5 Questions with Paul Carroll Jr.: Little League's face has changed over the years
You've got four boys. That keeps you and your wife busy, right?
Yes, four boys ages 17, 14, 11 and 6, and I also have a 21-year-old daughter who is living in Florida. They keep us busy for sure; they are in four different schools. Don't ask me how we managed to accomplish that. The alarm clock starts going off at 5:45 a.m. and continues on for a couple of hours. Andrew is 17 and is a junior at Central High. Paul is in the eighth grade at South Girard and is in the band. Christian is in the sixth grade at Phenix City Intermediate School and is about to start his last year of Little League. Crimson is in kindergarten at Sherwood, and he is in a league of his own and keeps us on our toes, that's for sure. Between sports, Beta Club, band, math team and all the other school activities, we stay busy all the time.
How have you seen Little League baseball change over the years?
Little League has changed so much over the last 30-something years since I played. When I played, you had a cheap glove, cheap cleats and then the team would all share helmets and a couple of bats. Back then baseball was only played during baseball season, not year-round like it is now. Team names back then for me were Hawks, Ramblers and Braves. The Braves were brown and orange for some reason. Little League today is expensive gloves, cleats, bats and helmets. Actually travel ball is killing Little League as we know it; the number of kids who sign up each year get less and less. It's sad to think where Little League may be in 10-15 years. Baseball is a year-round sport today, and if you want your child to be able to compete at a high level, playing year-round and hitting and pitching lessons are almost a must.
Are you still coaching?
Yes, I am still coaching. I started nine years ago when Paul was 5, and I have been doing it ever since. Coach pitch, Little League, fall ball and travel ball, I have done a little of everything. I enjoy it and will miss it when my boys are completely done. The best experience I had was last summer. I was asked to coach an All-Star team of kids who were not given much of a chance to do anything. Through practice and hard work and a group of kids who just were not going to give up, we made it to the semi-finals in state. The game we won to advance to the semifinals was a 6-5 walk off win in the seventh inning on a late muggy night in Sylacauga, Ala. Easily the most exciting game I ever coached.
Your youngest son is named Crimson. How did that come to be?
I have been an Alabama fan since I was a small child, watching games with my dad. Yes, I am one of those crazy diehard Alabama fans, but not the kind that would poison trees. I respect anybody who is a diehard fan and stays true to their team through the good and bad. I have been an Alabama fan from Bear Bryant to Nick Saban; I have seen the good, bad and ugly in almost 40 years. When Crimson was born, I thought about Saban, but thought better of it for his sake. We wanted for him to have a unique name and I think we accomplished that.
What is the best kept secret in the Chattahoochee Valley?
Being a sports fan and missing minor league baseball in Columbus, I think the best kept secret is Columbus State University baseball games. They are free and you can take a chair and sit in the grass behind the outfield fence. You can also sit in the bleachers. It's good baseball and an inexpensive way to take your kids to watch good baseball.Vital statsName: Paul Carroll Jr.
Age: 43
Job: Merchandiser at Nabisco
Hometown: Columbus
Current home: Phenix City
Family: Wife, Jennifer; sons, Andrew, 17, Paul III, 14, Christian, 11, and Crimson, 6; daughter Veronica, 21
Education: High School: Columbus High/Christian Heritage Academy and Columbus Technical College
Favorite Book: "Drive: The Story of my Life" by Larry Bird
Favorite Movie: "A Time to Kill"
Favorite restaurant: Carrabba's Italian Grill
Quote: "The one thing that always bothered me when I played in the NBA was I really got irritated when they put a white guy on me." -- Larry Bird
Song: "Sweet Caroline" Neil Diamond
Concert: Def Leppard
This story was originally published February 22, 2015 at 9:47 PM with the headline "5 Questions with Paul Carroll Jr.: Little League's face has changed over the years."