1. Comment by Mary Ann Dove - May 01, 2008 @ 09:22 AM I am very happy that the wheels of bureaucracy actually moved fast enough to give us all faith, especially the young people, in the how the system can work. I am glad they made the decision they did as it could affect other young people who use medical devices to sustain their health. I am proud of Jacob, his family, his friend Alex, and his team and coach. Keep them all in your prayers.
2. Comment by Trevor Donison - May 02, 2008 @ 01:05 PM Why didn't the parents do the following: 1) Get a signed medical clearance form from their doctor. The story above indicates this wasn't done until AFTER he was removed from the game. 2) Sign a waiver of liability. 3) Get a signed statement from Little League international that he could play with the medical device? Why wasn't this done in MARCH way before games were even played? If I have a son with a medical condition, I'm going to be proactive instead of reactive. If the parents had done their homework, they could have provided the Manager of their team paperwork that he could then take to the beginning of the game talk with the umpires. This would have eliminated the whole issue before the game started so that everyone would know what was going on and everyone would know that it was absolutely okay for him to play. Jacob would have never had to be removed from a game and go through that experience. I think lost in all of this is that ALL Little League umpires are VOLUNTEERS that do the very best job they can.
3. Comment by G Sonsone - May 03, 2008 @ 05:07 PM The parents didn't do the following because: 1) He's played for three years, he's NEVER needed a signed medical clearance. No one in Little League EVER requested one, or stated he needed one. Turns out, he DOES NOT need one, even now. 2) See above (re: playing for three years). No other parents sign a waiver of liabilty. Turns out, his parents don't have to either. 3) It only went to Little League international after the umpire made it an issue. It states nowhere in the rule book that he cannot play with it, just as it doesn't state that a child cannot play with glasses, hearing aids, prostethic limbs or insulin pumps. Consider this: there are MANY kids playing who have conditions/devices that are not visible. IF you have a son/daughter with a medical condition, I hope you have the strength to deal with people who ARE reactive. The parents did everything according to the registration process. I wonder why anyone would suggest that the parents "do homework" their third year into it?? Jacob went through tryouts just the same as every other child out on the field that day. I think lost in all of this is that ALL Little League umpires, volunteer or not, need to remember that they are working with children. And that insensitive remarks need to be dheld in check. Unless you were there that day, you don't know what REALLY happened. The ump knows why he should be ashamed. And to all of the people who said that this child should be in the Challenger division, I have one thing to say: Jacob hit an RBI DOUBLE today in his game vs. Central Little League. He then stole third base. ON HIS OWN. Way to make a statement kid!! And to Jacob's parents, stay strong. It's the people who don't know Jacob at all that lose out on the privilege!
4. Comment by Jaye Lee - May 07, 2008 @ 10:00 AM Kudos to the umpire who had enough common sense and humility not to try to practice medicine on the field, nor to take medical advise from those who did not have formal training in that area, when he saw a situation that had the potential to endanger the safety of both the player with the equipment and the other players on the field. I feel I must point out that the words and actions of some of those who are supposedly defending this child with special needs by putting down the Challenger division are actually demonstrating a deep and hateful prejudice against Jacob and others with appliances or other special needs. You are referring to those with special needs as lesser people when you maintain that putting a boy into a league that employs equipment and rules to insure extra safety for those with appliances that might endanger players in a regular league is an insult. Really, we don't need this kind of condescending "support." I don't understand why, when it is finally considered wrong in this country to treat people like this when their skin is a different color, it is still ok to treat them as less than human if they have a disability.
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