THIS PAGE IS WHERE I GET TO SOUND OFF ABOUT ISSUES THAT AFFECT THE STATUS AND HEALTH OF YOUTH SPORTS, IN PARTICULAR "THE SPORT OF BASEBALL"  THESE WILL BE MY OPINIONS AND ONLY MY OPINIONS.  YOU CAN AGREE OR DISAGREE, BUT IN THE END, I DON'T CARE!!
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THE TORRINGTON TITANS COLLEGE TEAM IS IN THE PROCESS OF FORMING FOR THE 2012 SEASON.  TO IMPROVE THEIR REVENUE STREAM, THEY WILL BE ASKING TO BE EXEMPT FROM THE CITY ORDINANCE THAT BANS ALCOHOL IN THE CITY PARKS, UNUSUAL FOR THEIR "FAMILY  ATMOSPHERE" PROGRAM.  THEY NOW RECEIVE GATE RECEIPTS, MOST IF NOT ALL OF THE ADVERTIZING RECEIPTS, DONATIONS, THE CONCESSION STAND RECEIPTS AND THOUSANDS IF NOT TENS OF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS IN CITY SERVICES.  HOW MUCH IS ENOUGH?  OBVIOUSLY NOT ENOUGH TO WORRY ABOUT COMPROMISING THIS COMMUNITIES 
PRINCIPALS AND VALUES.  THEY KNEW WHAT THE RULES WERE WHEN THEY DECIDED TO COME TO TOWN ON THEIR "FAMILY ATMOSPERE AND VALUES" PLATFORM, BUT IT IS ALWAYS ABOUT THE MONEY AND THE BEHIND THE SCENE DEALINGS SUCH AS OFFERING TO PAY THE COST OF A NEW SOUND SYSTEM FOR THE PARK, (NORMALLY THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE FUESSENICH PARK UPKEEP COMMITTEE), IN ORDER TO GAIN FAVOR FOR A POSITIVE DECISION ON THE ALCOHOL ISSUE.   HOW ABOUT PUTTING A QUALITY BASEBALL PROGRAM ON THE FIELD TO BRING FANS IN, OR IS IT THEIR BELIEF THAT A FAMILY THAT DRINKS TOGETHER, STAYS TOGETHER.   

ALCOHOL AND DRUG ABUSE HAS OFTEN BEEN STATED AS BEING OF EPIDEMIC PROPORTIONS AMONGST TEENAGERS.  THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE, TEACHERS, COUNSELERS, COACHES AND THE POLICE TROUGH THEIR "DARE PROGRAM" WORKING TO DISPEL AND COMBAT THE GLAMORIZATION OF DRUGS AND ALCOHOL IN THE "SPORTS WORLD" AS WELL AS IN EVERYDAY LIFE.  IN A PUBLIC ENTERTAINMENT VENUE WHERE THERE ARE MANY IMPRESSIONABLE CHILDREN IN ATTENDENCE, IT IS IRRESPONSIBLE TO EXPOSE THEM TO THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN ALCOHOL AND SPORTS, YET WE HAVE THE HIGHEST OFFICIAL IN THE CITY PUBLICLY STATING HIS AGREEMENT TO IT, THEREBY WORKING AGAINST THE FIGHT MANY OF US ARE ENGAGED IN, REMINDING ME OF AN OFT USED SAYING, " IF YOU ARE NOT PART OF THE SOLUTION, THEN YOU ARE PART OF THE PROBLEM."  SHOW THE LEADERSHIP YOU WERE ELECTED FOR AND DO YOUR RESPONSIBLE DUTY.  THERE IS THE RULE OF LAW AND A SPECIAL EXEMPTION FOR SPECIFIC ORGANIZATIONS IS UNACCEPTABLE. 
"THAT'S MY SAY!"

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A GOOD MAN DIED IN EARLY OCTOBER.  JOHN FERGUSON WAS NOT ONLY KNOWN BY FAMILY AND FRIENDS, BUT BY THE LOCAL SPORTS COMMUNITY IN PARTICULAR.  AS A COACH OF SEVERAL SPORTS, HIS MAIN LOVE WAS FOR THE GAME OF BASEBALL PRIMARILY COACHING AT TORRINGTON HS. JOHN WAS AN INTENSE COMPETITIOR AND A CLASS GUY.  HE WAS THE LAST OF A BREED , A GIFTED TEACHER OF THE GAME WHO TAUGHT AND TOUCHED MANY A YOUNG MAN, MAKING THEM BETTER PLAYERS AS WELL AS MAKING THEM A BETTER PERSON.  MANY OF THE PLAYERS HE WORKED WITH, PLAYED ON THE MACK TEAMS OVER THE YEARS.  WHEN THEY TALKED ABOUT JOHN, IT WAS WITH A HEAVY DEGREE OF REVERANCE AND RESPECT.  I NEVER HEARD A PLAYER SAY A BAD WORD OR ANY CRITICISM ABOUT JOHN, ALWAYS REFERRING TO HIM AS MR. FERGUSON OR COACH FERGUSON.


