Mel Hall was a major league outfielder for 15 years, but now his rights have just been acquired by the state of Texas, for whom Hall shall serve a 45-year prison term for molesting a 12-year-old girl that he coached on a basketball team. Twelve years old? Jesus, Mel.

During the trial this week, witnesses testified that Hall was impressed with the 12-year-old girl’s talent and wanted to start a basketball team. The woman testified that Hall exposed himself to her and her younger brother at home, when their parents were away. The boy testified that he thought they were playing a game and never told his parents.

Hall’s interaction with the girl progressed to inappropriate touching and him showing her how to perform oral sex, she testified. She said he also showed her pornographic movies at an apartment Hall shared with his girlfriend and their infant son.

Two other women stepped forward to testify against Hall, one claiming that she had been abused as early as 1989. Hall won’t be eligible for parole for 22-1/2 years, meaning that if he starts chatting up some infants right now, by the time he gets out, it’ll all be good.

|The AP|

Usually Little League managers have difficulty explaining the terms 'sacrifice bunt' and 'taking one for the team' to the lads, but I don't think that will be a problem on this team:

I know that I've said before that this is the essence of comedy, but I felt a lump in my throat after I first watched this.  But it could have been because I was choking with laughter. -KD

(Two free drinks for Simon On Sports.)