I agree with most of what you're saying. And I don't think there should be complete competitive parity, but I do think that the whole premise of "he's being punished for being too good" as suggested by his mother, the article, and some of those commenting on here is off base. The whole situation has been handled poorly and the kid is suffering for it - but there is a responsibility for that suffering that falls upon his parents and coaches because he was obviously already good enough to not be in that league before he ever signed up this season (hence the two teams, including defending champs, competing for his services). It's not just the league's fault - that's all I'm saying.

Moreover, as others have stated, he is not "exceptional". He's actually maybe a little above average for his age. They've made him "exceptional" by putting him in a league with kids who are below average, young, or inexperienced.

Originally Posted by Zapp Brannigan

He's a kid, he wants to play with his friends.

LoL @ that logic. Who gives a damn what he wants? He'll do what's right and follow the rules , just like everybody else. I bet he also doesn't want to eat his vegetables and he wants candy before bed time. Too bad, when he's an adult, he can do whatever he wants, in the mean time, he's a kid nd he doesn't get it his way every single time.

What's wrong with some people these days? He's a kid and wants to blah blah blah... yeah right!

Originally Posted by Adolf Oliverbush

LoL @ that logic. Who gives a damn what he wants? He'll do what's right and follow the rules , just like everybody else. I bet he also doesn't want to eat his vegetables and he wants candy before bed time. Too bad, when he's an adult, he can do whatever he wants, in the mean time, he's a kid nd he doesn't get it his way every single time.

What's wrong with some people these days? He's a kid and wants to blah blah blah... yeah right!

Ummm, he did follow the rules. All of a sudden before the playoffs they have forced him to stop (when the league presidents team is in second place and after the kid turned down an invitation to play on the league presidents team). There were no rules against the kid playing. They're being invented now.

Originally Posted by Spider

If he's that good, why don't they just bump him up to the next level, like letting a freshman play varsity? I'm sure they could grant a special waiver if necessary - it would be much fairer than the current situation and everyone would benefit.

I just heard on the news that the league has decided that he can move up to the next division. I'm sure the national exposure that this story had played a role here.

That was never a real point of contention, though, was it? The issue was that his parents/coaches wanted him to continue playing in the league he was already in.