This quote is from an English writer by the name of Steve Turner. You may ask, "why start with that quote?"

It is for a simple reason. This article.

Once upon a time, both recreation baseball and travel baseball were under the guidance of one sports provider. It did not work.

And putting them together now will not work. Let me share with you why it won't work.

In two simple words -- competing interests.

Recreation programs are primarily educational in nature. They are designed to give children the basics of the game and allows them to sample various athletic programs to find out which interests them the most.

Travel, sometimes referred to as competitive, teams are assembled to play against other teams from outside the local area.

And that's not all. Assuming there is a spot available, if your child signs up for recreational baseball, there is a "you pay, your child plays" standard.

Not so with travel teams. There are try-outs and only the best children are chosen for the teams. And there is no guarantee that you child will play in each game. That is just the nature of the beast.

Travel teams have higher costs than recreation teams. Higher enrollment fees and associated travel costs require a much higher commitment from children and parents in travel programs than in recreation programs.

Travel teams play almost year round. Recreation teams play 2 short seasons, roughly 2 months in the fall and 3, sometimes 4, months in the spring.

Those of you with short memories may recall what happened about 8 years ago when these two programs were run by one board. Conflict. Constant conflict that came to staff's attention and then to the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board's attention.

In a compromise, to alleviate these conflicts, Debbie Brisson (then Parks & Rec Director) developed a plan that seemed to fit everyone's needs. It was fair and very structured on how the transition was to occur.

Frankly, it was a consensus between the two interests. To refresh your memory, a consensus is common ground where people can agree on most issues and can live with the decisions made on issues on which they do not agree. The fact of the matter is that it worked.

Occasionally, there were spats, but lovers (of the game) often have these. They were able to work things out and the two providers co-existed very well for years.

This brings a thought to mind. Actually a quote by George Santayana: "Those who cannot remember the past, are condemned to repeat it."

Trust me on this, if the Village merges these two teams, both programs will be negatively affected. Yes, the recreation program will get sole access to the fields. The travel teams will be chased away. And the community will be worse off for it. In the end, the same old problems will rear their heads and the battle for separation of the two programs will begin anew.

Why has this come to the forefront you may ask.

All of this brouhaha revolves around a parent whose child did not make one of the travel teams and he raised enough stink about it to move it to this point. I have written on this before and will just say this is the squeaky wheel getting the grease.

The bottom line is this: the excuse of non-resident make-up of teams is being used as the scapegoat. I call bull on this. There is no requirement for Wellington residents to play in Wellington programs, so why should there be such a big issue over this. After all, if it is about money, non-residents pay more so the Village should be welcoming them with open arms.

What really cracked me up was this statement from the article: "With less money coming into the village after property tax reform, village staff said it was more efficient for parks and recreation staff to deal with only one governing body for baseball. The idea is that the staff member dealing with baseball could help with other duties."

Non-residents pay more, so that helps with economics. Besides, it is not the citizens' job to make staff's job easier. It is staff's job to make the programs available so the citizens can enjoy recreation in the Village.

The solution is easy if anyone really wants to solve this problem. Hire a program coordinator to run recreation baseball just like they do for soccer and bring baseball into the Village. Then let the travel provider run the competitive program. There's enough waste in the Village to find the funds to do this ... someone just has to stand up and say we can do it.

As I said earlier, merging the two programs is a mistake. This decision will alienate Village residents. Is this what we really want? Personally, I do not think so. That's not what local governments are supposed to do ... their job is to embrace the residents.

There are definitely some personal issues some folks have with travel baseball. And personal issues should be disregarded. After all the program is for the children of the Village ... not their parents. You all need to make sure the interests of the children are at the heart of the issue and nothing else.

This is a slippery slope for all of the travel providers. I hope Dr. Falzone and his organization keeps looking over their shoulder, because they are next.

There is a hidden agenda here and I will discuss that next week.

One final quote for your consideration from Karl Marx: "History repeats itself, first as tragedy, second as farce." I think we are past the tragedy part.

Share with me your thoughts and feelings on the issue.

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Great news from this past weekend! And as a dad I am extremely happy to report this.

My daughter is on the Wellington travel cheerleading team called the Cougars. This past weekend they participated in a competitive cheerleading tournament and all three of the teams (Youth, Junior and Senior) did very well. Very well.

They took first place in each of their divisions! And the team was named the Grand Champion of the event. A first for the program.

While this is absolutely phenomenal news ... the best is yet to come. The Junior and Senior teams were extended an invitation to participate in the national championship in their age groups to be held in Virginia Beach in May.

Yes another of our local teams, sponsored through the Village of Wellington Leisure Services Department is making waves in the athletic world.

We should be proud of all of them ...

First, the young men and women that make up the teams. They have practiced hard since August to get where they are. Camps, practices, competitions. They gave their all and now it shows. A bid to participate in the national championship. Way to go kids! I am so proud of each and every one of you.

Second, the parents that support the kids. Thanks to all of you for getting them to practice and competitions. Thank you for paying the tuition each month. Thank you for helping all of these talented children bond and work together. You did great!

Third, to the coaches; Christina, Patti and Kathy. What a diverse group you have and how talented you are coaching them and bringing them to where they are today. I can not give you enough thanks. My admiration for what you have done is well deserved. You coached by gently prodding, encouragement and by being even-handed. No yelling or screaming ... just motivation for each and every child placed in your care. You are truly role models for these young folks and you should be proud of what you accomplished this year.

Fourth, to the Village Council and Staff. For not only making the program available and working an untried program into the system, but for supporting it as it grew and became more popular. I know it was a tough battle to fight some days, but thank you again for all of your support and help.