I WAS ONLY AN ACQUAINTENCE OF JOHN SEEING HIM OUT AND AROUND.  WE WOULD TALK BASEBALL AND THAT YEARS MACK TEAM. HE TOLD ME HOW HE RESPECTED ME FOR WORKING WITH THESE YOUNG MEN AND TOLD ME TO CONTINUE TO DO SO BECAUSE THEY NEEDED ROLE MODELS.  I WILL NEVER FORGET THAT.

ONE YEAR, I TURNED THE MACK TEAM OVER TO JOHN TO COACH  IT WAS NOT A PARTICULARLY GOOD TEAM, BUT JOHN DID NOT LIKE SUMMER BALL.  NOT ENOUGH TIME TO PRACTICE AND TEACH AND THE BIG FACTOR WAS THE LACK OF COMMITTMENT.  HE EXPECTED 100% COMMITTMENT AND 100% EFFORT.  IN LATER YEARS, THE COMMITTMENT WAS BETTER, MAYBE NOT 100%, BUT FAR BETTER. I NEVER GOT THE CHANCE TO TELL HIM THAT.

JOHN IS GONE NOW, BUT HIS LEGACY WILL LIVE ON IN THE HEARTS AND MINDS OF THOSE HE TOUCHED.  A NICE PERSON, A CLASS GUY, A COACH AND A RESPECTED TEACHER OF THE GAME OF BASEBALL.  HE WILL BE MISSED.  RIP.


