i never be in the little league . probably it be just as well and a i never really get into any sporting activity until i discover swimming . but my nephew be in the little league in connecticut and and his career be distinguish by be in the outfield and and enjoy look at the sky and cloud and or the green grass and or the back wall and rarely look at the thing matter most represent the ball . it have become a commonplace piece of knowledge that for many kid be on a baseball team in the little league around the country be a nightmare . the kid look forward to the fun of play baseball game with kid their own age . the problem be that all too often the enjoyment of the game ( and the teaching of good sportsmanship ) be sacrifice for the sake of the grown ups who be in the background ( parent and patron of the team ) and the manager . these grown ups be only concerned about win . they have take the view that win be the end all and be all of living and and that second or third or fourth place in the standing be worthless . unfortunately too many grown ups feel this way . after all and how many people be active fan of the real major league team that constantly be in the cellar . occasionally such a team ( the old brooklyn dodger of the 1920s 1930s or the original new york mets come to mind ) do have such a following and but that be a rarity . the bad news bear be the first film that tackle this problem of bad sportsmanship and enshrine win within what should be the pure form of baseball . after all and little league be for kid . isn not it . there be similarity in the film between the character of morris buttermaker ( walter matthau ) and tom hank character in a league of their own and about the woman baseball league of the second world war era . hank and matthau have serious drinking problem . hank be in the major with a chicago team but be wash himself up with management and take this job manage the woman team a a last chance to square thing with his bos . butterworth be a promising rookie in the minor league and who once ( in a practice game ) strike out ted williams . but contract dispute ( he claim ) prevent him from get into the major and and he take the job manage the yuma bear for a salary . it be obvious that the parent behind this ( lead by a councilman play by ben piazza ) have little faith in his long dormant abilities the councilman even try to palm off an unsigned check to butterworth for his service at the beginning ( a real sign of contempt ) . subsequently the councilman even drop support the team when it lose it first game by a score of 26 to 0. certainly the team be full of misfit and an overweight kid with a loud mouth ( gary lee cavagnaro ) and a would be african american militant ( erin blunt ) and and two spanish speaking kid ( jaime escobedo and george gonzales ) be only a portion of them . and initially the opportunist in butterworth make his work a manager become second rate ( he rarely train them when sober and and he even have them assist him in his job a a swimming pool cleaner ) . but their unhappiness at their first defeat be too much . also there be the unasked for and patronize advise of fellow coach roy turner ( vic morrow and in a good performance ) and who be stress how embarrass the bear be and and how they have no place in the league and and should quit . matthau take such a dislike to him that he be determine to turn the team around . he do this first by actually train the team and so they start cohere together ( and start actually play the game correctly ) . then he go after his one great discovery . when he be romance her mother and butterworth be train amanda whurlitzer ( tatum oneill ) on pitching and fielding and so that she be a powerhouse ( though not as good a a hitter ) . he manage to get her to join the team and agree to pay for her ballet class and for a pair of european jean she want . later he also manage to get another good all around player and tanner boyle ( chris barnes ) . the result be that the team soon be zoom up in the league to the point that it and turner yankee be to play the deciding game of the summer . butterworth do not realize that amanda willingness to go along with him be base on the hope that he ( a man she actually idolize ) will marry her mother . a for tanner and he a pint size hood who happen to decide to join the bear only because he dislike the self important turner ( who keep harass him on the baseball field ) . the final twenty minute of the movie deal with the price the poor kid in both team pay for the glory of the adult . butterworth show a mean opportunism that the kid resent on his team and while turner manages to permanently louse up his relationship with his son and wife by humiliate the boy for not follow his order . by the way and turner son get one of the best revenge on an adult i have ever see in any movie deal with inter generational and family relationship . let u just say turner be not face a happy future when the film end . a comedy about an area rarely touch until then in film ( a scene in the james garner kim novak comedy boy night out be one of the few that deal with little league before this full study of it ) and the bad news bear be a nice reaffirmation on what sport be suppose to be about represent fun .