LUMBERMEN: Playing the game right way

A message to the excellent American Legion baseball team of young men, their coaches and parents who make up the Coeur d’Alene Lumbermen.

We’ve watched these young men play baseball here in Coeur d’Alene for a couple of years now and are amazed at the character they exhibit and the athletic prowess they exude. At this time in America, it’s especially impressive to listen to the oath they recite and it’s clear that they all actually respect and live by this pledge because it’s equally clear that not all of the out-of-town teams live by such a code.

American Legion Code of Sportsmanship:

I will keep the rules.

I will keep faith with my teammates.

I will keep my temper.

I will keep myself fit.

I will keep a stout heart in defeat.

I will keep my pride in victory.

I will keep a sound soul, a clean mind, and a healthy body.

Not once in the last couple of years have we ever seen a single display of unsportsmanlike conduct by the Coeur d’Alene Lumbermen, not by the players, not by parents or coaches; they are always professional. We felt very badly for these athletes recently when one of the other teams behaved like bullies with their unending taunts and verbal nonsense and what looked to us like a “stacking” of their team with what appeared to be bigger and older players.

I’d argue that the abuse they took from one of the out-of-state teams simply let the Lumbermen show that they take their pledge seriously as they played hard and exhibited class at all times. It’s a true pleasure for my wife and I to come to these games at Thorco Field and to be in the company of such good Americans.

Good job gentlemen.

MICHAEL and PATRICE QUINN

Coeur d’Alene