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EARLY MARCH HAS BROUGHT A NEW "COLLEGE" TEAM TO TORRINGTON.  WHILE I AM NOT TOO HAPPY ABOUT IT, I WILL DEAL WITH IT LIKE HAVE FOR THE LAST 13 YEARS.  MORE WORK, LESS SPOTLIGHT ON THE ACHIEVEMENTS OF OUR YOUNG PEOPLE PLAYING THE GAME, OVERBLOWN AND MIS-LEADING HYPE ON THE QUALITY OF THE SKILLS OF THE PLAYERS AND TAXPAYER MONIES SPENT TO SATISFY A VERY SMALL MINORITY OF FANS.  NOT ALL COLLEGE PLAYERS ARE EQUAL IN THE SKILLS DEPT AS LAST YEARS TEAM EXHIBITED.  THERE ARE, NOW, SO MANY OF THESE COLLEGE LEAGUES AROUND THE COUNTRY THAT THERE IS SIGNIFICANT SHORTAGE FOR THE HIGHLY SKILLED PLAYERS FROM LARGE WELL KNOWN COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES WITH THE RESULT THAT SMALL JR COLLEGES, AND COMMUNITY COLLEGES ARE NOW SCOUTED FOR RECRUITS TO FILL THE RANKS OF THESE TEAMS.  YET, WE HAVE SOME GREAT BASEBALL BEING DEVELOPED AND PLAYED IN THIS AREA.   THAT WOULD BE THE TRI-STATE LEAGUE, ONCE A BEER DRINKING, CUSSING, GOOD OLE BOY LEAGUE, IT IS NOW LED BY LEAGUE PRESIDENT, ED GODOMSKI, A MAN WHO HAS TURNED THE  REPUTATION OF THIS LEAGUE AROUND, GROWING IT FROM (7) TEAMS JUST A FEW YEARS AGO TO (18) AND GROWING.  HE HAS CHANGED THE CULTURE OF THIS LEAGUE INTO A SKILLED LEVEL OF WOODEN BAT BASEBALL. IT IS NOW THE PLACE TO BE FOR EX COLLEGE PLAYERS, SOME EX PROFESSIONAL PLAYERS (MINOR LEAGUE) AND GOOD HIGH SCHOOL PLAYERS WHO HAVE MATURED THEIR SKILLS.  WHEN TOLD THAT THE FIRST TITANS TEAM WOULD NOT BE BACK, ED CAME UP WITH THE IDEA OF HOLDING A SATURDAY NIGHT TRI-STATE GAME OF THE WEEK AT FUESSENICH PARK TO FILL THE VOID.  THIS GAME WOULD SHOWCASE THE TOP TIERED TEAMS IN THE LEAGUE.  THEY HAD PLANNED TO CHARGE A MINIMAL GAME FEE ($2-3 DOALLRS) AND ANY MONEY EARNED WOULD HAVE GONE TO THE FUESSENICH PARK FUND AND/OR SELECTED CITY CHARITIES. HE WAS IN THE PROCESS OF PREPARING A PROPOSAL TO PRESENT TO THE PARK & REC COMMSSION IN THEIR MARCH MEETING, BUT DISCUSSIONS WITH A NEW TEAM WERE BEGINNING TO TAKE PLACE.  THE PARK & REC DEPT ASKED FOR AN OUTLINE AND THEN PRESENTED IT TO THE MAYOR WHO SHOT IT DOWN, PREFERRING THE COLLEGE TEAM IF IT COULD BE WORKED OUT.  ANYONE WHO KNOWS BASEBALL ALSO KNOWS THAT THE TRI-STATE TEAMS, IN GENERAL, PLAYS A FAR BETTER CALIBER OF BALL THAN YOUNG PLAYERS FROM SMALL SCHOOL USA.  THEY JUST DO NOT HAVE THE RIGHT IMAGE FOR THE CITY POLITICOS, YET IT WOULD HAVE BEEN TRUE COMMUNITY BASEBALL WITH TEAMS FROM AROUND THE GREATER MARKETING AREA OF TORRINGTON COMING TO TORRINGTON WITH THEIR FANS AND THE ABILITY TO GENERATE NEW FANS.  MAYBE THEY WOULD NOT HAVE CLOWNS RUNNING AROUND OR FREE BALLOONS HANDED OUT OR ANY OF THE OTHER GOOFY PROMOTIONS, IT WOULD BE JUST GOOD BASEBALL ON A SATURDAY NIGHT WITH A TRUE COMMUNITY SPIRIT AND MEMORIES OF THE SANDLOT BASEBALL ERA OF OLD.  INSTEAD WE GET THE FAILED SAME OLD, SAME OLD.  
"THAT'S MY SAY"
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DURING THE RECENT PARK AND REC MEETING TO DISCUSS THE RULES REGS AND POTENTIAL NEW FEES, (3) ISSUES OF CONCERN WERE BROUGHT UP.
1) THE P&R COMMISSION AND DIRECTOR, CANDIDLY, POINTED OUT THE FAILING INFRASTRUCTURE OF OUR PARKS AND FIELDS THAT HAS RESULTED FROM INADEQUATE FUNDING IN THE P&R BUDGET.  ANY CAPITAL MONEY REQUESTED TO CORRECT SOME OF THE MAJOR PROBLEMS AND NEEDS HAS BEEN SHOT DOWN IN THE LAST SEVERAL BUDGETS.  THIS IS UNDERSTANDABLE WITH THE POOR ECONOMY WE ARE IN, BUT IGNORING THE PROBLEMS WILL ONLY MAKE IT MORE COSTLY TO CORRECT DOWN THE ROAD.  IT WOULD BE PRACTICAL FOR THE CITY TO REVIEW AND FUND SOME MONEY EACH YEAR TO MEET SOME OF THE NEEDS TO STAY AHEAD OF MAJOR PROBLEMS.  THE P&R COULD ALSO CUT BACK ON SOME OF THEIR PROGRAMS, PARTICULARY ON THE RECREATION SIDE.  FOR EXAMPLE, THE NUMBER OF FREE CONCERTS AT COE PARK THAT NOW COST THE CITY $25,000 OR MORE COULD BE CUT BACK SOME. I AM SURE THERE IS FAT IN MANY OF THE OTHER PROGRAMS AS THERE IS ALL PROGRAMS.  MANY CAN BE STREAMLINED AT A COST SAVINGS.  ASSESSING A TARGETED FEE (TAX ON A TAX) ON SPORTS PARTICIPANTS IS EASY FIX, BUT NOT THE ANSWER.

