Though it doesn't get anywhere near the national attention and publicity of certain other sports in America, ladies' fast-pitch softball is pretty cool to watch. Their version of the college "World Series" in going on right now, and is being televised by an ESPN station. To steal a line from Michael Jordan, who was talking about an ill-fated venture into another sport at the time -- "These guys are good".
Indeed they are. All these girls are highly proficient at fielding and throwing the ball. When it comes to speed on the base paths, they zoom around like the "road-runner" from cartoons of yore. They're FAST.
Sure, most fast pitch softball games aren't exactly "slug-fests", because elite pitchers in that game dominate much more so than their counterparts in regular (mens') baseball. Yet like baseball, at the highest levels, the hitters are really good too. Sometimes a lot of runs will get scored.
Yes, a softball is a considerably larger target than a baseball to hit, but let's not forget the distance from the pitcher's mound to home plate is a lot closer, and softball hurlers have a variety of pitches and speeds that can rival most baseball pitchers. It's been said that a softball thrown at 70 MPH from 43 feet away (the college distance) is like trying to hit a major league fastball in the high 90's. From what I've seen, I think that's underestimated. The hitters in the girls' game have to be even quicker with their reflexes and bats. Check it out and decide for yourself.
So here's to the ladies' college World Series of softball. You are all incredibly talented and deserve much more praise and attention than you get. The end.
Well, not quite. This is where I turn off the main drag and venture down a seldom used, and potentially scary path. Yea, though I walk through the valley of political incorrectness, I shall fear no evil -- because sometimes it just is what it is.
Despite all the aforementioned skills -- I have a problem watching these games. To be blunt -- they just won't shut up.
Throughout the entire game, all the girls on both teams, particularly in the dugouts, act like it's a combination between a pep rally and cheerleader tryouts. On and on they'll go. The chatter never stops. Nuclear powered vocal cords. They'll chant and sing songs normally associated with 8 year olds at a sleep-over, camp-out, or maybe little league teams. These girls can vote, drive a car, serve in the military, and even bear children. So when they're playing softball at the highest collegiate level -- why do they revert back to acting like they're in the 3rd grade again? What's up with THAT?
Make it mandatory that they chew gum or tobacco like baseball players. Or spit sunflower seeds. Better yet, put a little "pinch" of snuff between their cheeks and gums, and this problem would be solved. Let them spit THAT in the dugouts or on the field. If all else fails, muzzle them. Tase them. Do something -- anything -- to keep them from flapping their gums while just spewing childish nonsense.
It's a fascinating game played by highly skilled athletes.
I just wish they'd act their age.
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