ATTN; TEAM PAMPERS>>WHEN LIFE WAS REAL

[Muddy]

Hey young Mooks, this is how I Grew up STICK BALL RULED! We went outside and played, none of those freaking video games

[Mobydick]

What's video games........ :-/......... I fish

[daviscw]

What's video games........ :-/......... I fish

I ain't ever heard of no such thing either. I grew up in the woods.

[Muddy]

Wait til 4bizz and hookem get permission to use the computer ;D

[Tin]

Another failed attempt, your sense of humor is getting about as old as you.....

[Muddy]

Another failed attempt, your sense of humor is getting about as old as you.....

[fourbizz]

I'm with Tin on this one. That feeble, limp attempt at a jab was just dissapointing. Know I know how the Depends Misses feel.

[Muddy]

You couldnt handle Missus Muddy, she is outta your league

[Uncle Leo]

In Chicago we did not play stickball but what we called Strikeout. Played with two man teams, one pitcher and one outfielder/ infielder. It was fast pitch with a rubber ball always played in the school ground. Backstop was the wall of the school. We would have tournaments and played for hours.

[srv1990]

In Chicago we did not play stickball but what we called Strikeout. Played with two man teams, one pitcher and one outfielder/ infielder. It was fast pitch with a rubber ball always played in the school ground. Backstop was the wall of the school. We would have tournaments and played for hours.

We called it Fuzz Ball... Same two man teams, we used a tennis ball with all the fuzz burned off.

[Muddy]

BTW" Not supposed to be funny. The baseball diamonds are empty and football fields go idle while the kids are inside playing Madden. I see it all over.

[FD.]

Muddy, the reason the fields are empty is because of the lawyers.  In florida, unless you are at a sanctioned event, you get run oft the fields.  I coached last winter and tried to have a pick up practice over the holidays and was asked to leave the county fields because I did not have permission from the school board.  I seems that someone was playing on the field, got hurt, sued the county, and won a stupid law suit.  Now unless it is a game or official practice, no one is allowed on the fields.

[Muddy]

No. not here. In NEPA, the kids are all inside plying video games. #1 buisness at our local mall:GAME STORE! There is plenty of space here to play, and not a whole lot of lawyering

Back home in Brooklyn: No stickball that I have seen, among kids for at least 10 years in my old neighborhood! Yet we, the over 55 crew, we play a couple of games a year.

I am not buying the lawyer deal, I am buying overfed, under exercised kids, with no encouragement from thier parents

[Fisher of Men]

Muddy, the reason the fields are empty is because of the lawyers. In florida, unless you are at a sanctioned event, you get run oft the fields. I coached last winter and tried to have a pick up practice over the holidays and was asked to leave the county fields because I did not have permission from the school board. I seems that someone was playing on the field, got hurt, sued the county, and won a stupid law suit. Now unless it is a game or official practice, no one is allowed on the fields.

Same where we just moved from.  The city keeps the fields locked until a "youth league" wants to play or practice, even though the tax-payers funded the entire park, ballfields and all.  I don't think lawsuits are the problem, they just don't want the grass to be messed up.  Go figure!! :

[J Francho]

Muddy, I would bet it something to do with all of the above.  My 9 year old comes home with at least an hour and a half of homework plus 30 minutes of reading time.  I don't have any console games in my house, but Big Al does have an outdated Gameboy.  Many things compete for his "spare time."

With winter and shorter daylight periods, outside time is at a premium.  Legality issues and insurance issues have caused most "games" that kids play to become organized.  I live next to a state of the art multi use sports facility, yet the gates are locked when not in use.  I'd think for the taxes we pay here in NY, we'd be able to budget some open field time.  