2) FUESSENICH PARK PROBLEMS ARE INCREASING. THE OLD WOOD BLEACHERS ARE A LIABILITY WAITING FOR A LAWSUIT. THEY NEED TO BE REPLACED.  FIELD LIGHTING IS INADEQUATE AND THE LIGHTING INFRACTURE IS HEADING TO A PERMANENT BLACKOUT.  OUTFIELD SURFACE PROBLEMS ABOUND WITH DIPS AND HOLES.  ONE SERIOUS INJURY AND THE PARK WILL BE CLOSED. THE SOUND SYSTEM IS AN EDISON ERA DESIGN AND NEEDS TO BE BROUGHT UP TO TODAYS BASIC STANDARDS.  THIS BRINGS UP THE "FUESSENICH PARK PARTNERSHIP" FORMALLY HEADED BY EX- MAYOR GRYNIUK AND A FEW OTHER MONEYED ELITISTS.  IT WAS SET UP TO SEEK DONATIONS AND OTHER MEANS OF FUNDING FOR RENOVATIONS.  THE PROBLEM WAS THAT THE IN THE 10-12 YEARS SINCE THE REFURBISHED FIELD WAS COMPLETED, THIS GROUP FELL OFF THE FACE OF THE EARTH.  THEY OPERATED IN THE DARK, NEVER COMMUNICATING WITH THE PARK & REC DEPT OR P&R COMMISSION WHEN  REPEATED REQUESTS WERE MADE FOR REQUIRED UPGRADES TO THE PARK.  THEY NEVER SPEND A PENNY FROM THE FUND FOR WHICH IT WAS INTENDED NOR DID THEY RELEASE ANY INFO AS TO HOW MUCH WAS IN THE FUND AND HOW IT WAS DISPENSED.  THERE WAS NO OVERSIGHT BY CITY OFFICIALS AND AN AUDIT WAS NEVER DONE.  FINALLY, AFTER PRESSURE, THEY HAVE RELINQUISHED CONTROL AND A NEW GROUP WILL BE PUT IN CHARGE.  ONLY $43,000 WAS IN THE FUND, ALTHOUGH IT WAS THOUGHT TO BE MUCH MORE.  HOPEFULLY, THIS NEW GROUP WILL PUT THIS MONEY TO WORK WHERE IT WAS INTENDED, FUESSENICH PARK

3) THE TORRINGTON TITANS!!  AT THE MEETING, WE LEARNED WHAT A $1 DOLLAR FUESSENICH PARK LEASE MEANT.  IT MEANS THE TITANS HAVE PRIORTY ACCESS TO THE FIELD AND THEY UTILIZE PARK & REC LABOR AT NO COST TO THEM.  THE TAXPAYERS OF TORRINGTON FOOT THE BILL FOR THIS "FOR PROFIT" TEAM OF OUTSIDE OWNERS, COACHES AND MOST OF THEIR PLAYERS, PLAYING THE LOWEST QUALITY OF PLAY IN COLLEGIATE BASEBALL (SEE BELOW).  USING THE P&R PARK FEE SCHEDULE FOR OUTSIDE TEAMS TO PLAY AT FUESSENICH PARK AND USING A 20+ HOME GAME SCHEDULE WITH AT LEAST 12 NIGHT GAMES, THE COST WOULD BE AROUND $10,000 DOLLARS OR MORE, NOT COUNTING THE SAT. TIME AND 1/2 AND SUNDAY DOUBLE TIME.  YET, THE CITIES PARKS AND FIELDS ARE FALLING APART AND THE P&R IS CONSIDERING "PLAYER PARTICIPATION FEES" FOR PARTICIPATION ON TAXPAYER TEAMS!!  I DON'T THINK SO!!  THE LOCAL POLITICOS MUST HAVE MISSED THE RECENT ELECTION CRYS FOR LESS SPENDING AND LESS TAXES.  WHY DO THE PEOPLE OF TORRINGTON HAVE TO SUPPORT THIS TEAM WHILE PEOPLE ARE LOSING THEIR HOMES AND HALF THE CHILDREN IN TORRINGTON ARE ON LOW COST OF NO COST SCHOOL LUNCHES.  MANY OF THE PARTICIPANTS IN THE VARIOUS SPORTS CANNOT PAY THE "PAY TO PLAY" FEES, BUT NO, LETS THROW MONEY AT A TEAM THAT SHOULD BE IN THE BUSINESS OF MAKING MONEY AND STANDING ON THEIR OWN FEET.  IF THEY FAIL AFTER THEIR COLLECTION OF MONIES FROM TEAM OWNERSHIP FEES AND GATE RECEIPTS, THEN SO BE IT.  OUR TAX MONEY SHOULD BE USED FOR THE BENEFIT OF THIS COMMUNITY'S RESIDENTS.  LET'S GET OUR PRIORITIES STRAIGHT!!  "THATS MY SAY"
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THE PARK AND REC. DEPT. CALLS A MEETING FOR SPORTS TEAMS IN TORRINGTON AND THE TORRINGTON AREA TO DISCUSS RULES REGULATIONS AND NEW POTENTIAL FEES.  WHILE THEY MADE A COMPELLING ARGUMENT FOR THESE NEW POLICIES, IT IS ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF A HEAVY HANDED GOVERNMENT BUREAUCRACY NOW INTERFERING IN THE LEISURE ACTIVITIES OF OUR YOUTH AND ADULTS INVOLVED IN SPORTS PROGRAMS. DUMMY ME!  I THOUGHT WE WERE SUPPOSED TO BE WORKING TOGETHER IN PROMOTING AS MUCH PARTICIPATION IN THESE PROGRAMS AS WE CAN BECAUSE OF THE OBVIOUS BENEFITS TO THE COMMUNITY.

