Three baseball players decided that they had had enough. They were high school players, after all, and seniors, to boot! They deserved to play more than they had throughout the course of the season, and they were going to make a statement. So, they marched into the coaches' office to talk with him. He asked them to sit, but of course, one had to stand, because, much like many high school coaches' offices, they didn't have updated facilities - and so, not enough chairs.
One of the boys spoke for the other two: "Coach, I know there's only three days left and two games, but I don't want to miss my last day of independent study class today, and I don't feel like we've been treated right throughout the year, so we've decided that we're not playing tonight, and we're quitting."
His discussion went on to repeat the concept that they believed that they should have been treated better, as seniors, and that they would not be taking part in the last regular season game of the year - a home game versus a rival. That they knew that it was Senior and Parent Day, but that they didn't feel like it was right to finish out the year. Needless to say, they had thought this through, come into the coache's office a few hours before the last regular season game of the year, and they would be quitting.
Coach responded by telling them that he felt that he had been honest and up-front with them throughout the year, and asked what they meant, specifically, by saying that they should've been treated better.
The spokesman for the threesome continued his explanation, by describing how the three had put in the effort to be there for most practices, admitting that they had missed some practices, and that they had goofed around from time to time, but that they had been a part of the program for a while - well, he had only been for two years - but that they had been a part of the program and put in the effort, and were deserving of better.
Never mind that they had missed practices (and games!) for independent study classes, make-up tests, work, illness, and being late to school- or that one had even scheduled surgery on the day of a playoff game. They deserved better!
Never mind that one had started 10 of the first 12 games before being late to school , getting sick, staying sick, missing practices and games for tests, and scheduling surgery on the day of a playoff game.
Never mind that one had started half of the games before getting injured, needing a week to recover, showing up 30 minutes late for batting practice, missing twice because he went home from school because of his allergies, generally pouting while sitting on the bench, and 'forgetting' to tell the coach that he was going to miss practice because of a field trip.
Never mind that one never showed up for off-season or pre-season meetings, did not make a single pre-season workout session, did not participate in the pre-season throwing program, was significantly out of shape, had a hard time making an accurate throw of 90 feet during practice or pre-game, missed several practices or left early from practice for work, missed at least two practices to make up tests, and struck out 80% of the time during his at-bats during the season when he did play.
No, never mind all that. They deserved better.
Or ... then again ... maybe the coach deserved better?
