The Born Loser by Art and Chip Sansom for April 07, 2024

I understand Wilberforce’s disappointment: when I was his age I was always the last to be chosen for soccer matches. And, often, I didn’t even play.

I’ve seen this a lot. Now it’s worse than ever. Everything is about money.

Well, he’s on the team, anyway. Won’t get him into the pros, but might get him into college.

Reminds me of an old Family Affair episode. Buffy was a natural, Jody was a dud. But Jody thought he was very important because he had so many positions. Bat boy, water boy, …..

In football, that’s called Left Out.

Hey, I played the same position…

… otherwise known as a bench warmer.

Like father, like son?

Look on the bright side. There’s less laundry for your mother to do.

I was the one that passed the basket around for donations.

Where do they get these coaches from? When I coached soccer, every kid had to play in half of a game. The only exception was for missing a practice without an excuse. Oh, I know, there were a few players I would’ve liked to bench for poor play, but they got their time when they practiced.

Splinters in the backside hurt Wilberforce, think about taking a cushion.

gotta warm that bench somehow. :D

Designated anything is better than nothing Wilberforce .

I coached from T-Ball thru little leagues with my kids and all on the team played. Good or not. You learn from practice and playing. And winning is learning to just have fun when young or old in sports along with competition.

Then get him down to the batting cage so be can become that designated hitter and get off that lounge chair and get into some field practice with him ro improve his skills. Designated sitter won’t do it. Do your job Dad……

he’s riding the pine…

The bright side is Brutus and Gladys won’t have to spend thousands of dollars a year and every weekend on travel baseball like a lot of my colleagues with “gifted“ children. Unfortunately, personalized coaching from Dad probably won’t help much in this case. But maybe the best thing to do is work on his humor, so maybe he can become a beloved baseball announcer like Bob Uecker. Or if he wants to really go for the top, the next Tom Hamilton! “DOWN GOES ANDERSON!!!!!!!!”

That must be disappointing for Wilberforce.

I couldn’t go on a baseball field when I was a kid without getting some stupid injury… so I gave up on baseball and took up tennis.

Could pretty much see where this was going, and you thank dear old Dad’s genes for this.

Instead of sitting, why not practice more and try to get better. Oh, that’s right, you get a trophy anyway so why try to get better?

Like father, like son.

In baseball designated sitters get to enjoy the art of sitting…….

Now’s your chance Thorny… Take him out and hit em ground balls till the sun goes down! It’s all about the foot work Wilberforce!

If you practice Wilberforce maybe you can be the designated hit batsman and then you can go out there and take one for the team.

Runs in the family. . . .

I always played ‘Left Out.’ (Sitting on the bench!)

Aka bench warmer

They also serve who sit and wait.