1ST, THE RULES AND REGULATIONS:  WHILE MANY, IF NOT MOST,  ARE GOOD COMMON SENSE RULES AND REGS, A FEW ARE JUST PLAIN ASININE.  ALL WOULD BE VIRTUALLY UNENFORCEABLE UNLESS THERE IS A PARK "SECRET POLICE" OR A NETWORK OF SNITCHES INVOLVED.  THE WAY THINGS ARE GOING IN TODAYS WORLD, THAT MIGHT NOT SEEM SO RIDICULOUS.  

2ND, FEES:  THE PARK AND REC IS PROPOSING A TARGETED "PLAYER PARTICIPATION FEE" (TAX) FOR EVERYONE FROM AGE 6-60 WHO PARTICIPATES IN ANY SPORT IN TORRINGTON INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, SITTING ON A PARK BENCH TO PICKING THEIR NOSES!!   .  THE GENERAL OPINION BY THE GROUPS ATTENDING WAS DISMISSIVE ON PAYING ANY KIND OF FEE FOR THE FOLLOWING REASON.  ALL SPORTS, EXCEPT FOR SOME BASKETBALL AND ADULT SOFTBALL, ARE OPERATED INDEPENDENTLY.  THEY HAVE THEIR OWN VOLUNTEER MANAGEMENT PEOPLE, TAKE CARE OF THEIR SCHEDULING AND RAISE THEIR OWN FUNDS TO FINANCE THEIR PROGRAMS. ALL ORGANIZATIONS HAVE A "PAY TO PLAY" FEE POLICY THAT IS COLLECTED FROM THE PARTICIPANTS TO HELP FINANCE THE VARIOUS PROGRAMS  i.e. LITTLE LEAGUE, SOCCER, BASEBALL, ETC.  IN MANY CASES AND BECAUSE OF THE LOUSY ECONOMY, MANY OF THE PARTICIPANTS ARE UNABLE TO PAY THESE FEES.  YET, NO ONE IS TURNED AWAY FOR THEIR INABILITY TO "PAY" AND THAT PRESENTS SERIOUS PROBLEMS TO THE SUCCESSFULL FUNCTION OF SOME OF THESE PROGRAMS. THE PARK & REC DEPT. HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THE OPERATIONS OF THESE ORGANIZATION AND THEIR  PROGRAMS, EXCEPT FOR MAYBE SOME OVERSIGHT. THEY  HAVE A  BUDGET FOR OVER 1.5 MILLION) AND ONE OF THEIR RESPONSIBILITIES IS TO BE THE CARETAKER FOR CITY OWNED PROPERTY (I.E. TAXPAYER PROPERTY) AND TO PROVIDE THEM IN A REASONABLE CONDITION TO THE CITY TEAMS.  A "TAX ON A TAX" TO ACCESS THESE FACILITIES WHICH WE CANNOT TOUCH DUE TO LABOR AGREEMENTS WITH CITY UNIONS IS "NOT ACCEPTABLE".  ALL SPORTS ORGANIZATIONS MUST BE FIRM AND STAND TOGETHER AGAINST THIS PROPOSAL OR A PRECEDENT WILL BE SET FOR ETERNITY AND THE AMOUNT CHARGED CAN CHANGE AT THE WHIM OF AN ANY IGNORANT POLITCIAN.  NO TAX ON A TAX!!  GET OFF OUR BACKS AND OUT OF BACK POCKET AND LET US DO WHAT WE DO.  "THATS MY SAY"
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THE SUMMER BASEBALL SEASON HAS ENDED ALONG WITH THE INAUGURAL SEASON FOR THE TORRINGTON TITANS, PLAYING IN THE ATLANTIC COLLEGIATE BASEBALL LEAGUE.  ONE THING YOU CAN SAY ABOUT THE ACBL, IT IS NOT THE NECBL, IN ORGANIZATION OR IN BASEBALL SKILL LEVELS UNLESS, OF COURSE, YOU BUY INTO THE HYPE AND SPIN, WHICH UNFORTUNATELY, SOME HAVE.  I REMEMBER READING  WHAT A COLLEGE COACH HAD TO SAY ABOUT COLLEGE SKILL LEVELS.  HE INDICATED THAT COLLEGE SKILLS ARE LINEAR MEANING THAT THE TOP BRACKET OF PLAYERS ARE THE NCAA COLLEGE DIVISIONS, D1, D2 AND D3. THE LOWER BRACKET CONSISTS OF SMALL NAIA COLLEGES, JUNIOR COLLEGES AND FINALLY COMMUNITY COLLEGES.  THE ROSTERS OF THE ACBL TEAMS APPEAR TO BE TAKEN FROM, PRIMARILY, THE LOWER BRACKET, AND WHILE THE NECBL MAY ALSO TAKE SOME PLAYERS FROM THIS SAME GROUP, THEIR EMPHASIS IS ON THE  UPPER NCAA DIVISIONS.  THE RESULT IS THAT THE ACBL PRODUCT IS SUBSTANTIALLY LESS THEN ADVERTIZED.  THE ORGANIZATIONAL ASPECT IS EQUALLY ON OPPOSITE ENDS OF THE SPECTRUM.  THE NECBL APPEARS TO BE MUCH MORE PROFESSIONAL AND HAS CREATED A DECENT PLAYOFF STRUCTURE FOR THE END OF THE SEASON.  THE ACBL DID NOT SEEM TO KNOW WHAT THEIR PLAYOFF SYSTEM WAS GOING TO BE AND IN THE END THEY "GAMED" THE PLAYINS SO THE TITANS WERE FORCED TO PLAY THEIR OPENING PLAYOFF GAME AWAY INSTEAD OF ON THEIR HOME FIELD.  WHEN THEY PUBLICLY COMPLAINED, ACBL MANAGEMENT, IN THEIR TYPICAL NEW YORK WAY, TOLD THEM TO SHUTUP AND THREATENED TEAM OWNERS WITH DISCIPLINARY ACTION, LIKE WHAT, TONY SOPRANO SHOWING UP ON THEIR DOORSTEP.  THE ACBL IS A "BUSH LEAGUE" OPERATION!!

