Latest news with #Marco
33 minutes ago
- Sport
New Jersey Little Leaguer suspended for bat flip, a celebration gov body promotes
A 12-year-old Little Leaguer is 'distraught' at the prospect of missing his team's first state tournament game because he was suspended for flipping his bat after hitting a game-winning home run — a type of celebration Little League Baseball promotes on its social media accounts. Marco Rocco of Haddonfield, New Jersey tossed his bat in the air on July 16 after his sixth-inning, two-run homer in the final of the sectional tournament, his father, Joe Rocco told The Associated Press on Wednesday. At first, he was called out, but on appeal the runs counted, Marco was ejected and suspended for a game over what the family was told were actions deemed 'unsportsmanlike' and 'horseplay.' Now, his family has gone to court to seek an emergency temporary restraining order that will allow him to play in the New Jersey state tournament that starts on Thursday. 'All we're asking for is that the suspension be lifted so he can play in the game,' Joe Rocco said. The sides are scheduled to make their arguments before a judge in Gloucester County Chancery Division on Thursday afternoon, just hours before the game. The winner of the state tournament advances to the regionals, where they have a chance to move on to the Little League World Series. What makes the ejection and suspension so confounding is that Little League Baseball posts videos of bat-flip celebrations on social media that do not result in punishment. In fact, Marco has tossed his bat in celebration in prior tournament games without warnings or punishment, according to the court complaint. Joe Rocco called that hypocritical. 'They promote bat flips. The kids see major leaguers doing it. It's part of the game. He was just emulating what he saw," he said. The incident left his son 'distraught.' 'He was so confused,' the father said. 'He didn't understand what was going on. On the car ride home he was saying 'How can that be against the rules? If I knew I was breaking the rules I never would have done it.'' A message seeking comment was left with Little League's East Region headquarters after business hours on Wednesday night.
Fox Sports
2 hours ago
- Sport
- Fox Sports
New Jersey Little Leaguer suspended for bat flip, a celebration governing body promotes
Associated Press A 12-year-old Little Leaguer is 'distraught' at the prospect of missing his team's first state tournament game because he was suspended for flipping his bat after hitting a game-winning home run — a type of celebration Little League Baseball promotes on its social media accounts. Marco Rocco of Haddonfield, New Jersey tossed his bat in the air on July 16 after his sixth-inning, two-run homer in the final of the sectional tournament, his father, Joe Rocco told The Associated Press on Wednesday. At first, he was called out, but on appeal the runs counted, Marco was ejected and suspended for a game over what the family was told were actions deemed 'unsportsmanlike' and 'horseplay.' Now, his family has gone to court to seek an emergency temporary restraining order that will allow him to play in the New Jersey state tournament that starts on Thursday. 'All we're asking for is that the suspension be lifted so he can play in the game,' Joe Rocco said. The sides are scheduled to make their arguments before a judge in Gloucester County Chancery Division on Thursday afternoon, just hours before the game. The winner of the state tournament advances to the regionals, where they have a chance to move on to the Little League World Series. What makes the ejection and suspension so confounding is that Little League Baseball posts videos of bat-flip celebrations on social media that do not result in punishment. In fact, Marco has tossed his bat in celebration in prior tournament games without warnings or punishment, according to the court complaint. Joe Rocco called that hypocritical. 'They promote bat flips. The kids see major leaguers doing it. It's part of the game. He was just emulating what he saw," he said. The incident left his son 'distraught.' 'He was so confused,' the father said. 'He didn't understand what was going on. On the car ride home he was saying 'How can that be against the rules? If I knew I was breaking the rules I never would have done it.'' A message seeking comment was left with Little League's East Region headquarters after business hours on Wednesday night. ___ AP sports: recommended Item 1 of 3
Time of India
3 hours ago
- Sport
- Time of India
12-year-old suspended for bat flip celebration in Little League Baseball
A 12-year-old New Jersey Little Leaguer , Marco Rocco , has been suspended from his team's upcoming state tournament game after being ejected for a celebratory bat flip despite Little League Baseball frequently showcasing such moments on its social media platforms. Marco, playing for Haddonfield , hit a dramatic two-run homer in the sixth inning of the sectional final on July 16. After tossing his bat into the air in celebration, he was initially ruled out. Though the play was reversed and the runs counted, Marco was ejected and handed a one-game suspension for what officials called 'unsportsmanlike' conduct and 'horseplay'. Explore courses from Top Institutes in Please select course: Select a Course Category Project Management Data Science Data Analytics Others Public Policy Operations Management Cybersecurity Design Thinking Technology MCA Artificial Intelligence Leadership others Product Management healthcare Finance CXO PGDM MBA Digital Marketing Data Science Healthcare Management Degree Skills you'll gain: Project Planning & Governance Agile Software Development Practices Project Management Tools & Software Techniques Scrum Framework Duration: 12 Weeks Indian School of Business Certificate Programme in IT Project Management Starts on Jun 20, 2024 Get Details Skills you'll gain: Portfolio Management Project Planning & Risk Analysis Strategic Project/Portfolio Selection Adaptive & Agile Project Management Duration: 6 Months IIT Delhi Certificate Programme in Project Management Starts on May 30, 2024 Get Details — darrenrovell (@darrenrovell) by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Villas For Sale in Dubai Might Surprise You Villas In Dubai | Search Ads Get Rates Undo His father, Joe Rocco, has since filed for an emergency court order in Gloucester County, hoping to overturn the suspension in time for Thursday's state tournament opener. "We're trying to cope with it," Joe told The Philadelphia Inquirer. "I've tried to teach some life lessons from this. He keeps asking me, 'Dad, I don't understand what rule I broke. I don't understand, if I'm watching this on TV and there's never any penalty associated with it, why wasn't I able to do it?' Live Events "My answer to him is, 'Marco, sometimes life isn't fair. This is your first lesson at 12 years old, and dad's going to fight for you, whether we win or lose, is not important. But just understand that life isn't fair, and you have to sometimes deal with that the best way that you can.'" Adding to the confusion, the complaint notes Marco had flipped his bat in earlier games without issue. Joe labeled the punishment hypocritical, pointing out that Little League itself promotes similar celebrations online. A hearing is set for Thursday afternoon, just hours before Marco's team takes the field. A win at the state level would send them to the regionals - just one step away from the Little League World Series .
