OT....you always hear about the Little League horror stories...

[LaJolla Lion]

but my daughter really lucked out in her first year playing softball. This coach bought extra catchers gear for the smaller players so everyone could take a turn. He bought a pitching machine. He provided the girls with all of their own sunglasses. The city provided trophies are small so he went out and got bigger trophies with each girls name on it. He got my 7 year old son a medal for being the bat boy.

Each and every girl on the team improved throughout the year including my own who was one of the runts on the team. They went 13-1 and had a blast in doing so. Once in a while it's actually nice seeing normal citizens going way above and beyond. It was such a pleasant experience and i can only pray we get to stick with him next year.

 

[hlstone]

Thanks for sharing!

 

[mrtailgate]

but my daughter really lucked out in her first year playing softball. This coach bought extra catchers gear for the smaller players so everyone could take a turn. He bought a pitching machine. He provided the girls with all of their own sunglasses. The city provided trophies are small so he went out and got bigger trophies with each girls name on it. He got my 7 year old son a medal for being the bat boy.

Each and every girl on the team improved throughout the year including my own who was one of the runts on the team. They went 13-1 and had a blast in doing so. Once in a while it's actually nice seeing normal citizens going way above and beyond. It was such a pleasant experience and i can only pray we get to stick with him next year.

Write a letter to the association re: her experience. The coach should be recognized.

 

[LaJolla Lion]

Write a letter to the association re: her experience. The coach should be recognized.

We are without a doubt. We are also having our daughter send an additional thank you card with another gift card.

 

[AWS1022]

but my daughter really lucked out in her first year playing softball. This coach bought extra catchers gear for the smaller players so everyone could take a turn. He bought a pitching machine. He provided the girls with all of their own sunglasses. The city provided trophies are small so he went out and got bigger trophies with each girls name on it. He got my 7 year old son a medal for being the bat boy.

Each and every girl on the team improved throughout the year including my own who was one of the runts on the team. They went 13-1 and had a blast in doing so. Once in a while it's actually nice seeing normal citizens going way above and beyond. It was such a pleasant experience and i can only pray we get to stick with him next year.

I was fortunate enough to coach the same core group of players from the time they were in tee ball all the way up through junior year of high school. Great group of kids and parents and believe me, I got as much out of it as the kids. The best thing you and the other parents can do is be good parents and good fans and show the coach support. And tell him you appreciate him. I'm sure that's all he really wants. Many people would love to coach if it weren't for the parents.

 

[LaJolla Lion]

I was fortunate enough to coach the same core group of players from the time they were in tee ball all the way up through junior year of high school. Great group of kids and parents and believe me, I got as much out of it as the kids. The best thing you and the other parents can do is be good parents and good fans and show the coach support. And tell him you appreciate him. I'm sure that's all he really wants. Many people would love to coach if it weren't for the parents.

We stay out of his way and just cheer. He's too nice of a man for anyone to say anything disrespectful to him. We had one Mom early on go crazy but she finally settled down.

 

[step.eng69]

but my daughter really lucked out in her first year playing softball

I guess you could say that my grandson lucked out also.

Both of my grandsons played baseball in the Back Mountain Baseball association from youth baseball to 16 year old teener league. Grandson Jobie, currently @ PSU Law school, played for George until Jobie moved up to major league (12 year old). We have known George during the years our grandkids were involved in LL.

About the only out-of line or aggravation George did was continuously and aggressively scouting minor league teams for the up-coming little league drafts. We’d watch George navigate through the different teams playing on the weekend searching for the talent he wanted on his team.

When we found out about George, my wife and I were stunned and left speechless for a while that day. Then the first reaction was to interrogated Jobie about any unusual activity George may have displayed with Jobie or any other kids. As far as we know, Jobie was never approached by George involved with anything other than normal baseball coaching.

I guess I should have contacted JoePa and asked his advice.
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“George F. Gracely spent more than a decade around young athletes, coaching them in basketball and baseball and officiating their games and on fields and courts across the Back Mountain. Investigators alleged Wednesday that at the same time, the Harveys Lake man was exploiting youth, using their images for his own sexual gratification.”