Enrolling your kids in organized sports is expensive.  It was $85 per kid for a spring baseball league.  You get a t-shirt and a hat.  And if, like in my case, you know a bit about baseball, you are encouraged to assistant coach.  Three years I was the bench coach for the the Yankees, the Irondequoit Yankees that is, LOL.  Add to that expense, a glove, bat, batting helmet, sliders and cup, socks, chest plate (Al pitches, so its a must), cleats, plus batting practice at the cages, and you're talking a significant chunk of change.  In these times, not everyone will be able to afford it.  There is the local Y, but that is pricey as well.

I agree, kids are not as active as they used to be.  But it isn't just kids - its everyone!  We ALL are getting lazier.  This is why doing things like hunting, fishing, hiking, camping, whatever outdoor stuff you like is so important.

[Muddy]

I am not buying the lawer/legality issue. Why would you need a permit to play tag, or stick ball, you do not even need to be in a park THATS THE IDEA OF STREET GAMES

Look we had an early thaw last year at Job Corps, the field was soft and such. I got some flags, the cones and a football to play flag football'  NOT ONE TAKER, it was either Hey Mr. D you want me to dirty my kicks or I am staying inside and playing Madden

It lies with my generation, the older guys tought us to play, providing our first ball and stick ball bat. They showed us how to play Johnny on the pony. I guess a good part of it was we all got to busy and never handed the bats to the kids following us.

[Tin]

I am not buying the lawer/legality issue. Why would you need a permit to play tag, or stick ball, you do not even need to be in a park THATS THE IDEA OF STREET GAMES

On our off days in the summer myself and a bunch of my high-school buddies would play home-run derby in one of the 8 or 9 ball fields in town. We did nothing wrong, we were not being little a-holes, and doing nothing dangerous. Just trying to hit a ball into the woods. No cars around, nothing. We got kicked out of our usuall spot, tried another, a local neighbor called the cops, and the rest at the town rec center are all locked up and if you jump the fence, the 5.0's roll in. Cannot do anything in this town anymore... >

[bilgerat]

Everyone has a valid point. I'm not so sure the lawyers are totally to blame. I think it's more the insurance companies. But in the end it comes down to personal responsibility. If parents/gaurdians (whatever) weren't so quick to file lawsuits or file claims every time their kid comes home with a scratch, maybe we would not have this culture. Getting banged up a little is part of growing up. Have we gone that soft?? I hope not.

My brother had to take down the trampoline that his kids have played on for years. When I asked him why he explained that a couple that lives on his block basically make a living out of filing lawsuits, mostly against stores and companies. Scumbags. He was afraid that one of their kids (who are friends with his kids) would get hurt and then it would be all over. I can't say I blame him, but it sucks that his kids have to suffer. >

[Mobydick]

Do potato gun wars and airsoft wars compare to you old guys' stick ball?

They're not played inside...most of the time.

[Gone_Phishin]

I grew up in the country, so rather than street games we had field games. SPUD was a popular one around here. Tackle 500 with a Nerf football was big as well. Our waterballoon launcher got a heavy workout too. I'd rarely leave home without my pellet gun.

We played Homerun Derby in a vacant lot next to an apartment building. In order to hit an official dinger, your ball had to hit the second story wall of the building...I honestly can't believe that we never broke a window.

[Hookemdown.]

We called it wiffle ball.  Played it every day, every summer back in the day.  Home plate was a trash can lid, first base was an electrical box, second base was a tree, and third was the corner of the house.  Ground rule double was over the neighbor's driveway.  Home run was over the neighbor's house.

I've played soccer at least 4 times a week since this spring.  Soccer deserves more credit than most people give it.  It's great.

[Muddy]

Just go to one of those FUGAZY MORTAGE COMPANIES, they give anyone credit

[Hookemdown.]

;D

But seriously, does anybody else play soccer?

[fourbizz]

But seriously, does anybody else play soccer?

Yes.

Girls and the French.

[Hookemdown.]

But seriously, does anybody else play soccer?

Yes.

Girls

Yes bizz, girls play soccer.  

You play soccer with girls.

Girls start to like you...

You get their number...

etc. etc.

You wouldn't know much about this though...