In a parent's eyes their child can do no wrong (most of the time). And the seemingly irrational pride they show for the accomplishments of their young "Billy" or "Susan," no matter how small, is simply love. After all, we all know it should start at home. Hey, even big brothers can be proud too.

Jason Hyman is a name that you may want to get familiar with now. He is a prime example of the positive influence of proud supportive parents. Jason is a young baseball pitcher with a batting swing that may one day give Mark McGwire a run for the record. He lives and breathes baseball and even sees himself playing for the New York Yankees someday. Our parents have been more than supportive of his love for the game. Dad would put in 10 hours at work but managed to never miss a game. He was so supportive of my brother's love for baseball that when the opportunity came up, he became the team's coach, helping them to make a run for the state championship even as you read this. However, Dad has not allowed his own love for the game or Jason's passion to play, distract them from creating balance in Jason's regimen. Education is also a priority. Jason is consistently reminded that he has to have a plan B, and always told "to play baseball for yourself because you want to, not because you have to."

But, what about those parents that live vicariously through their young bucks? When is being supportive going too far? You've heard those stories - "I was the best basketball guard that you would ever see in high school." Or "I could have made pro only if I ..." (you add the rest). For every Venus Williams or Tiger Woods, there's a dad thinking they too have the next "big thing." And with professional sports blooming financially every year, some parents see dollar signs when they look at their talented cherub.

Yes, unfortunately, there are parents who are not concerned with their child having a good time and enjoying sports just for the fun of it. Their only concern is the fame and fortune their child can bring just because they're seminally good at swinging a tennis racquet, a baseball bat or a golf club. They can only see their young prodigy in a Nike commercial or endorsing Gatorade. Sad, but these are the times we're in. Hey there's nothing wrong with dreaming, but what if those dreams belong only to the parents and not the child? Is it really fair to insist that young athletes reach for a goal they're not interested in?

It's a beautiful thing to see a child have a great game and enjoy the admiration showered on them. But, too often parents can twist that into they're own selfish greed for money and fame and diminish the purity of sports for young children. So to all the greedy, selfish parents who can't see the line between support and reliving their past, repeat after me - RIDE THE BENCH.

To comment on this or any other column by Drew "The Truth" Alexander, email ridethebench@metroconnection.info.