Kenny Williams, the Executive Vice President of the Chicago White Sox, said Little League International officials made the wrong decision Wednesday when they stripped the Jackie Robinson West team of its national title.
"The fact is, for me, this is an adult problem, not a kids problem," Williams told NBC Chicago after it had been determined that officials from the South Side Chicago team knowingly falsified a boundary map to include players who otherwise wouldn't have been eligible to play. "The adults responsible should have to answer."
"If the allegations proved to be true, there was a system in place to address the actions in question prior to the start of the tournament," Williams said. "When you see a 6-foot-2, 13-year-old kid pitching on the mound in the Little League World Series, the first thing everyone says is, 'That kid's 13? That kid is too old,' and then the Little League organizers are quick to trump it through a review process."
Jackie Robinson West officials have in the past denied the team violated any residency rules and said none of their players were recruited.
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Despite Little League International's decision to hand the national title to the Mountain Ridge Little League team of Las Vegas, Nevada, Williams said the youth players from Jackie Robinson West would remain "champions" in his mind.
"These young men united a city in a way that I have not seen this city united to support a singular cause. It gave hope to a lot of kids in the community, not so different from a community in which I came up, where you're looking for things, you're looking for reasons to believe in something," he explained.
The stirring run to the Little League World Series by the all-black team captured national attention and united Chicago, which remains one of the nation's most segregated cities. Mayor Rahm Emanuel organized all-city watch parties and after falling to South Korea in the world championship game, the teammates were celebrated with a parade and a visit to the White House, where they met President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama.
The White Sox also honored the team at U.S. Cellular Field, donated $20,000 to the organization, and awarded each player with a White Sox jersey with their own numbers and autographed by every member of the 2014 White Sox.
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Disclaimer: Kenny Williams is married to NBC Chicago's Zoraida Sambolin.