Finally, to all of you taxpayers out there that paid for the first class facilities we have to enjoy here in the Village. Without you, none of the successes the Village athletic programs would have been possible. Thank you so much.

Now to those of you driving around, keep a close eye out for a bunch of young ladies and men raising money to go to this competition ... help them out. Especially as there will be no "highway hold-ups".

Way to go Cougars!

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Maybe it’s my nature. Or perhaps it’s what’s happened in my professional life. Then again, maybe it’s because I’m naturally curious. But I have some questions on an issue that is floating around the Village these past few months.

Tom, what the heck are you talking about?

The whole issue of baseball, sports providers and this insane notion of non-residents playing on Village fields. So, what’s the brouhaha all about?

This story.

Before I get to share why this story really ticks me off and why it is inaccurate, let’s get to the basic facts.

This story is about travel baseball and the participation of non-residents in this Village approved program. Many of the sports played in Wellington have two separate and distinct programs – a recreation program and a competitive program.

What’s the difference you may ask?

It’s a simple one. Recreation programs have a “parents pay, children play” philosophy. Yep, in recreation sports, all participants get to play in each and every game. My understanding is that they get to play at least one-third of each game. Competitive programs have try-outs and there is no promise that if a child makes the team that he or she will play. The costs of participating in the competitive programs are higher than in recreation programs. So, normally, the desire to do well is exacerbated.

So, Tom, what exactly are you in a huff about?

Well, let’s get to the story.

A parent of a skilled young ball player has a gripe with the fact that he can’t participate in the Village of Wellington sanctioned league and has to go to Boynton Beach to play. In fact, he quite plainly states "We have all these nonresidents coming in and taking over our programs … They're taking our kids' spots, using our fields and knocking on Wellington doors for fundraisers."

No one took this child’s spot away except his father.

You see, the boy was 9 years old. But the father didn’t want him on the 9 year old team due to a personality conflict with the coach. So he had him try out for the 10 year old team. And he didn’t make it. My understanding is that this young man would have made the 9 year old team, but did not have the ability to make the 10 year old team. So, whose fault is it, really?

This argument had nothing to do with whether there are non-residents trying out, but was a personal choice made by a parent. It was his choice and now he doesn’t play on a Wellington sanctioned team and drives to Boynton Beach.

Doesn't this father's decision to have his child play in Boynton Beach strike anyone as the pot calling the kettle black? He couldn't get on a Wellington team, so he went to Boynton Beach and took a spot from a Boynton Beach child.

Well, you may say, was there any other alternative? In one word, yep.

If this father had an issue with the coach, why didn’t he approach the Board of Directors and ask for a second team to be formed?

Don’t know, maybe someone should ask him.

What about the January try-outs, you may ask? Nope, didn’t show up for those either, I understand. Don't know why he didn't show up.

Maybe someone should ask about that as well.

This was a personal choice that was made and had nothing to do with residents versus non-residents. And now a child has to pay the price.

But what about that percentage requirement of resident participation programs and the use of our facilities? This is a complicated question needs a little explanation.

Right now Wellington residents have the choice to play in a Wellington league or not, whether the program is a recreational or competitive. Many choose not to use the leagues made available through the Village and that is their choice. So be it.

The fact of the matter is the facilities in Wellington really have no equal in the county and teams are clamoring to play on them. If Wellington residents choose not to play on Village sanctioned teams, why should the Village deny anyone else that opportunity?

The real issue revolves around money. Specifically, taxpayer dollars.

The solution, it seems, is to ensure the non-residents of the Village pay their fair share of the expenses required to keep these facilities in the fantastic shape they are kept. The Leisure Services staff is preparing a study on how much of the resident tax liability is devoted to maintenance of these facilities. Then a fair fee can be designed to offset the fact non-residents do not pay taxes in the Village.

Trying to make each individual team at least 51% residents would virtually eliminate these programs in the Village. And the work required to manage this would be overwhelming. The staff does not have the personnel to micromanage the providers of competitive teams, nor should they be required to do so.

As to the percentage of Village residents playing in these programs right now, not one is below 51%. The lowest is 54%. And that’s OK by me.

In closing I lifted this quote out of the article: “Both sides accuse each other of the same thing — putting the game ahead of the kids.” Actually, at least in my opinion, that’s not accurate. Its parents putting their issues ahead of the children.

Let's call this what it is ... a parent did not get his way (note I did not say the child didn't get his way) and now wants to punish every other child in this program as well as every other competititve program the Village sponsors.

What, you think any change is going to be limited to travel baseball? Any changes to this program and policy will affect every team run by a sports provider ... soccer, softball, hockey, football, to name just a few.

Is this what we really want? I don't think so.

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I know what you're thinking and no, I wasn't on the side of the road working with a bunch of other guys, chained at the ankle. I was, however, chained to a guy 10 yards down the field.

That's right, we work the sideline of the Wellington High School football game manning the down and distance markers. What a great new experience.

These times on the sideline bring back some memories ... really good ones. I remember high school football and the promise it brought each fall. Yes, my high school days in Indiana, PA, just northeast of Pittsburgh, were great.

The leaves started to change colors, there was a cool nip in the air that brought out some amazing sweaters! And, the ski season was just around the corner.

There were some other memories, too: that crush I had on one of those really cute cheerleaders, the players dressed in a shirt and tie (yes, in school) wearing their varsity jackets, the pep rally on Friday afternoon, trying to find a parking place at the school Friday night and the sheer joy of the game and the experience.

It really didn't matter if we won or lost. Afterwards, we just went and hung out at McDonald's. In our cars that we thought were oh so cool. Of course, we spent almost every cent we made on those cars.

It was a right of passage, these high school football nights.

So when was the last time you went to a high school football game?

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