Link: http://citizensvoice.com/news/dallas-youth-coach-arrested-on-child-porn-charges-1.739521

Posted comments

Guilty till proven innocent as usual

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Coach, 6 May 2010 kl. 12:46

i apologize. like i said, "from what i remember" which was a decade or so ago. i am glad that is the only thing you picked out incorrect


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former, 26 April 2010 kl. 14:16

Former, he coached all levels of dyb 7/8 included. I know this because he coached my son.


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dyb parent, 26 April 2010 kl. 07:54

How ungracely of him.


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Tony Pepperoni, 25 April 2010 kl. 15:23

LL Taxpayer, i am sure we know who each other is. when mr gracely first "graced" us with his presence, something was odd. something right off the bat was fishy. i can guarantee you, i had many more years of knowing George than you have. unless you were around from day 1, then we know him equally. a lot of people were struck kind of funny. a grown man, no wife, girlfriend, boyfriend even coming in and surrounding himself with young children. nothing like that struck you odd? look at the teams he coached. from what i remember, never coached the 13 year old baseball or above, never coached any higher that 5th-6th grade DYB. look at the hindsight and connect the dots. some people can see things others can't, when they are looking


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former, 23 April 2010 kl. 15:55

coming from being on George's little league team for 4 straight years, you would never expect this. the following quote is absolute nonsense "Investigators alleged Wednesday that at the same time, the Harveys Lake man was exploiting youth, using their images for his own sexual gratification." He always had the best interest of the players at heart and nothing shady ever happened. This is just a bad habit he must've had at home

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Anonymous, 23 April 2010 kl. 10:48

The man may have just looked at videos and not bothered any children in person.


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Oscar, 22 April 2010 kl. 22:55

Former, you are not well informed. I have had previous affiliations with Mr. Gracely. He coached my son in allstars, and was a ref at youth basketball games. He never gave an indication that this would happen. So far, the charges against him are for porn, not pedophilia. He never make inappropriate comments. He never touched the players inappropriately. It appears his problems were behind closed doors, and he was able to control them in public. Also, most organizations take precautions to prevent someone like Mr. Gracely from being alone with a child. So I am shocked. I am embarrassed that I know him. But at this point there are no accusations that he did anything inappropriate with any of the kids he was involved in. That may still come out, since the law officials are trying to determine if any of the photos were taken by him of the local kids. I pray that this is not true.



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LLTaxpayer, 22 April 2010 kl. 15:40

Really NE Taxpayer? you don't know? never said you were self absorbed. you are probably a great guy. if parents really and truly have their kids first on the list, they notice things. that's all i was saying. sorry to offend you


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former, 22 April 2010 kl. 15:09

Deaf ears my friend, deaf ears. Many many times i told this to numerous people. They all thought it was "nice" he would do this for the kids.


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former, 22 April 2010 kl. 15:05

Former, actually you don't know until they're caught. It's not like they have a sign hanging around his neck saying "I'm a perv/pedophile, whatever." I met this man on the baseball field over the years and he umpired my games. I am shocked just like everyone else. I didn't know and would've never thought otherwise. So I must be self absorbed right? The officials in all leagues take care to make sure this doesn't happen. Just know this, if they were never caught, there is no record. Leagues, schools, etc are required that everybody pass background checks to coach, volunteer, officiate, etc. This guy now will never be allowed to be involved with childrens' athletics again.


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NE taxpayer, 22 April 2010 kl. 14:48

I'm a PIAA basketball official, I have been on the court with George Gracely many times and never did I see anything at all that would lead me or anyone else watching the game to believe this man had a kiddy porn issue. If you believed this to be true, why didn't you say anything before now!!!!! Every official would have thanked you!!!


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OFFICAL, 22 April 2010 kl. 14:45

Officials are shocked? All these years the handwriting was on the wall. And officials are shocked? Why would this alleged pedophile take charge of every all-star team? Have his picture in the paper constantly will all these teams? I guess i just answered that. And people said he was just a good guy and had the best interest of the kids at heart when they were told otherwise. Every official from every sport he was involved with should immediately resign. IMMEDIATELY!! Because if they had the best interest of the kids at heart, they could have seen right past their own self-absorption and saw this low life for what he actually is.