IT ALWAYS AMASES ME THAT PEOPLE THINK THAT COLLEGIATE BASEBALL PLAYERS FROM SOME WHERE OUTSIDE THE TORRINGTON AREA COMMUNITY AND CHOSEN FROM THE LOWEST SKILL LEVEL SCHOOLS WOULD OR COULD PROVIDE A SUPERIOR ENTERTAINMENT VALUE TO WHAT IS ALREADY HERE.  THE LOCAL TRI-STATE YOUNG MENS LEAGUE WITH MANY EX COLLEGE PLAYERS AS WELL AS GOOD EX HIGH SCHOOL PLAYERS, BOTH NOW HAVING MATURED INTO VERY GOOD IF NOT OUTSTANDING PLAYERS, RECEIVES LITTLE RESPECT. THAT IS BECAUSE THEIR INTEREST IS PLAYING COMPETITIVELY AND ENJOYING THE GAME AND NOT TRYING TO BE SOMETHING THEY ARE NOT. TOP LEVEL AMERICAN LEGION OR CONNIE MACK TEAMS CAN ALSO PROVIDE GOOD, COMPETITIVE AND ENTERTAINING BASEBALL.  FANCY NAMES SUCH AS "CROWD SOURCING" OR "TEAM OWNERSHIP" ALONG WITH OVER THE TOP SPIN AND COVERAGE, CANNOT HIDE THE FACT,  EXCEPT TO THE UNKNOWING OR THOSE WITH THE "SPORTS STAR SYNDROME" THAT "MEDIOCRITY" CAN BE SOLD AND AT A FAIRLY DECENT PRICE AND RECEIVE SUBSIDIZED FINANCIAL SUPPORT FROM THE CITY'S TAXPAYERS.  "THATS MY SAY!!"