Tuesday, February 14, 2017
Weekly Post #6: Baseball in Africa (Due Feb 20)
A good read from a while ago. Keeping up with the international baseball trend. This is a piece about the power of baseball in other countries. Specifically, this looks at the coach and he reminded me a bit of Lynn Sweet. Read, comment, reflect. What are your thoughts on George and his baseball project?
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This was a very fun and positive article compared to the others we've read. Baseball was never talked about negatively, as it was when it's decline was discussed in Cuba. It was similar to the Dominican Republican article, but it didn't talk about money and contracts at all, it just focused on the kids which made it more lighthearted and fun to read. George's baseball project sounds great for the kids he teaches, and the fact that some of them continue with the sport and perfecting their skill is confirmation that George's teaching works. It sounds like his methods and engaging activities for the young, impoverished kids is something that takes them away from their daily lives and gives them exercise and excitement, something that may be hard to find otherwise.
ReplyDeleteI think that George has the right idea about how to teach and coach children. It is a similar principle to Sweet's in that he isn't interested in threatening the kids with drills and negative stimuli in order to get them to pay attention and do what they need to do in order to get better at or simply learn how to play the sport. I found it fascinating that the author stated, "I saw kids go to a place where, for a few hours, they had fun and played a game the right way. In many wealthy, privileged American towns, that is a hard thing to find." Here we see the theme of baseball being more appreciated and practiced outside of America, but also the sort of condescending tone that is common to essays written about working on Rustic Pathways service trips. The idea that the people, who the author almost always makes into an outsider whether indirectly or consciously, amaze them with their ability to appreciate what they have and be so happy despite their seemingly less fortunate circumstances. This is infuriating to me, but other than that I found the article to portray the coach as successful and highlighted important factors of peoples' lives that are often overlooked in school or sport settings. A student's life outside of the classroom can have a major impact on how they interpret and react to what is required of them inside the class. Teaching kids who have hunger pains or have just come from an abusive household how to play baseball is going to be different from teaching well fed, privileged kids how to play. I appreciate that the article began to look into that topic.
ReplyDeleteThis article was really eye opening. The author actually brought up a point I made in my last entry: "I saw kids go to a place where, for a few hours, they had fun and played the game the right way. In many wealthy, privileged American towns, that is a hard thing to find." I couldn't agree more. I think it's a huge shame that American children have more resources than any other children in the world, yet continue to set record breaking obesity and T.V. and computer usage rates. I would be really curious to see the potential these Ugandan kids could meet if they had the same resources as American children.
ReplyDeleteI think George is doing really good thing teaching baseball. Uganda is not a wealthy place, and there are many problems as the article mentioned including poverty, famine, and disease. Although baseball is not a solution to these problems, it is a tool in order to improve the lives of those in Uganda. Sports in general build community and character, so the fact that these kids are being taught sports at all is a good thing. In addition, sports can be a distraction from a less than stellar life, as well as a way to get out if one is able to make it big enough. But George went beyond just coaching these kids as the article mentioned he once had eight ball players living in his home. George's teachings, like Sweet's are not the most conventional as he often substitutes yellow balls with holes for hardballs to help teach beginners, but they are effective. In addition it seems that George along with others passionate about baseball have spread the sport throughout Uganda, evident by the fact that the team of Ugandan men beat the team of US soldiers. I think that sports are of value to any country, especially those in development, and I hope that baseball continues to aid Uganda and the rest of the world for years to come.
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ReplyDeleteGeorge like Sweet truly cares about his players, having his main point of focus be on the development of the kids and finding ways to raise money to build better fields or buy better equipment. I think his teaching methods also parallel Sweet’s, being more laid back and letting the players make their own decisions and find the way they want to play ball. George is a soft-spoken man but yet demands respect from all his players, which tells me that he has a relationship with almost every one of his players. He is inclusive and brings the community together. I think where Sweet and George differ is how George is seen as a traditional looking coach while Sweet is more of a radical one. George has quite a bit of baseball experience and has grown up playing the sport teaching others what he has learned through his time playing the sport. Sweet I feel suddenly picked the sport back up again and is employing his own tactics that he feels could work even if they are a little unethical. Either way, both coaches are making a difference in their community teaching kids how to enjoy playing the game of baseball. Their light-hearted way of coaching encourages players to have fun with it and play to their full potential.
