Here's their coach, showing his ball holding technique

That's awesome that they made it this year. Wonder if Costas went and asked the kids about Idi Amin for an upcoming special or something.

Another article about the Ugandans, with more background information. http://espn.go.com/espn/otl/story/_/id /8272332/little-league-world-ser ies-welcomes-uganda-little-league-team


The white coach is Richard Stanley, a retired chemical engineer from New Jersey who put up the money to build the fields and buy the equipment. The tall black coach center back is Bouncer Odong, the manager. He is the godfather of the league, one of their first players in the 80's who is now the organizational heart and soul of LL baseball in Uganda.




First ever team from Africa in the LLWS, and all homegrown.
Is that you, shoeless Joe?

Nuts. Link from above

I am actually shocked more MLB teams don't put up clinics in countries that don't have baseball. I would imagine there would be some talent in those countries. Similar to when the Pirates signed those Indian pitchers a few years back.

machoprogrammer: I am actually shocked more MLB teams don't put up clinics in countries that don't have baseball. I would imagine there would be some talent in those countries. Similar to when the Pirates signed those Indian pitchers a few years back.

The difference is the pitchers were signed as a marketing stunt and one was sent home pretty quick. One is OK but it was not because they set up clinics anywhere.

Part of the reason they don't put up stuff like this is because of instability in most countries there, they should try at lest though because you know kids would love it.

Here's a link to the excellent documentary "Fair Ball": Link

FirstNationalBastard: Here's their coach, showing his ball holding technique

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Thank you. Done in 1.

Spoiler alert: the gay kid gets executed in a few years

For those curious why more than half of them named Jimmy Rollins as their favorite player, it's because J-Roll visited Uganda over the winter, and put up the money for Canada's team to travel there and play against last year's Uganda champs, who missed out on playing in the LLWS because of visa issues.

Uganda? Cooool...where is that?

Africa!

Oh boy! Like Lion King!

The "inadequate age documentation" so delicately referred to in the ESPN documentation:

According to the state department, "several players provided false birth documents to make their ages appear younger".

I sent Dr. Joseph Ogana from the Bank of Nigeria $10,000 to help field their team.

Look, I think Costas sucks as much as everyone else, but I don't find anything wrong with the Idi Amin thing.

It was during the opening ceremonies and he basically said that the country suffered under the rule of a murderous and corrupt dictator that essentially ruined the country. And as a result, the infrastructure, let alone national sports programs has never recovered.

I guess I don't get the big deal...

Obscure Login: Uganda? Cooool...where is that?

Africa!

Oh boy! Like Lion King!

Hasa Diga Eebowai

wspguy: Look, I think Costas sucks as much as everyone else, but I don't find anything wrong with the Idi Amin thing.

It was during the opening ceremonies and he basically said that the country suffered under the rule of a murderous and corrupt dictator that essentially ruined the country. And as a result, the infrastructure, let alone national sports programs has never recovered.

I guess I don't get the big deal...

The big deal is that "the country suffered under the rule of a murderous and corrupt dictator that essentially ruined the country" was essentially the only thing he said about Uganda... and that he had nothing athletically relevant to say about dozens of other countries as well. He basically used the time to list out why every nation sucks (except us).

RminusQ: wspguy: Look, I think Costas sucks as much as everyone else, but I don't find anything wrong with the Idi Amin thing.

It was during the opening ceremonies and he basically said that the country suffered under the rule of a murderous and corrupt dictator that essentially ruined the country. And as a result, the infrastructure, let alone national sports programs has never recovered.

I guess I don't get the big deal...

The big deal is that "the country suffered under the rule of a murderous and corrupt dictator that essentially ruined the country" was essentially the only thing he said about Uganda... and that he had nothing athletically relevant to say about dozens of other countries as well. He basically used the time to list out why every nation sucks (except us).

Though, to be fair, his little quip about Kim Jong Il during Best Korea's march was hilarious

FirstNationalBastard: Here's their coach, showing his ball holding technique

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He's a great coach. He seems to have given his players a leg up in this Series.