Chapter 6 Chapter Six

On Saturday afternoon, or the rest of the time after the test session, I sat on my backyard deck reading, rereading the Little League Statutes and Rules of the Game, highlighting many passages with yellow highlighter. Not long after I started reading the rules of the game, which totaled sixty-four pages, for the second time, I found myself reading a short article by the president of the Little League of America, in which a brief summary could be found in a local team manager. which qualities.Many of the traits sounded familiar at first, but then I realized that what it takes to lead well (and some of the traits I've worked hard to develop and carry throughout my career) are universal , not only has a long history, it is absolutely feasible to lead a Little League team, and it is also feasible in any company's board of directors: empathy, tolerance, setting a good example, cooperation and mutual assistance, team spirit, moving towards a common goal , Encouragement, praise, and always work hard and strive for excellence.Every trait enumerated here is essential to a good leader in any business, yet I never expected to find such wise and useful advice in a book explaining the rules of baseball.

I read between the lines hundreds of dos and don'ts of the game to recall my time in Little League, but those memories quickly faded from my mind.The chairman's concise and powerful essay forced me to observe myself for a long time, and I got a very sad self-image.John.Harding, a widower with no direct blood relatives, was on furlough from work, depressed, aimless, and possibly suicidal.To such a John.Harding going to lead a Little League team?impossible!Right now I'm about to lead the Little League season. From a mentality point of view, it's really stupid and irresponsible. Those good hard-working kids I saw this morning deserve a much better team manager than me.How can I have the ability to encourage them?How much compassion and empathy should I give?And how can I try to understand the family life of young players while struggling with the unforgiving fact that my own family no longer exists?How can I set a good example for them, fill their hearts with passion and desire, teach them how to think positively and never, ever throw in the towel (!) while being the manager of the team, the leader of the kids, already Ready to quit one of the biggest races of my life and not care if I live to see the next sunrise?It's all my fault that the situation has come to this.In such a depressed state, I accepted Bill.West's best sales pitch, because he's always been a special friend, but it's not fair to the young, impressionable kids who have enough troubles at their age.It's not fair!Even so, I still have time to pull my legs out.Then I thought of Sally, who always acted as my team manager whenever I faced a situation in the mall that I thought I couldn't handle and didn't want to deal with.She'd take my face in her hands, look me in the eyes, and say: Man, I've never seen anything or anyone knock you down, and I've never seen you give up.You must have a solution to the problem in front of you, just as you have solved every problem in the past.Just be yourself and things will work out.

I tucked the rules book into the back pocket of my trousers and nudged the glass door to the living room, letting it slide open.I paced slowly across the living room, stopped about a yard in front of the fireplace, bent forward and stretched my arms until my hands gripped the wooden mantelpiece.I stared down at the hearth.To my right was a small brass pail full of kindling and folded old newspapers, and next to the brass pail was a brass firewood stand piled high with split maple logs.Sally insisted that we didn't officially move into our new home until we had a fire in the fireplace for the first time, so she quickly found a local lumber supplier who would deliver to her home. There was a wall of piles in the garage Full of firewood.I still remember that chilly night in March this year when I walked in after a long day at work to find a roaring fire in the fireplace and a smug wife eager to see my reaction .She clasped her small hands tightly, as if begging for mercy, her blue eyes widened, and she asked worriedly: "How is it? What do you think of my arrangement?"

I remember saying to myself on the spot, "Honey, you've given yourself another chore, especially on Christmas morning, and it must be done." Rick had gone to bed by then, so we sat on the couch very close together, hand in hand, head to head, staring contentedly at the gold and crimson flames I put my arms against the mantelpiece, pushed myself away from the mantelpiece, and turned to stare at the empty sofa, feeling so lost and alone.Then I pulled back the black mesh partition that covered the fireplace opening, reached inside the fireplace, opened the chimney damper, and within ten minutes I had a flame going up.I stacked some firewood on top of the flames, as high as the top of the firewood racks in the stove, and I drew the screen over the fireplace opening, and I threw myself on the sofa, but it was June, and I There's no Sally around to cuddle

