Days of Wiff Gone By

What got me rambling about Wiffle Ball (aka Massive Wiff or just plain Wiff) was a blog by Muslim Majik. It's interesting to me that there are postings on the net concerning the state of Wiffle Ball, yet no one has quoted or even contacted the founder of the Palm Coast Wiffle Ball League (PCWBL).

The PCWBL was founded circa 1990 by the person later-to-be-known-as the Assassin. It was a friendly, yet competitive game between friends. The game was brought to Florida from New York where the game is massively popular. Kids all over Long Island can be found tossing plastic balls (with tear-drop holes along the top, otherwise it's not a Wiffle Ball) and swinging plastic bats in their backyards.

The game was slow to be picked up in Florida, and it died once the founders went off to college. It was, like Lazarus by Jesus, resurrected around 2002 when the founder came back to Florida. After learning and mastering the history of the sport, a new breed of player emerged.

These new players represented the new generation: bigger and faster. The old-guard establishment struggled with the youth movement. Injuries slowed down the Assassin, and in-fighting for control forced him into early retirement.

That brings us to today. There's no credit mentioned. There would be no PCWBL without him. And that's the problem with today's youth. Whether it's sports, music, or politics, there's no regard for the founding fathers. Yes they've heard of Babe Ruth and Jackie Robinson, but do they understand the impact? Michael Jackson is being compared to Elvis, but do they know why? July 4th just passed. Sure Gen-O (the Obama generation) has heard of Sam Adams, but do they understand the struggles of the Sons of Liberty? Or is he just the guy on the beer bottle? Open a history book. Get on Wikipedia.

And that brings us back to Wiffle Ball. It's not just about it's founding fathers. It's about preparing you for baseball. Don Mattingly and Tony Gwynn both attribute Wiffle Ball as helping them in their development as hitters. It not only teaches you to hit, but it trains your eyes. It forces you to use two hands. There's no ESPN in Wiffle Ball. It's not the X-Games. It's the competition and struggle. It's not how fast you can throw the ball. That's sacrificing the future for instant gratification. And that's the problem with today. Everyone wants it quick and fast.

Wanting it quick and fast isn't how you enjoy life. Ask your wife or girlfriend. And that brings me to what my cousin told me last week. He said I'm not enjoying life because I'm not using my cell phone for text messaging, picture-taking, GPSing, browsing, or using it as a level. No my friend, you're missing life. As John Lennon once sang, "Life is what happens when you're busy making other plans."