be upset too if I just barely missed a ball hit by someone on my favorite team!
wouldn't have bothered me as a parent either way, but it was nice, i suppose....but i do have to say i don't like that the man who caught the ball seemed to keep looking back at the kid and his dad....i don't have sound at the moment so i don't know what was being said, if you could hear it, but if it was me that caught the ball i probably would have given it to the kid, or at least not turned around looking at him and acknowledging the situation....i don't know, maybe they knew each other??? don't know
OMG - I LOVE this little boy pouting. I think he is adorable and love the fact that the announcers spotted him and made his day! It's okay to make a kid feel special ... there are going to be plenty of other life lessons where he won't get what he wants. His face and crossed arms are priceless!
I think it was the beginning of a life-long baseball fan. The announcers KNOW what makes kids love it as kids, and what will bring them BACK as adults, with their own kids. Way to go! (And, ps. . .being pouty is not being a brat. He was disappointed. If he'd been screaming, that might have been one thing. .but he was just clearly bummed. Give the kid a break!)