Winnipeg Free Press
3 hours ago
- Sport
- Winnipeg Free Press
New Jersey Little Leaguer suspended for bat flip, a celebration governing body promotes
A 12-year-old Little Leaguer is 'distraught' at the prospect of missing his team's first state tournament game because he was suspended for flipping his bat after hitting a game-winning home run — a type of celebration Little League Baseball promotes on its social media accounts. Marco Rocco of Haddonfield, New Jersey tossed his bat in the air on July 16 after his sixth-inning, two-run homer in the final of the sectional tournament, his father, Joe Rocco told The Associated Press on Wednesday. At first, he was called out, but on appeal the runs counted, Marco was ejected and suspended for a game over what the family was told were actions deemed 'unsportsmanlike' and 'horseplay.' Now, his family has gone to court to seek an emergency temporary restraining order that will allow him to play in the New Jersey state tournament that starts on Thursday. 'All we're asking for is that the suspension be lifted so he can play in the game,' Joe Rocco said. The sides are scheduled to make their arguments before a judge in Gloucester County Chancery Division on Thursday afternoon, just hours before the game. The winner of the state tournament advances to the regionals, where they have a chance to move on to the Little League World Series. What makes the ejection and suspension so confounding is that Little League Baseball posts videos of bat-flip celebrations on social media that do not result in punishment. In fact, Marco has tossed his bat in celebration in prior tournament games without warnings or punishment, according to the court complaint. Joe Rocco called that hypocritical. 'They promote bat flips. The kids see major leaguers doing it. It's part of the game. He was just emulating what he saw,' he said. The incident left his son 'distraught.' 'He was so confused,' the father said. 'He didn't understand what was going on. On the car ride home he was saying 'How can that be against the rules? If I knew I was breaking the rules I never would have done it.'' A message seeking comment was left with Little League's East Region headquarters after business hours on Wednesday night. ___ AP sports:
Yahoo
12 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Little League Bat-Flip Suspension Sparks New Jersey Dad's Lawsuit
The father of a boy suspended from participating in Thursday's New Jersey Little League State Tournament because he flipped his bat after hitting a home run has sued Little League Baseball. The suit filed Tuesday in a New Jersey superior court seeks a restraining order that would allow his son to play in the 12-and-under game. Represented by attorneys Brian A. Berkley and Michael Fitzgerald of Fox Rothschild, Joseph Rocco says his son, Marco, was feeling a 'rush of excitement, pride and joy' when he homered last Wednesday in the 2025 Little League Baseball Tournament Section 4 New Jersey Championship. Rocco acknowledged Marco, who plays for the Haddonfield Little League 12U All-Star district team, did a 'bat flip' before he began his home run trot around the bases. More from Riverside Faces Sex-Abuse Trial as Judge Denies Summary Judgment Rare Honus Wagner Card Hits Auction, Early Bids Pass $3.2 Million Riverside's Defense Rebuked in Youth Basketball Sex Abuse Case Rocco's case will face hurdles, as judges are usually reluctant to Monday morning quarterback umpires' judgment calls. Sports associations are also typically accorded broad deference in how they apply their own rules, especially when safety is a factor. Whether a bat flip is an appropriate gesture for a baseball player, let alone a child in Little League, has long sparked debates in baseball. Some regard it as showy and distasteful, including to the pitcher who gave up the homer, while others see it more—as Rocco put it—'a brief moment of celebration to admire an athletic accomplishment that some would call the most difficult task in all of sports.' It seems the home plate umpire was in the former group. Rocco says the umpire intended to call Marco out and void the home run, but after conferring with other umpires and allegedly a tournament director and regional headquarters in Connecticut (but not, Rocco claims, the Tournament Committee in Williamsport), the home run was deemed to count. But the good news quickly turned bad for Marco: He was ejected from the game, which under the rules renders him ineligible for Thursday's state tournament. Rocco says the umpires neither explained the decision nor gave warning 'prior to this more egregious and arbitrary decision.' Sportico has obtained Rocco's complaint and an accompanying brief for showing cause. They raise a breach of contract claim on the theory that Rocco paid dues for Marco to play Little League, and now his son can't play. Negligence is also alleged, with Little League portrayed as breaching a duty of care to Marco by suspending him 'without warning, justification, explanation, or reasoning.' There's also a claim for promissory estoppel, which refers to Rocco detrimentally relying on the promise that his son could play Little League if Rocco paid dues. Rocco asserts