Those Malibuites who have been delayed by the Opening Day Little League Parade on Pacific Coast Highway, yearly over the last 45 years, and have viewed the Little League Parade as a nuisance, have got their wish at last. No Little League Parade this year.
Clearly the Little League Board, in its youthful wisdom, felt that the gaiety of players shouting and waving from team floats, with the lead Sheriff’s Car speakers screaming the “Little League March” and Los Angeles County fire engines announcing the parade with their sirens and flashing red lights, have become an unimportant part of this yearly Malibu passage of youth.
While no longer involved with the current Little League program, I did spend over 20 years with the local and district program holding various offices and managing numerous teams and really enjoyed the participation. My wife and I never missed a Malibu Little League parade during those years and will miss this yearly event. Malibu Little League was my catalyst to collegiate coaching and officiating.
The only advice I was given prior to coaching Malibu Little League was to draft players for their parents. You can teach a youth to play baseball, I was told, but can’t teach a parent sportsmanship. I met superb parents and youth in the community through Little League baseball. My first game Little League managing experience was a catastrophe. I was coaching from the dugout, when I noticed that 9 year old Sandy Cook (yes, girls can play hardball) wasn’t disheartened. I asked her if she knew the score. “We’re behind 16 to nothing,” she answered with a smile. “Wow,” I said, “you don’t look discouraged.” “Discouraged?” she replied “Why should I be discouraged? We haven’t been up to bat yet.”
And that is all I have to say (sure)
Tom Fakehany