Someone Wonderful: Best Baseball Moment of the Summer

Notice the pouty kid had no reaction to the generous gift. Future Democrat. Small bet that the good kid is a military "brat" or homeschooled.

Posted by Scott M at August 10, 2011 1:07 PM

Scott M, you beat me to it...
I was also thinking that because he whined and cried loud enough, he got his way...
Rewarded for his crappy behavior.
Shame.
Just another squeaky wheel getting his grease.

Posted by Uncle Jefe at August 10, 2011 2:06 PM

Why can't you just concentrate on the generosity of the one boy and just shut up about the other? Not everything has to be a morality play or have political overtones. It is cynicism that is destroying this country faster than anything else.

God forbid anyone should ever do anything nice for someone else until they find out if the other person will be "properly" grateful or better yet, kiss your feet so you can think what a great person you are. No, it is more fun to diminish the generosity by harping on some perceived lack by the other party. Disgusting!

Posted by Sara (Pal2Pal) at August 10, 2011 2:42 PM

The most shocking thing was the how shocked the announcers were. Incredulous, even. "I can't believe I'm seeing this!" Dude, get out of the media compound for a weekend, spend it with some Boy Scouts or Marines and you won't be so stunned next time somebody does a nice thing.

Posted by Director at August 10, 2011 4:25 PM

A bit over the top, Sara.
I saw the lad's good deed, and from my experience there are plenty of folks out there who do the right thing naturally.
However, the temper-tantrum whiners who get rewarded learn to keep that up, and quite frankly, it's current-event front-page news (entitlement rioters in England, entitlement whiners in DC refusing to cut spending,etc).
It's not cynicism that's destroying our country; it's childish tantrum-throwers who want not only a baseball, but all the baseballs.
It's not "fun", and the one boy's generosity is not diminished by noting the sad behavior of the crybaby.

Posted by Uncle Jefe at August 10, 2011 5:17 PM

It's not "fun", and the one boy's generosity is not diminished by noting the sad behavior of the crybaby.

It is, whether you realize it or not. We live in a "find the blame" society now. The goal is to blame the other side, rather than support and cheer for the right/good/unselfish side. You are saddling a very young child with motives and behaviors that are far beyond his years. Worse, you are laying a guilt trip on him. As I said, over the top or not...Disgusting!

Posted by Sara (Pal2Pal) at August 10, 2011 5:49 PM

No, Sara, you can both support what you believe is right/good/unselfish, and point out that which is wrong/bad/selfish/etc.
Have you been around children much?
Because they learn from infancy how to manipulate, and this is not cynicism, it is fact. A child will, like water, find the easiest way. And an infant realizes very quickly when it cries, that there is an instant response...attention, and a fulfilling of wants/needs. And if left unchecked, it gets horribly worse.
Now, if I were a cynic, I would ascribe the 'good' boy's actions in the above video not to his good nature, but rather to the suggestion of the man in the red shirt in the dugout below the stands (30 seconds on the video) who points out how bad a scene the pouter is making. "Hey, give that kid the ball."
But seeing how angry you can get ("shut up" "disgusting!"), I'll refrain from being cynical, in fear that your head will explode.

Posted by Uncle Jefe at August 10, 2011 7:41 PM

The kid who gave the ball has a generous and giving soul. The kid who accepted the ball was probably speechless and was caught off guard. There aren't many people in life who give from the heart spontaneously, especially to strangers. Even the kid who said nothing, probably knows this.

Posted by Cilla Mitchell, Galveston, Texas at August 10, 2011 8:09 PM

Indeed, Cilla, whether someone suggested to him that he give the other kid the ball, or if he noticed himself how upset the kid was, the 'good' kid had to make a choice, and he made the one that reflected well upon him.

Posted by Uncle Jefe at August 10, 2011 8:19 PM

Would we be giving credit to the good kid if he had remained speechless instead of being generous?

The whiner is at the game with what is probably his mom, coincidence? Did you notice how hard whiner's mom tried to say "thank you" or make whiner say "thank you"? I haven't seen that much effort since the Apollo program.

I'll bet the ball didn't even make it home, probably dropped on the way to the car.

Good kid's a fine young man and will do well. Whiner better shape up or learn to love cats and decorating. What's the magic age when it's ok to start character building?

Posted by Scott M at August 11, 2011 3:00 AM

The recipients response had to have been shock. As a youngster, he was probably still caught up in the initial loss. We do not know his story. He looked rather young for people to assume his character by this one situation. Just a kid in my view. In retrospect, maybe this act of kindness will have a very positive influence on him. I hope so, but we will never know.

Posted by G-Rope at August 11, 2011 10:48 AM

Why didn't the adult women beside the whiner remember to act with character? Is she too young for a character moment also? Maybe the simpler theory is that the whiner comes from another entitled atmosphere and both people's behavior speaks about their character.

If someone gave you something very valuable would you react as if it was a $1 off coupon at a car wash? The ball was valuable enough to cause emotion when it was missed.

Posted by Scott M at August 11, 2011 1:47 PM