Late summer truly is the lowest of low points for sports fans. Outside of Major League Baseball there is nothing, LITERALLY NOTHING, to sustain a person's need for sporting sustenance. Or, at least, that must be how ESPN feels. How else could you explain their inexplicable airing and promotion of the Little League World Series?
For about as long as I can remember ESPN has aired the Little League World Series, and not just on ESPN 2 but their flagship channel. As if that is something people want to watch! In case you are unaware, the Little League World Series pits a bunch of pre-teens (13 and under) against each other for the title of who is the best bunch of children at baseball from one specific part of the world (but mostly the United States).
Want to watch a bunch of kids play a sport? No? How about a bunch of kids from Canada play a sport?
Seriously, what other sport would even dare try to subject the general public to watching a bunch of babies unironically competing? The audacity is disgusting.
This year, there is a mildly interesting storyline in Mo'ne Davis, one fo the very few girls to ever compete in the LLWS and maybe the first with her ability to compete. Even so, these stories have little more than novelty value.
I just can't wrap my head around the motivation for ESPN to air this? It certainly couldn't be in anyway just a cycnical attempt to cash in on a bunch of kids playing a sport masked as tradition, that sentiment is nonexistent in today's sporting world.
This is a real thing, Wow.
Just look at this recent 30 for 30 short detailing the rise and fall of Danyy Almonte. Almonte was the center of quite a bit of attention and subsequent controversy in August 2011 for playing in the LLWS overage. It is fascinating in large part because of how much people cared.
I&width=576&height=324&externalId=espn:11311860">
Seriously, who really cares?
Still a part of me has to tip my hat to ESPN for so shameless trying to make a buck from sponsors by airing little babies playing a sport. Eric Cartman would be proud.
Little League World Series and ESPN: OVERRATED!