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Title: Celebrated Little League team stripped of championship title
Source:
AP
URL Source: http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/storie ... AULT&CTIME=2015-02-11-17-50-33
Published: Feb 11, 2015
Author: By DON BABWIN - Associated Press
Post Date: 2015-02-11 19:16:01 by Murron
Keywords: None
Views: 8301
Comments: 32
Celebrated Little League team stripped of championship title CHICAGO (AP) -- A Little League team that captured the attention of the nation and the hearts of its hometown was stripped of its national title Wednesday after an investigation revealed that team officials had falsified boundaries so they could add ineligible players to the roster. FILE - In this Aug. 27, 2014, file photo, members of the Jackie Robinson West Little League baseball team participate in a rally in Chicago celebrating the team's U.S. Little League Championship. Little League International has stripped Chicago's Jackie Robinson West team of its national title after finding the team falsified its boundary map. The league made the announcement Wednesday morning, Feb. 11, 2015, saying the Chicago team violated regulations by placing players on the team who didn’t qualify because they lived outside the team’s boundaries. Little League International also suspended Jackie Robinson West manager Darold Butler from league activity.(AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast, File) Only last summer, the all-black Jackie Robinson West team was the toast of Chicago and was honored with trips to San Francisco and to the White House. But the sport's governing body announced that team officials had engaged in a Little League version of political gerrymandering. Instead of politicians redrawing district maps to pick up votes, it was local league officials who changed the boundaries that determined where players must live. And after learning that their scheme had been exposed, they scrambled to convince surrounding leagues to go along with what they had done. "This is so heartbreaking," said Stephen D. Keener, president and CEO of Little League International. "It is a sad day for a bunch of kids who we have come to really like ... who did nothing wrong." But "we cannot tolerate the actions of some of the adults involved here." The organization suspended the manager, Darold Butler, and suspended the team from Little League tournament play until the local league's president and treasurer have been replaced. A district official who is believed to have helped change the boundaries was also removed. All of the team's victories were thrown out, meaning that the wins will be awarded to other teams. Mountain Ridge Little League, the team from Las Vegas that lost to Jackie Robinson West in the national championship game, will be awarded the title. Parents were angered by the news, saying their children were being unfairly punished. "The boys had no inside dealings ... about any borders, and I as a mother had no idea there were any (questions about) boundaries," said Venisa Green, who was driving her son, Brandon, to school Wednesday when they were "blindsided" by the news as it came over the radio. "We weren't involved in anything that could have caused us to be stripped of our championship," said Brandon, appearing at a news conference with his mother. Venisa Green said the move was especially disheartening because the team was part of efforts to keep children safe and prepare them for college in a community better known for gangs and drugs than any kind of achievement. "What would you have us do, Little League, for them to be killed on the streets of Chicago?" she asked. She wondered if the fact that the players were black had any role in the ruling, something that the Rev. Jesse Jackson and others questioned as well. "Is this about boundaries or race?" Jackson asked. Jackson did not discuss whether he blamed any league officials for what had happened, but in Washington, White House spokesman Josh Earnest suggested that it was the adults who let down the boys. "The fact is, you know, some dirty dealing by some adults doesn't take anything away from the accomplishments of those young men," he said. It was a stunning end to a story that began last summer as the team marched through the Little League tournament. Their odyssey ended with a loss to South Korea in the world championship game in South Williamsport, Pennsylvania. For days, Chicago was enthralled by the story, in large part because the team was from the city's South Side, an area that has a reputation in much of the country for being synonymous with crime and gun violence. They were part of one of the most heartwarming World Series in Little League history, with the country rooting for Jackie Robinson West and a team from Philadelphia that had Mo'ne Davis, a star pitcher who was the first girl to appear in the series for a U.S. team since 2004. When the Chicago team returned home, the boys were treated as conquering heroes. Thousands of people lined city streets to catch a glimpse of them as they were paraded by bus from their home field to a downtown park. The team was treated to a trip to a major league World Series game in San Francisco and then a visit with President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama at the White House. Behind the scenes, Keener said, the investigation was creating a different story after a coach from a nearby suburb alleged that Jackie Robinson West had violated rules by poaching top suburban players. The investigation, which was first reported by DNAinfo.com, appeared to end in December when the national organization said it had uncovered no violations. Officials said they would reopen the inquiry if new information surfaced. About that time, the organization learned of questions about boundary maps involving multiple leagues. The investigation resumed. In an interview, Keener said Jackie Robinson West officials expanded the boundaries of their league at the expense of three neighboring leagues, so that the boundaries included the homes of several players on the team who would not otherwise have been eligible. The investigation found that at least one district official who had helped redraw the map went to the other teams to ask that they go along with what the team had done, Keener said. "They (said) `We know we took your territory. We shouldn't have done it, but will you give it to us' to essentially legitimize it," Keener said. The other leagues refused, he said.
