I fell asleep this afternoon and dreamed about a championship parade for the city of San Diego. The Padres must have won the World Series, because a fire truck was chock full of baseball players, all smiling, waving, and goofing around like a bunch of kids. The community came out, lined the route, and then packed Petco Park to celebrate their heroes. Everyone was happy.
Then I woke up, and it was no dream. The reason the baseball players on the fire truck were goofing around like a bunch of kids is because they were a bunch of kids. The reason Chula Vista came out to pack the stadium at Southwestern College was because Park View Little League captured the Little League World Series championship. And the reason everyone was happy was because, well, these kids are pretty special, and in tough times we all need something to feel good about. As it turns out, San Diego’s best sports story for 2009 is one of those stories that just gets better the more you think about it.
After the jump: Read more of the story, hear from Park View coaches and players, and see more pictures from the rally:
Mayor Cheryl Cox addresses the crowd at Southwestern College/(SDNN photo-Don Kohlbauer)
What makes the Park View story so great is not just that our area’s Little Leaguers took the crown. That’s wonderful, but championships happen in every sport, every year. It’s how, when you meet these kids, and when you meet the men who have coached them and the parents who have guided them, you understand just how unlikely this entire ride was. This isn’t a team of hardened veterans getting over the hump, or a Cinderella story. It’s a bunch of kids who didn’t know better than to believe in their coaches, their swings, and themselves.
Listen: PVLL shortstop Andy Rios talks about his crazy week of celebration:
Andy Rios' dad takes a picture of his son's fan club/(SDNN Photo-Don Kohlbauer)
What makes the Park View story great is that these are kids flying high, but they have people hanging on dearly to keep them grounded. Manager Oscar Castro didn’t bother with the tired “OK, let’s have fun kids” speech that we heard every other Little League skipper give when the microphone was on in Williamsport. He stayed with a steady message of discipline, hard work, and intensity. Now, it’s a different challenge: reminding the new superstars of San Diego that they still have a lot of growing up to do. It’s pretty tough to keep a young boy from getting a big head when he’s meeting LT for lunch, eating dinner with Adrian Gonzalez, and then chatting up Conan O’Brien on the Tonight Show:
Listen: Park View manager Oscar Castro talks about his LLWS experience and how he handled the kids:
What makes the Park View story great is that nobody here is a salty old vet of the limelight. Castro will be back repairing computers on Monday, and Ric Ramirez will be in a classroom. Nobody’s getting a three-year extension and a new corner office here. Everyone was thrust into the spotlight, given a magic carpet ride, and now has to deal with returning to what used to be reality.
Listen: Park View coach Ric Ramirez talks about the week of celebration for PVLL:
An estimated 10,000 fans showed up friday to honor the Chula Vista Park View All-Stars at Southwestern College./(SDNN Photo-Don Kohlbauer)
What makes the Park View story great is that it’s almost over, but it’s nowhere near over. I’m guessing there will be some tough weeks ahead for the 12 kids who have gone from pre-teen anxiety to national TV. It’s pretty hard to be on top of the world for a week and then settle right back into your seat in class. Talking with Castro and Ramirez, though, I have faith that there are plenty of good people in the support system for PVLL, doing their part to keep the kids with their heads screwed on straight and their feet on the ground.
Listen: Luke Ramirez talks about becoming the leader of the PVLL All-Stars and sitting in the #1 seat for the Tonight Show:
But regardless, the best is yet to come for each and every one of these kids. The confidence and self-esteem gained by this amazing run will help them even if they never pick up a bat or glove again. Luke Ramirez may go on to be a star football player instead of baseball. Or maybe he’ll pick up a microphone instead of a bat and realize his dream of becoming a sportscaster (stick to the game, kid, it’s easier). Maybe there’s a future big leaguer on the team, another Sean Burroughs, but more likely there are 12 kids who will find their way on life’s path with an extra spring in their step, never sniffing a big league field and not needing to find the scent.
The Park View kids hold up their championship banner at Southwestern College/(SDNN Photo/Don Kohlbauer)
I didn’t really dream about the Padres winning a World Series, but for the kids, parents and coaches of Park View Little League, the past two weeks have been the stuff of dreams. Reality will come knocking on Monday, but for now, let the cheers continue to echo at Southwestern College, and in the ears of those 12-and-13 year old boys. These kids made it all the way across the rainbow, and we all get to share in their pot of gold.