ReplyDeleteThis article overall was very observant. It talked about not only how people are playing baseball, but how the community treats baseball. The church donated land for a field which allows for a space where many people can come to play. The overall tone of the article was quite positive as the narrator was seemingly amazed by the baseball culture in the town and broke down the training that the coach went through with all the kids. He specifically stated how the coach only gave out two balls to all twenty kids in order to eliminate chaos from their practice. George's attitude towards his baseball is rooted in good intentions and while he is helping the kids he is not going in with the thought that he is going to forever change their lives. Overall, I think that his project is doing only positive things for the players by not only encouraging them to have a good time but also bringing out the best in them.
ReplyDeleteThis was a very uplifting article, because it focused on George’s love for the game and the way that he inspires kids to have a similar love. Compared to the articles about Cuba and the DR, which to me were negative in the ways that the MLB took advantage of the situation, in Uganda it seems as though the sport is only growing and is untouched by the hands of the MLB, allowing the sport to grow from passion and less from money. These kids are at such a disadvantage when compared to kids in the US, but they still find a way to have fun and it is great that this topic is talked about. To me, I see a huge resemblance in the way that George and Sweet look at coaching the game, more of a “hands off” attitude allowing the game to grow naturally among the players and not be forced. Overall, George is a great guy, doing great things in Uganda for children, and I wish him the best of luck.
ReplyDeleteI think this was a very sweet (heh) piece which was very heartwarming. It did a very good job of presenting both the kindhearted passion of George and his athletes while also making it clear that this doesn't exist in a vacuum, and is rather a small good thing in an area that is not a very happy one, to say the least. In terms of its relation to Sweet and the Ironmen, it's certainly reminiscent with the kind and nurturing coach (Sweet/George). I like the way that they both manage to provide the opposite way to create a kind and nurturing space, Sweet by creating an unstructured freeform fun place of expression for kids in an overly rigidly structured conservative town, and George by providing a structured environment and lighthearted direction for these kids in a chaotic and strife-ridden country.
ReplyDeleteThis piece was incredibly heartwarming and inspiring. The article really brought to light George's passion for baseball but more importantly his care for his community. A lot of George's love for baseball and his players mirrors that of Sweet who would do anything for his ballplayers. It is hard to have hope in an a small town like Macon but even harder to have hope in the slums of a Ugandan city and we can see that one persons positive energy and passion for the game can turn around a community and lift up the spirits of the community members. It would be awesome to read a follow up piece on George and his players to see how they have progressed and to see more of their successes. Overall this article was inspiring and exciting as it showed that baseball is alive and well and still holds much of its dying promise.
ReplyDeleteThis story showed off the unique way baseball has of connecting people across continents. The country and players change, but the game remains the same. Even though George used different balls and many of the kids ran around barefoot without a mit, the author describes their drills as being very similar to the ones he ran in Brussels. This made me think that baseball is not just a national game, bringing people together in the US, but also an international game. I also really liked the role George played in the young ballplayers lives. He isnt just a baseball coach, but also a mentor off the field, even letting some of them stay at his house. I've had the same kind of relationships with many of my coaches and for me, it's what makes playing sports so special and enjoyable because all sports, especially baseball, create a community that can't be found anywhere else.
ReplyDeleteI thought that this piece was very happy and positive rather than sullen like a lot of baseball history has been. I really appreciated the focus on the fun aspect of baseball as opposed to the hardships. I think this article does this because it focuses more on youth than grownups playing baseball. I also can see the similarities between Sweets and George as they are coaches who tend to focus more on enjoying baseball rather than seeing it as war and a pressure point in American history. I also love the way the article focuses on teamwork. I haven't had much experience with being on a sports team growing up, though I was a part of a softball team for a while, but I do remember what it was like being on a team and being part of the group effort. I saw that in this article when the three kids practicing was described. I think this story overall gave baseball and positive bright light and paved a good pay for the future as well.
