 Basil Tarasko: Head Coach Interview by Glen Willard |
As American as baseball, mom and apple pie." This oft-used phrase reflects baseball's importance in the lives of Americans. Baseball indeed has long been thought the province solely of Americans, but with some recognition of its appeal to Central and some South Americans, the Japanese and a handful of Canadians. Times are changing however. The reason: Baseball is now an Olympic sports event; it became a full metal sport in the Barcelona Olympics of 1992.
In February I had the opportunity to meet with Basil Tarasko. Basil's interest and a love of his life is baseball. Through Robert Reed of The Willard Group I had known of Basil for more than a year. Since I have some "minor" interest in the sport myself, I had wanted to meet him ever since I had learned about him and his work in Little League's in Ukraine. For those not knowledgeable (meaning, at least percentage wise, virtually the whole world outside of the U.S.) of what I mean by Little League let me explain.
Little League is organized baseball for young boys ages 9 through to 13. It is a corporate enterprise organized on a nonprofit basis that seeks to teach and to promote goodwill, good sportsmanship and good citizenship through the sponsoring of sports competition.
The game of baseball is the vehicle for the education. The rigors of the sport, the learning of its fundamentals, the exercise and the athleticism required, the teamwork as well as the competition foster this education. And that at present, at least, is Basil's reason for making regular tips to Ukraine.
Basil, in his 50s, is a former math teacher. Most of his career was spent teaching math subjects at the junior high school level in the United States. Basil is an American, but as his name suggests, he has a Ukrainian background. Born in Germany to Ukrainian parents, he moved with his parents as a child of five to New York City. When I say regular trips I mean just that. When I met with Basil for our approximate 2-hour visit he was leaving to return home to America the next day. But this was the last full day of his 28th trip to Ukraine. His 29th trip will be later this month (around the 20th). His first trip was in 1991.
My "interview" with Basil was as much "baseball talk" as true interview. Somewhere in the conversation I would occasionally think that I should be asking more direct questions, soliciting more information and doing the things one normally does in an interview. Later on listening to my tape recording of our conversation I confirmed that I had been as much interviewee as interviewer. But, it was most enjoyable. Basil's lifetime, besides his professional teaching, has been spent with baseball. Besides playing in high school and college he has coached a college team successfully for 7 years, held scouting positions for major league baseball franchises and worked in youth baseball leagues. Our conversation led to the realization that we were both fans of Ron Polk, a famous college baseball coach. Basil says Coach Polk's book on baseball and coaching is the best he's ever read and a guide he uses in teaching. I'm ordering my copy shortly.
It was a small advertisement in a New York publication several years ago that caused Basil to begin his baseball work in Ukraine. The ad, however, was for people to teach baseball in Russia. It was a part of a program to help Russia in the Olympics. After, accepting the offered position, Basil found he could have the same opportunity and perform the same function in Ukraine. So, he never made it to Russia.
Basil's early efforts in Ukraine involved older players, athletes and coaches involved in building for Olympic competition. In 1994 Basil was a part of a Ukrainian team that went to Holland and won a regional competition. As he worked with these "older" prospects he found problems from his point of view. His long-term view is to create and develop baseball talent in Ukraine. However, the foundation wasn't being built in Ukraine and he felt that in building such a foundation he would have to work with and develop younger kids. In other word he would have to build with youngsters in order to build a sustainable program.
The problems at the older age level were both physical and practical. It was physical in that the arm strength required for the sport cannot be reliably built when beginning with teens and older. And the coaches did not seem to understand that one pitcher (one who had not been playing and developing over a longer period of time) could not pitch complete games, particularly on successive days. Arms would wear out. Also, immediately after playing, young people at that age had to either continue in school or go to work because of economic reasons. Thus, they could not be a ready source as teachers and coaches to give the benefit of their training and skills to others.
So, Basil decided to begin younger. That's when he associated with the Little League organization. He would build from the ground up with children ages 9 through 12. Here too a problem developed. In the Ukrainian school system only those designated as trained physical education instructors could teach the kids. This produced a limited supply of mostly disinterested teachers of baseball. Not surprisingly or even wrongly these trained teachers were more interested in more traditional Ukrainian sports.
Facing these problems, Basil began to look at the orphanages. So, these last few years he has begun his foundation program through them. There he finds the boys as well as the interest. And even some occasional help.
Asking Basil about the success he has had and the problems he's faced and those he continues to face produces the information that follows.
As to eventual success he seems optimistic. After all, he keeps coming back. Problems include finding help and qualified teachers (coaches). They include of course money. They include other adult support. Teachers in the orphanages are a limited resource. They are underpaid and frequently overworked to begin with. Little League support in the United States and other countries comes mainly from parents (a very interested, enthusiastic support group). Of course this source is missing in Ukraine's orphanages.
Money and sponsors are problems too. Sponsors are relatively easily found in the West where baseball is played. A local entrepreneur whether restaurant or bowling alley owner or drugstore owner or other merchandiser usually can be found to provide uniforms and some equipment as a means for their own advertising (name on back of uniform shirt) or even just to show their own civic mindedness. Parents provide gloves and other resources (contributions in time and/or money). This is not the case in Ukraine.
Basil and a few of his friends have in the past supplied from donations in the U.S. a lot in the way of equipment and uniforms. Basil, himself, spends his own money coming to Ukraine and paying for his stay here while promoting the sport he loves. Also, Basil's love runs to the kids. Frequently his eyes light up as he talks of them. He talks of the fun of baseball, the spirit, the smiling faces.
Two things he's run into he doesn't like: 1) some who teach baseball as though it was a military drill, run like the army, no fun. He discussed a situation in Moldova where the coach acted as drill instructor (my expression, but his description); and 2) some who assume he is here to make money for himself. The very production and distribution of donated and shipped uniforms and equipment for his distribution to others has produced a reaction. Some people assume "an angle" and they want in on it.
Baseball activity exists now in all 17 oblasts. Basil is trying to promote cities that will try to support at least 4 teams. This is necessary to produce local competition due to the limited ability to travel due to costs and time. Then he strives for a championship series to be held in Kyiv. Kirovograd seems to be the leading city for baseball at present in Ukraine. Kyiv needs improvement and help, as do most other Ukrainian cities.
Basil will be back this month and then again in August of this year. Meanwhile, it would be good if some of our Readers might consider lending a small hand to Basil and his efforts. The kids need things as simple as T-shirt uniforms and baseball caps, not to mention a contribution that might buy a few bats and balls or even a glove or two.
I look forward to seeing Basil myself later this month. You see spring training for major leaguers began last week in Florida and in Arizona. The regular season begins the first week of April. Basil and I have things to discuss.
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Read also previous issue' articles:
Political ‘Faces’
Ahmet Tanyu: On Starting Up
A Kodak Moment
with Andrey Pleskonos
Philip Morris's Raman Berent International & Experienced
Ian Boag: European neighbor
The Velvet Songstress
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