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Celebrated Little League team stripped of championship title Las Vegas Little League team national champs after Chicago team disqualified By Don Babwin, Associated Press Published Wednesday, Feb. 11, 2015 | 7:42 a.m. Updated Wednesday, Feb. 11, 2015 | 2:22 p.m. Nevada advances to the Little League World Series in Williamsport, PA. Nevada players celebrate after defeating Pacifica 11-2 Saturday night to win the Little League Western Regional Championship. Mountain Ridge Little League, from Las Vegas, Nevada, defeated Pacifica Little League 11-2 Saturday August 9, 2014 in the Little League Western Regional Championship game at Al Houghton Stadium in San Bernardino. Nevada will play at the Little League World Series in Williamsport, PA. starting next week. (Will Lester/Staff Photographer) Launch slideshow » CHICAGO — A Little League team that captured the attention of the nation and the hearts of its hometown was stripped of its national title Wednesday after an investigation revealed that team officials had falsified boundaries so they could add ineligible players to the roster. Only last summer, the all-black Jackie Robinson West team was the toast of Chicago and was honored with trips to San Francisco and to the White House. But the sport's governing body, Little League International, announced that team officials had changed the boundaries that determine where players must live. And after learning that their scheme had been exposed, they scrambled to convince surrounding leagues to go along with what they had done. "This is so heartbreaking," said Stephen D. Keener, the Little League International president and CEO. "It is a sad day for a bunch of kids who we have come to really like ... who did nothing wrong." But "we cannot tolerate the actions of some of the adults involved here." The organization suspended the manager, Darold Butler, and suspended the team from Little League tournament play until the local league's president and treasurer have been replaced. A district official who is believed to have helped change the boundaries was also removed. All of the team's victories were thrown out, meaning that the wins will be awarded to other teams. Mountain Ridge Little League, the team from Las Vegas that lost to Jackie Robinson West in the national championship game will be awarded the title. Parents were angered by the news, saying their children were being unfairly punished. "The boys had no inside dealings ... about any borders, and I as a mother had no idea there were any (questions about) boundaries," said Venisa Green, who was driving her son, Brandon, to school Wednesday when they were "blindsided" by the news as it came over the radio. "We weren't involved in anything that could have caused us to be stripped of our championship," said Brandon, appearing at a news conference with his mother. Venisa Green said the move was especially disheartening because the team was part of efforts to keep children safe and prepare them for college in a community better known for gangs and drugs than any kind of achievement. "What would you have us do, Little League, for them to be killed on the streets of Chicago?" she asked. She wondered if the fact that the players were black had any role in the ruling, something that the Rev. Jesse Jackson and others questioned as well. "Is this about boundaries or race?" Jackson asked. Jackson did not discuss whether he blamed any league officials for what had happened, but in Washington, White House spokesman Josh Earnest suggested that it was the adults who let down the boys. "The fact is, you know, some dirty dealing by some adults doesn't take anything away from the accomplishments of those young men," he said. It was a stunning end to a story that began last summer as the team marched through the Little League tournament. Their odyssey ended with a loss to South Korea in the world championship game in South Williamsport, Pennsylvania. For days, Chicago was enthralled by the story, in large part because the team was from the city's South Side, an area beyond the city limits that has become almost synonymous with crime and gun violence. They were part of one of the most heartwarming World Series in Little League history, with the country rooting for Jackie Robinson West and a team from Philadelphia that had Mo'ne Davis, a star pitcher who was the first girl to appear in the series for a U.S. team since 2004. When the Chicago team returned, the boys were treated as conquering heroes. Thousands of people lined city streets to catch a glimpse of them as they were paraded by bus from their home field to a downtown park. The team was treated to a trip to a major league World Series game in San Francisco and then a visit with President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama at the White House. But behind the scenes, Keener said, the investigation was creating a different story after a coach from a nearby suburb alleged that Jackie Robinson West had violated rules by poaching top suburban players. The investigation, which was first reported by DNAinfo.com, appeared to end in December when the national organization said it had uncovered no violations. But officials said they would reopen the inquiry if new information surfaced. About that time, the organization learned of questions about boundary maps involving multiple leagues. The investigation resumed. In an interview, Keener said Jackie Robinson West officials expanded the boundaries of their league at the expense of three neighboring leagues, so that the boundaries included the homes of several players on the team who would not otherwise have been eligible. The investigation found that at least one district official who had helped redraw the map went to the other teams to ask that they go along with what the team had done, Keener said. "They (said) 'We know we took your territory. We shouldn't have done it, but will you give it to us' to essentially legitimize it," Keener said. The other leagues refused, he said.
