During a baseball game, the coach called Brandon, one of his 9-year-old baseball players aside. He asked him, "Do you understand what co-operation is? What a team is?" "Yes, coach,"

During a baseball game, the coach called Brandon, one of his 9-year-old baseball players, aside.

He asked, "Do you understand what cooperation is? What a team is?"

Brandon: "Yes, coach," he nodded confidently.

Coach: "Good. And do you understand what it means to be a good sport? That we don’t argue, we don’t yell at teammates, and we always try our best?"

Brandon: "Of course, Coach!"

Coach: "That’s great, son. Now, if a call is made that you don’t agree with, do you know what to do?"

Brandon nodded again. "Yep! We don’t get angry, we don’t throw our gloves, and we don’t scream at the umpire."

The coach smiled. "That’s exactly right! And do you understand that when I take you out of the game, it’s not because I don’t like you, but because I think it’s best for the team?"

Brandon hesitated for a second, then said, "Well… I guess that makes sense."

The coach patted him on the back. "I’m really proud of you, Brandon. That shows real maturity."

Brandon beamed.

Then the coach sighed and said, "Okay, now go explain all of that to your mother."

Brandon’s eyes widened. He turned and saw his mom standing in the stands, shaking her fist at the umpire and yelling,

"ARE YOU BLIND, REF?! I’VE SEEN BETTER CALLS AT A TELEMARKETER CONVENTION!"

Brandon gulped. "Uh, Coach… can I just stay in the game?"