Player-Character Number 7 - Larry the Little Professor
Ah, now for that encyclopedia in sports clothes; Larry, the Little Professor.
He knows how many homers Ted Williams hit, how many no-hitters Kathy Arendsen has, and when and where softball was invented.
But that isn't the problem for you, Coach -- Larry knows every rule and interpretation and the 'correct' skills used in running the bases, sliding, holding the bat while bunting.
Worse of all, he'll drive you crazy by correcting you whenever your information or advice isn't 100% accurate.
Regardless of all that, some of our happiest moments in coaching have been while having fun with a "Larry.
" Example: You're showing the squad how to run bases and how their right foot is to hit the left front corner of the bag.
Larry says, "That's right, Coach, and Coach Simpson at the clinic I attended said that we should pretend there's a spider on that corner and we should step on him as we come around.
" Minutes later you are teaching the rundown and Larry says, "That's not quite right.
Coach Hutchins taught me to hold the ball up by my right ear and make a dart-type throw.
" Your feelings: Spare me from this aggravation.
He's always butting in, but, darn it, he's right all the time! What you can do: Secure coaches who know their skills and rules can have a ball with Larry.
Poor, uninformed coaches will hate him and even be afraid of him.
Their usual tactic is to try to embarrass him and be very sarcastic.
Beware! You may be wrong on some rule or skill and he'll say, "I told you so, Coach" and guess who gets embarrassed in front of the team.
Enjoy him.
You can have your own private little game.
Go ahead with your directions and look at him once in a while, silently saying with a wink, "How am I doing?" and he'll shrug his shoulders and silently say, "O.
K.
so far but don't mess up.
" Your self-image should not be so fragile that you can't say, "Larry, did we cover that O.
K.
?" You can have a lot of fun with him with trivia, too.
"Hey, Larry, You know that softball was invented at Navy Pier in Chicago, but do you know what they used for their ball?" * Situation: With your runners on 2nd and 3rd, the opposing infield is playing in on the grass for a possible play at the plate.
Your batter hits a grounder past the shortstop and the ball hits your runner going to 3rd base.
The 3rd base umpire calls 'OUT'.
You get up and say, "Come on, Larry, let's help the head umpire get this straightened out.
" You can do the talking and Larry can quote them the rule covering the case.
Larry's Thing: Having Fun with the Game * Answer to the question: They tied up an old boxing glove.
He knows how many homers Ted Williams hit, how many no-hitters Kathy Arendsen has, and when and where softball was invented.
But that isn't the problem for you, Coach -- Larry knows every rule and interpretation and the 'correct' skills used in running the bases, sliding, holding the bat while bunting.
Worse of all, he'll drive you crazy by correcting you whenever your information or advice isn't 100% accurate.
Regardless of all that, some of our happiest moments in coaching have been while having fun with a "Larry.
" Example: You're showing the squad how to run bases and how their right foot is to hit the left front corner of the bag.
Larry says, "That's right, Coach, and Coach Simpson at the clinic I attended said that we should pretend there's a spider on that corner and we should step on him as we come around.
" Minutes later you are teaching the rundown and Larry says, "That's not quite right.
Coach Hutchins taught me to hold the ball up by my right ear and make a dart-type throw.
" Your feelings: Spare me from this aggravation.
He's always butting in, but, darn it, he's right all the time! What you can do: Secure coaches who know their skills and rules can have a ball with Larry.
Poor, uninformed coaches will hate him and even be afraid of him.
Their usual tactic is to try to embarrass him and be very sarcastic.
Beware! You may be wrong on some rule or skill and he'll say, "I told you so, Coach" and guess who gets embarrassed in front of the team.
Enjoy him.
You can have your own private little game.
Go ahead with your directions and look at him once in a while, silently saying with a wink, "How am I doing?" and he'll shrug his shoulders and silently say, "O.
K.
so far but don't mess up.
" Your self-image should not be so fragile that you can't say, "Larry, did we cover that O.
K.
?" You can have a lot of fun with him with trivia, too.
"Hey, Larry, You know that softball was invented at Navy Pier in Chicago, but do you know what they used for their ball?" * Situation: With your runners on 2nd and 3rd, the opposing infield is playing in on the grass for a possible play at the plate.
Your batter hits a grounder past the shortstop and the ball hits your runner going to 3rd base.
The 3rd base umpire calls 'OUT'.
You get up and say, "Come on, Larry, let's help the head umpire get this straightened out.
" You can do the talking and Larry can quote them the rule covering the case.
Larry's Thing: Having Fun with the Game * Answer to the question: They tied up an old boxing glove.
