America's Wake Up Call: The Little League World Series

First and foremost, where is the love for the Little League World Series?

Without a doubt, the Little League World Series in Williamsport, Pennsylvania is America's best competition, year in and year out. How can anyone disagree? Sure, Michael Phelps dominated the olympic realm in Beijing. Yes, I know that Usain Bolt is probably faster than his last name. Of course, The "Redeem Team" is doing what it is supposed to do, dominate world competition.

The Olympics come around once every four years. Great. I am proud of what the Americans have done in Beijing, do not get me wrong, but is synchronized swimming or table tennis "must see TV" over the Little League World Series?

Do I really care if the nation of Mauritius won a gold medal in Men's Bantam of Boxing? Not really. Why? Because I enjoy watching the young men of the Little League World Series light up in joyous celebration when they win a 6-inning ball game.

I also am pleased with how well the volunteer umpires manage the game.

This year, Little Leaguers that have made the journey to Williamsport are wearing "I won't cheat!" patches on their uniforms. If only these Little Leaguer's heroes would look down once in a while and learn a lesson.

Growing up, I played Little League Baseball from tee-ball all the way through "majors" (age 9-12). The greatest pitcher of my era is Roger Clemens. The greatest hitter? You guessed it. Barry Bonds. The heroes of my day now have their hands full with allegations of steroid abuse and cheating.

Yes, I am of the lost baseball generation.

As a kid, I remember the great strike of the 1990s in Major League Baseball, but I never did understand it. I still do not understand the strike. Players like Clemens & Bonds, Lenny Dykstra, Albert Belle, my heroes, were cheaters. And whether or not they were solely involved with the movement towards a players union strike, I do not care, because they made way too much money for cheating. Maybe every professional and Olympic athlete should wear a badge or patch which reads "I won't cheat!"

When the Little League Organization held its 50th anniversary, my father and I were honored. My father, Charles P. Dymeck Sr., played in the very first Little League World Series for Lincoln Little League of Williamsport, Penna. I, on the 50th anniversary, was a Little Leaguer for Newberry Little League of Williamsport, Penna. Newberry Little League is actually the same as Lincoln Little League. It is quite ironic that my motivation for writing this peice is that my father just recently passed away. I was still playing Little League 50 years after my father played in the very first Little League World Series.

Yes, I am the youngest child.

I did a search on Bleacher Report for Little League World Series. I was not quite satisfied. With so many great writers, analysts, and fans here, one would think that the search would yield some results. I searched several silly topics and found more results for them than the Little League World Series.

Regardless, every summer, families pack up, spend savings on gas, airline tickets, hotels, and food to travel to a little city in the middle of Pennsylvania. Why? Because this is as good as it gets.

From sliding down the hills at the Little League complex on cardboard to seeing greats like Goose Gossage and Ryan Howard, this is what we, as adults, need to get our children involved in. Things like this make them happy. It is the right way to end a summer before sending your children back to school.

The Little Leaguers, coaches, umpires, hot dog vendors, and ushers do not get paid. Not one cent. Maybe if you sell programs, you can get a small cut. That's it. They all volunteer. Yes, they do it for free!

Little League is about bringing a community together for a greater good. It is more than just scrawny kids whiffing at a baseball. Just ask the boys from Rapid City, South Dakota or Emilia, Italy. Yeah, who cares if the players from Tampa, Florida or Tokyo, Japan are more seasoned at baseball than the players from Dahran, Saudi Arabia.

These kids have fun and exemplify what coming together via sports means.

Isn't this what the Olympics is supposed to be about?

So when you think about nations setting feelings aside for the Olympics, think about the Little League World Series. Look at the lengths China will go to impress on a global level. We do not see that with the Little League team from Curacao. I can not count how many Olympic athletes have been caught cheating. The IOC has yet to act in a manner that I can accept. Look at Chinese Taipei/Taiwan. They got caught cheating in Little League and to my knowledge, received a lifetime ban.

Simply put, this is out of my league. I am sure another writer here could break this down better than myself, but it is coming from my heart. All I do is manage Pro Draft Guide.

But, every time I visit Bleacher Report, there is something about the Olympics on the front page. That is fine.

Let's show some love to the best athletes in America and the world, the Little Leaguers. They and their families deserve it, as do the unpaid, hard-working citizens that make the Little League World Series happen.

To conclude, where do you think the majority of Major League baseball players got their start?many great players have player Little League baseball. Dusty Baker, Rudy Giuliani, Tony Dungy, Dan O'Brien, Cal Ripken, Jim Palmer, Nolan Ryan, Mike Schmidt, Tom Seaver, and my father, Charles P. Dymeck Sr. all started their young lives with Little League baseball.