Consolidated school districts, each with students from multiple small neighboring towns, have seemed to have become the norm throughout New Hampshire over the past two decades or so, driven by home government budgets.However, the town of Bolan, which operates independently, still maintains its own status, and schools at all levels are also self-contained.Because of this, Bill.The moment West drove into the parking lot of Bran Middle School on Monday night, the trip back in time began again.The thin curtain was lowered towards the evening, but I could see that the appearance of the one-storey building made of red bricks had hardly changed from when I graduated in 1967.We step into a hallway with gleaming floor tiles.The walls are painted a familiar beige, and there are several cork-padded bulletin boards, full of various announcements.I stopped outside one of the doors, the number four in gold, printed high on the frosted glass.Bill turned around and stared at me, and I pointed to the door in front of me and explained: My tutor room, third grade.It shouldn't matter if you take a peek inside, right?

Can't see why. The door is locked. We continued down the corridor and into Room 8, where the lottery was scheduled to take place.Stewart.Rand and Nancy.Both McLarens stood by the desk.On the big blackboard behind them are the names of all the players who participated in the test meeting last Saturday. Good night, both of you, Stewart said loudly.Please take a seat wherever you want, it will start in a few minutes.Thanks. Bill moved up the aisle first, shaking hands with his old friends, and I followed him.Although I had met all the managers and coaches of other teams at the test meeting, Bill still introduced me to everyone again.We found two empty seats in the front row and each managed to squeeze our bodies behind small desks.

I guess we've grown a little bit since the 1960s, Bill said, giggling and patting his stomach.Stewart.Rand took a ruler and began to tap the side of the water glass, and all the conversation and laughter gradually died down. Well, folks, before we start our draw for this year, let me quickly review a few highlights for you.A player who was on a team last year doesn't necessarily stay on the same team this year.Players are not automatically allowed to stay with the original team.All players will be drawn by you to decide which team to join this season.Do you all understand? Rand looked around the classroom until several people nodded.

Someone asked me why there are no girls in this league.They are of course as eligible as the boys, and of course there have been women players in this league over the years.Still, the town's ageless women's softball game has become so popular that young girls have apparently opted to play in women's leagues, so starting this year, the league's teams will be all-male for the first time. Now before the lottery process starts, I have a small request.Could the manager of each team stand up, introduce himself, state the name of the team, and briefly explain the goal of leading the team this year in a few words.

Rand waited patiently, and finally a muscular man in a New York Yankees sweatshirt stood up and said, Sid.Max, I've learned that I'm leading the Yankees this season, and I'm being assisted by a great guy sitting to my right, Don.pop.This year is my third time as a manager and it has been an honor to look after this group of children.It is my fervent hope and prayer that Dunn and I will be able to teach them many of the values ​​they will need to live successful lives in the future, and more importantly, to teach them peace and contentment. A tall, gray-haired man in a well-fitting suit stood up and said, "My name is Walter.Hutchinson, who led the Cubs this season, worked with Aaron.Rumer, he can't be here tonight.This is my second season in the league. Last year I led a team that finished last. I look forward to improving this year, but I also understand that there are many other goals in our game of baseball besides winning. .From my own life experience, I know all too well that kids in Little League get an excellent training environment that helps build character.

My name is Anthony.Picasso, a stocky man sitting in front of me spoke.In the entire New Hampshire Little Baseball League, I am probably the only grandfather-level team manager. This year's Pirates team in this league will be composed of myself and the present Jerry.White led the way.I was a team manager for six years, the first three years because my grandson played on the team and now he lives in Arizona.When I joined the league, it was all for my grandson.In the past few years as a manager, the team I have led has won two championships. I look forward to building another excellent team this season. This time may be the last time I lead the team, because the doctor thinks that I am so emotional. Not much good.Hopefully, by the end of this season, I'll walk away with my head held high, but more importantly, I want to contribute again to helping twelve kids take that next step in the right direction on a tough life path.

