What About The Children (And Their Wallets)?

At first the idea sounds nuts, like barbecuing in the nude, or a Madonna concert. But then when you think about it ... why shouldn't kids get paid for playing in the Little League World Series? In a column on MSNBC's sports site today by Bob Cook, our man claims, only somewhat tongue-in-cheek, that Little Leaguers should reap some of the benefits of their labor.

Let's look at the Little League World Series. Oh, I'm sorry, the Little League World Series presented by Kellogg's Frosted Flakes, its official name. The Little League World Series presented by Kellogg's Frosted Flakes that takes place on national television, and whose preliminary rounds take place on national television. The Little League World Series presented by Kellogg's Frosted Flakes that has sponsorships out the wazoo (not a Marxist term, technically), including the likes of ReMax, the official real estate company of Little League Baseball. Tell me, Little Leaguers — when was the last time YOU bought real estate? Exactly.

Now, Little League Baseball itself is a non-profit organization, and all of the money it makes from product tie-ins goes toward its own funding. But Kellogg's and ESPN are under no such restriction. Of course, this doesn't apply to the kids from the recently eliminated Staten Island team, most of whom are already employed as dockworkers.

What Does 'Strike' Mean To Little Leaguers? [MSNBC]