On being the parent of a youth sports prodigy

The first word one of my sons (sorry, won't divulge which one) ever spoke was: bump. Not sure why. Just sure it was bump.

The second through sixth words were: "Tony Fernandez and Cal Ripken." He'd memorized the names and faces from a pack of baseball cards that found its way into the house. It was exciting to have an 18-month-old who could recite the names of two All-Star shortstops. So exciting that I wonder whether I would have been tempted to turn him into a YouTube star had there been YouTube at the time. Actually, I know I would have been tempted.

As the parent of a prodigy (sports, music or otherwise) it's hard keeping exceptional talent to yourself, as this CBS News piece explains very well.

Thanks, Ben.

Hand stands and back flips at the kitchen table

Spanning the globe for youth sports dysfunction.

Giuliano Stroe, the Romanian gymnast with the washboard abs, is, as the caption reads, five years old.

Thanks (I think) to Ed Wiest for alerting me to this.

The life and times of a 2-year-old billiards champ

Keith O'Dell Jr.'s parents reveal the following in this news report about their now 25-month-old billiards prodigy.

Their first date was at a pool hall.

Keith Jr. plays two to three hours a day.

They're not pushing him. "He's getting good on his own. We're not really helping him too much," his mom says.



The O'Dells are traveling the media circuit. Here they are recently on Good Morning America. Four adults trying to coax a toddler into performing pool tricks.

Thanks to Jessie Bennett.