there are many examples of Little League players performing bat flips without being tossed from their games and that there is no specific rule outlawing the practice. In fact, Rocco claims, Marco performed two bat flips in recent games and wasn't warned by the umpires, let alone thrown out of the game. The brief also repeatedly mentions that in recent years, Little League social media platforms have, in a positive light, shown players flipping bats. Major League Baseball itself launched a marketing campaign in 2019 titled, 'Let the Kids Play,' featuring star players celebrating with bat flips and more in an attempt to distance itself from the game's staid emotional reputation while catering to a younger generation of fans. But not all bat flips are equal—which could become a key point in Rocco v. Little League. The brief references what it says were communications between Rocco's attorneys and Little League 'in an effort to settle this matter' without a lawsuit. As the brief tells it, Little League says Marco's bat flip was 'extreme' and not only 'far exceeded a celebratory bat flip that players on occasion indulge in' but 'actually endangered the safety of the catcher, the plate umpire and [Marco's] own team, and was a clear violation of the standards of sportsmanship and safety required by [Little League's] rules.' The response also allegedly referenced rules prohibiting 'horse play' and 'intentional throwing of equipment' that could endanger others. Rocco disputes this depiction of his son's bat flip. He says the flip 'was nowhere near the umpire or catcher' and that Marco's 'teammates did not enter the field until the bat was on the ground.' Rocco insists an injunction is warranted since his son would suffer irreparable harm—meaning a harm that can't be remedied by money. Marco, the brief argues, 'will suffer substantial, immediate and irreparable harm in the absence of injunctive relief.' To that end, Rocco asserts, Marco 'will not be able to participate in game one of the New Jersey Little League State Tournament. This game will never occur again and [Marco] will never have the opportunity to play in this game ever again.' The brief also contends that 'Little League will not be injured whatsoever if [Marco] is allowed to participate in this game.' When Little League responds to the court filing, it will disagree that Marco playing would cause the association no injury. Little League has an interest in applying its rules and not having judges second-guess game decisions. Little League will argue those decisions are non-reviewable. This is not a new topic in sports law. Judges have generally steered clear of reversing or altering officiating calls, because once they do so, other athletes, teams and parents could feel incentivized to sue. In 2014, Oklahoma District Court Judge Bernard Jones presided over a lawsuit, Independent School District No. 1-89 v. Oklahoma Secondary School Activities Association, involving a clearly bad call in a high school playoff football game—the referee negated a touchdown due to misunderstanding a rule, and the team that had been wronged lost by one point. Jones sympathized with the defeated team but said judges 'ought not to meddle' in games. The judge also stressed that athletic associations have the right to interpret their own rules without judicial interference. Referee interpretations are upheld unless they are arbitrary and capricious—an extremely deferential standard of review. A similar outcome occurred last year in New Jersey. A referee's bad call on a game-winning 3-pointer in the Group 2 boys basketball semifinal between Manasquan High School and Camden High School led to a challenge that came up short. The reason: The call, even if wrong, was final, conclusive and unrevivable. But sometimes legal challenges involving youth athletes prevail in New Jersey. Earlier this year, a New Jersey judge ruled that St. John Vianney wrestler Anthony Knox Jr. could compete for a state championship after he faced a New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA) suspension for violating the organization's sportsmanship policy. During a tournament, Knox had left the bench area and allegedly partook in an altercation in the stands. A judge reasoned Knox had been denied due process. Knox's case is different from the one involving Marco Rocco, including because the NJSIAA is a state actor, meaning it is a public entity and can be sued on constitutional grounds. Still, Knox's win might provide hope to Joseph Rocco and his son. Rocco insists his case is a winner. What happened to Marco, as the elder Rocco sees it, wasn't about a called strike or ball, whether a line drive stayed fair or veered foul or some other judgment call. It was instead about process and reflects a wrong that the law ought to remedy. Whether a judge agrees remains to be seen. A judge might regard what happened as a reasonable umpire decision about safety and appropriate behavior in a youth sports event and not one that warrants a court's time and attention. Said another way, not all harms are legal ones. Expect a swift decision with the game set for Thursday. Best of College Athletes as Employees: Answering 25 Key Questions