HUH?? You mean without their bogus trophy, the ChiTown Little League cheats are going to become street fodder and drive-by stats? What a convoluted ethic and morality. "Is this about boundaries or race?" Jackson asked. 3-2-1...BLAST OFF!! Proving once more that rules and laws AND "equalitah" mean NOTHING to these parasitic Commie/Fascists. "BY ANY MEANS NECESSARY."
Chicago little league baseball learned the hard way this week what leagues in the South, Southwest and West did years ago. These rules are in place for a reason. It is not about black or white, rich or poor. There are cheat ringer teams from all walks of life. And when all of the above are caught there are consequences. The organization running the official Little League Baseball organization has a long history: http://www.littleleague.org/Little_League_Big_Legacy.htm A history of rules and following them. When any coach or regional LLB affiliate crosses the line, they are going to get slapped back. We have rules in sports and society for a reason. Is perhaps the LLB the last standing organization in America who sticks to their rules and values? To a degree I know how this works. I have a kid I've been coaching since he was 6 years old. He is now 10 and he could easily sit in a HS class and not be noticed. Big kid with a flame for an arm. His grandmother (guardian) keeps a copy of his birth certificate in her purse. Even in lower level youth baseball you are sometimes called to present your proof of age. This gerrymandering garbage is a byproduct of Chicago politics and Obolaism.
When any coach or regional LLB affiliate crosses the line, they are going to get slapped back. We have rules in sports and society for a reason. Is perhaps the LLB the last standing organization in America who sticks to their rules and values? Nothing seems to be sacred anymore. The greater lesson and overriding factor here seems to be the phenomena of exclusive entitlement and victimhood. That the rules and laws don't apply to those who believe that are "owed reparations." At the expense of rules and laws and fairness for others. To a degree I know how this works. I have a kid I've been coaching since he was 6 years old. He is now 10 and he could easily sit in a HS class and not be noticed. Big kid with a flame for an arm. His grandmother (guardian) keeps a copy of his birth certificate in her purse. Even in lower level youth baseball you are sometimes called to present your proof of age. This gerrymandering garbage is a byproduct of Chicago politics and Obolaism. You coach ball, Red? Cool. Once in a while these big kids look as though they need to be shaving, and are so advanced athleticly that anyone would question the age, as well as skill level. Good idea by Gramma. Yup, no doubt there is in place a culture of entitlement in ChiTown. Laws and Rules have never been enforced in that cesspool -- from politics to LL baseball.
#29. To: Liberator (#27)
Once in a while these big kids look as though they need to be shaving, and are so advanced athleticly that anyone would question the age, as well as skill level. Good idea by Gramma. Was an assistant coach for my older son when he played youth league baseball. Been head coach for my younger son since T-Ball:) Now out of all the levels I coached, T-Ball was the most challenging:) Back in the day, the big kid was bumped up to the next level. They don't do that anymore.
Top • Page Up • Full Thread • Page Down • Bottom/LatestI'm sorry It took me so long to get back to this with this update.- murron
#21. To: Murron, redleghunter, CZ82 (#6)
Mom, Venisa Green:
"What would you have us do, Little League, for them to be killed on the streets of Chicago?" she asked.
She wondered if the fact that the players were black had any role in the ruling, something that the Rev. Jesse Jackson and others questioned as well.
#25. To: Liberator, Murron, CZ82 (#21)
#27. To: redleghunter (#25)
Chicago little league baseball learned the hard way...
Replies to Comment # 27. You coach ball, Red? Cool.
End Trace Mode for Comment # 27.
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