The following is an excerpt from OpinionJournal.com’s “Best of the Web” written by the editor, James Taranto.
News You Can Use
- “Spend Less on Lawn Care by Getting More Estimates”–headline, WTOP-FM website (Washington), June 2
- “Vermont Allows Monkeys Trained as Service Animals”–headline, USA Today, June 3
Bottom Stories of the Day
“2006 Canadian Census Believed to Be Inaccurate”–headline, Eastman’s Online Genealogy Newsletter, June 2
The Favorite Lost but Covered the Spread
“In yet another nod to the protection of fledgling self-esteem, an Ottawa children’s soccer league has introduced a rule that says any team that wins a game by more than five points will lose by default,” reports the National Post.
It’s not just Canadians whose self-esteem is battered by the “sport” of soccer. Not long ago a friend forwarded an email from a kids’ soccer coach right here in America, which cited “a number of instances of significant point spreads in games that are just unacceptable.” The coach offered the following advice on how to avoid big wins:
There are a myriad of options available to you, including having your players shoot with their off foot, complete a certain number of passes first, only shoot off of a pass, etc. You can also put your strong players in defense, weak players in goal and sub players out if they don’t listen. While I generally don’t recommend removing players from the field, in extreme cases that may be necessary. The primary purpose is to create an environment where your players understand that beating up on a weaker team serves no purpose.
And remember, creating an environment where your players understand that beating up on a weaker team serves no purpose isn’t everything, it’s the only thing.
For more “Best of the Web” click here and look for the “Best of the Web Today” link in the middle column below “Today’s Columnists.
