We hear a lot about anger management, and there have even been movies about it. But Im not convinced anger is always something to be defused. For instance, I remember that time when I was 11, on the Little League All-Stars, and riding the bench until the final moments of the final game. Only then, did my pasty coach put me in, with two outs and my friend, Alex, standing on first. Initially, I refused to leave the dugout; I was that peeved I was passed over as a player until that time. Then, I decided to take my anger out on the ball. A wild child, I strode to the plate. On the third pitch, I ripped into it. It was a rope, a line drive to the wall. It got there in about half a second of flight. A few inches higher, and it would have been a home run. Breathless but vindicated, I had a pinch-hit, stand-up double, knocking Alex in, and that ignited a rally, that just fell short of tying the game. The following year, I led the league in hitting and just missed being the home-run king as well. In fact, according to the President, I set a national record or two. The same coach led the All-Star team. He saw the light. I started every game. |