When Picasso sat down with a smile, there was a burst of applause from the banquet.No loser to the politicians, someone sitting behind me said loudly, and everyone smiled at the dude.Confused, I glanced at Bill. Papa Anthony is the head of the financial department in our town of Bran.I guess he has been in office for more than twenty years.Now it's your turn to introduce yourself, buddy. I stood up, took a deep breath, and said: My name is John.Harding, in my old friend Bill.With the great assistance of West, I will be the manager of the Angels this season.After all these years, I am honored and honored to be a part of the Brownstown Little League again, and I am so grateful to all of you for giving me the opportunity to mentor and play with these amazing kids.Regarding the position of team manager, I am very clear that I have a lot to learn. When I need advice in the future, I hope you can give me more advice.These lovely children entrusted to us deserve every opportunity to develop their full potential.I feel very honored to be able to participate in the activities of the alliance. Stewart.Rand nodded to me with a faint smile and said: Thank you everyone.Now is the important moment!The draft process stipulated by the league is simple.The managers of the four teams first draw a number from my old baseball cap.The manager who draws No. 1 picks a player first, and the manager who draws No. 2 picks another player, then No. 3 and No. 4.After the first round, for the sake of fairness and for the strength of each team to be equal, the order of selecting players in the second round was reversed. The manager who got No. Then the manager who was drawn to No. 3 in the first round will be selected, and so on.There are forty-eight eligible players, so there will be a total of twelve rounds of drafting.Every time you pick a player, Nancy will hand over the player's information card, which includes the address, parent's name and phone number.You should be willing to make a call to inform the player, explain which team he belongs to this season, and also announce the time and place of the team's first practice. One last rule.Both Sid's son and Walt's son will play in the league this year.Both children are excellent, so, in order to abide by the rules and practices of this town, these two players will be picked by their respective fathers in the second round.I think it's a fair move for the four teams.Nonetheless, if anyone has an objection, do so now. No one objected. Well folks, there are four folded paper strips inside this hat.Please four managers come forward, each take a card from the hat and give it to Nancy. Four people lined up to draw lots, and I was the last one, so Stewart took out the lottery for me and handed it to Nancy, while I returned to my seat.She opened all four slips of paper, made a record in the pad, and handed the pad to Stewart. Ladies and gentlemen, the following are the results of the lottery, and we will draft according to the order drawn.Newcomers are always lucky!John of the Angels.Harding drew number one, and number two was the Yankees' Sid.Max, number three is Walter Cubs.Hutchinson, and then unfortunately, Papa Anthony, the number four was drawn by the Pirates' Anthony.Picasso.John, have you made up your mind on who to pick for the number one Angels team? It's decided.The Angels selected Todd.Stevenson. The classroom was full of murmurs of dissatisfaction and complaints.Sid.Max turned around and grinned at me and said: Todd plays once a week and wins every game, so you've got six wins already.As long as you win three of the other six games, you will win the league championship. Sid Sid if only it was as easy as you make it out to be, Bill sighed. I know.Just kidding, John. The entire draft took nearly two hours.The coaches and managers of each team checked and checked with their notes from time to time, and walked out of the classroom several times to discuss privately in the corridor.It's been obvious from the start of the draft that these guys know the talent inside and out.Luckily I have Bill.As a partner of West, I relied heavily on his judgment during the round after round of the draft process. Finally, the draft has entered the final round, and there are only four players left who have not yet been favored.On the blackboard, the names of other players have been re-marked with deleted horizontal lines, as are the player lists in the hands of the managers and coaches of each team.Bill leaned toward me, reached for the list in my hand, and pointed to one of the names that hadn't been crossed out: Timothy.Nobel.I glanced at him.He was shaking his head.The eleven players currently selected by the team look like a group of excellent players in all aspects.I'm happy with this lineup, at least on paper.Now, just take one more round and you're done. This round didn't take long.Bishop, Hutchinson, and Max all picked players before me. After the three of them picked players, there was only one name left on the blackboard that had not been crossed out with white chalk. Timothy.Noble became the last player I picked for my twelfth angel.