The sounds of fall at Norwood Park

/ October 2, 2015

Ellie B aka Dogamous Pyle and I came across the Eastwood Bears as we circled the blocks surrounding the Little Bitty in our Syracuse city neighborhood of Eastwood last Sunday morning.

The day was bright.

Both sidelines were filled with parents and friends rooting on the home team and visitors from Central Square.

Playing for respect.

Playing for respect.

I rather liked the new sign on the Eastwood organization’s multi-function house, for the purpose in which they strive for their players and cheerleaders around the various levels of Pop Warner play and other squads.

If you can’t quite catch it on the shot from my iPhone 6, the Eastwood Bears promise: No one player above the team. No one team above the organization.

Eastwood hosts Central Square at the end of September, 2015.

Eastwood hosts Central Square at the end of September, 2015.

We heard the players announced, did Ellie B and I, and stood as still as we could for the playing of the National Anthem, too. I told her it was like the games we watch on TV, when she’s laying on the couch. Some kids came over after that to pet my smiling but antsy rescue pooch, and then we were on our way.

I don’t know who won.

I hope none of the parents or friends or players take this the wrong way, but I don’t much care. As long as everybody plays up to that motto …

Do you have the sights and sounds of youth sports in your neighborhood, and if so, do you stop for a spell to watch? Have you or your children ever belonged to an organization with a motto to which you were told to aspire, and if so, can you please share? Have you gotten your dog to stay still for the National Anthem, and if so, how the heck did you do that?

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31 thoughts on “The sounds of fall at Norwood Park”

  1. No one should expect miracles about dogs staying still for The National Anthem. We have no more baseball but soccer and little ones are on football. Sky is in what they call JV football as a 5th grader. We have games on Sunday and I wish we got a break between sports, Mark. Sky finished baseball and went right into practices from 6 to 8 pm every night. Take care and got a little bit caught up.

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  2. i have a park a few houses down and across the street from my house. i love stopping by to see the soccer, softball and basketball games. the kids always seem to be having so much fun, it’s infectious.

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  3. At one end of our street is a park. It is full of football kids, baseball kids, soccer kids. At the other end is a junior high, past that is the high school football field. A bike path runs past our house. Kids and parents coming and going to the sounds of kids playing. It’s one of the best parts of living there MBM. 🙂

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    • Oh, I love your location, MBC! So full of vigor and spirit. 🙂 As I’m sitting in my recliner/work chair this Sunday morning, I know I’ll be hearing the cheers and bustle from the park soon if it’s a home game day. 🙂

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  6. The Sprog is closer to Calvin of Calvin and Hobbes as far as organized sports are concerned. Sprogball was always her sport of choice. However, our backyard abuts against one of our parks where the little league plays, so we have that. I will say that the parents are pretty laid back. It really does make for a nice atmosphere to stop and take in an inning or two, especially since The Sprog usually is friends with at least one of the players.

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  7. How about lets all play and have fun…but I guess thats just a motto for us people who are not good at sports but still want to play..THE JYST FOR FUN LEAGUES
    ..

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  10. Great walk Mark – I do stop to watch when I can. Our kids were always involved in minor sports when they were growing up. They usually had a good time. The biggest problem I saw with kids sports were the parents. Some were demanding and negative as heck. As a hockey time-keeper, I once ended a tournament game half way through(with the referee and after warnings) when the parents became so abusive swearing at the officials and the other team. Some baseball parents were like that too – in fact a few were banned from the games. It was sad Mark when the young kids were just trying to have a good time.

    I bet the kids were happy to see you and Ellie B visiting their game. Great post sir.

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    • I had to learn to bit my tongue as a sports parent, Paul. What’s OK cheering on and lamenting the successes and failures for professionals and college scholarship athtletes (to a lesser degree) is not welcome while watching the kids. And it felt good when I left those expecations for TV and college stadiums and just enjoyed the kids’ love and effort.

      Thanks for your kind words about our little visit to the neighborhood field.

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  13. A few blocks away there is a field for a Church League Football and Soccer program. Just love to stop and watch, with the parents. Some of those little guys are nearly dwarfed by their equipment,but they give their all.

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