Fool me once shame on you, fool me twice....I turn off the TV

Who can forget PeeWee's infamous line in Eight Men Out?  "Say it ain't so Joe.  Say it ain't so." Wisconsin baseball fans are undergoing a similar disappointment with a fan favorite.  To add insult to injury, the Milwaukee Brewers as a whole have had a less than stellar season.  How to combat this empty ache inside that used to be enjoyment of the game of baseball?  Maybe it's time to focus on the lighter side of the sport.
in the movie
In 1976, the original Bad News Bears film featuring Walter Matthau and Tatum O'Neal was a surprise hit.  This is a comedy about the "dark side" of Little League baseball.  It featured characters that would probably be toned down or rewritten for the moviegoers of today.  Walter Matthau is a drunken, beer swilling coach of a team full of hapless baseball misfits.  (Matthau's character keeps his full beer cooler full and on hand throughout the movie.)  The team is so bad, they forfeit their first game because they can't get an out in the first inning.  In an attempt to make his team competitive, Matthau recruits a smart-mouthed girl who becomes their ace pitcher and a Harley riding troublemaker who happens to be the best athlete in the area.  The influence of the better players and their desire to win stimulates their teammates' growth.  The best part about this movie is that it doesn't end with trophies for the team and that's a good thing.  This absurd kid comedy masks a movie which is about the joy of baseball, teamwork, and learning about sportsmanship.  (If you've forgotten how funny and shocking this movie can be, click on the link to watch the trailer.)
The Sandlot appeals to the outsider kid in everyone.  Here again, baseball is more than just a game.  It is a way of life, or for some characters, a way to deal with the challenges of their lives.  Full of funny and poignant moments, the movie has a similar tone of adventure and camaraderie as Stand By Me.  The baseball game is a way to make friends, prove your worth, and test your mettle.  The game is a testing ground for the real game-life.
There are many uplifting and serious films about "America's game".  The list includes many well-known titles like The Rookie, Moneyball, 61*, A League of Their Own, Bang the Drum Slowly, Field of Dreams, The Natural, Bull Durham, The Babe, Mr. Baseball, Mr. 3000, and most recently 42.  Some of these films are based on true stories like The Pride of the Yankees.  This is a story that shows baseball and its players in a positive and noble light.  Other films, like Rookie of the Year are about baseball dreams and possibilities. For those fans who just can't bear to watch anymore baseball this season, there's always golf.