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed reading this article because it highlighted the way in which baseball brings people together. George's role as a coach and as a role model for the Ugandan citizens reminded me of the early ideologies of baseball and showed a true embodiment of how the game was supposed to be played. I particularly enjoyed how the Ugandan team beat the US soldiers in a friendly ball game because it demonstrated how the culture and opportunities that baseball provides are truly applicable to all people. Even though it was not explicitly stated, this article revealed that it is America and not baseball that needs to self reflect and examine our values.
ReplyDeleteThis piece gave another piece of hope for the declining game of baseball. George Mukhobe seems to be the embodiment of baseball's early spirit; his rise from the slums to a decent lifestyle mirror the same American Dream given to many baseball professionals. His propensity to give back to his community is inspiring; Mukhobe owes nothing to the youth on his teams yet he does so much fro them (such as providing them a place to live). I really see a lot of Lynn Sweet in Mukhobe; Mukhobe seems to have similar overall qualities, such as having extremely intimate relationships with his players and being a less conventional (not militaristic) coach but still easily commanding respect.
ReplyDeleteThe article was really enjoyable for me to read because of how it looks at the ways in which baseball can develop a sense of community. George Mukhobe is clearly a well-rounded coach, but he also has a deep love for baseball which allows him to mentor players of many different ages. He has a deep concern for the well-being of the kids who come out to play baseball for him. He works construction on the side, but he focuses a lot of his time on creating a way for children in Uganda, who are given much less opportunities to play baseball than a typical American kid, to share his own love for such an engaging and communal sport.
ReplyDeleteI think reading about something like this is really great because it shows that while baseball is already "fully developed" here in America and in the midst of a decline other countries are still picking it up and finding meaning in playing the game. While the story had a very cheerful undertone and tried to keep its' analysis of Kenya at the surface you could still a lot of the bad things shining through, like the part about HIV, the dictatorship and HIV. I also think that George has a lot of same traits as Sweets, he really cares about the game for the game and wants to spend his time creating a place where kids who might not have the best circumstances can play and learn baseball with him.
ReplyDeleteWhen you hear a success story of a small town little old nobody team rising up to win championships you think that the team must be lead by a superhuman coach. How could run of the mill kids who have been consistently irrelevant to the sport suddenly start winning? You would think that their success was driven by an inspirational mastermind, both Sweet and George are these things. Although not using the methods that you would expect, Sweet and George have lead their teams to victory. They don't scream at their players or run a tense practice, instead they believe in their players. If the players want to do well than they will put in the work and dedication to make themselves great, the coaches can't do it for them. Does their coaching style have something to do with the environment that they are in? Both coaches are from programs that are not heavily funded. Does this style allow for kids to cherish, have fun, and enjoy the game more? Is it just the way Sweet and George are, or is a strategy they are using? Both? At the end of the article it mentions that oftentimes US non-pro teams lose sight of what baseball is really about. They get absorbed with winning or the flashiness of the sport. Sweet and George however, are able to provide a space for kids to channel their energy in a productive way while still maintaining a fun environment. A fun environment does not mean that they don't take baseball seriously, because they do, it means that they understand that baseball is not everything; there are lots of things going on in the world and not all of them involve baseball.
ReplyDeleteI really loved this reading for several reasons. First of all, it was able to show the comradery and brotherhood of baseball. Two things that must be present in a functioning baseball environment/team. This brings me to my next point, George truly has a passion for the game and the kids he coaches. Baseball is fueled by passion and being together and when you get a coach who embraces that, it becomes the clear, far away, best sport. This article contrary to some of the other articles shows a lighter side as well as the positives baseball can bring. I appreciated that it was different from the others, because although I agree baseball has its fair share of issues, the game needs to be enjoyed and cherished once in awhile. That was what this article, and George for that matter, succeed greatly at.
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