'Tween 12 and 20 by Dr. Robert Wallace

DR. WALLACE: My dad is a former professional baseball player. He is now a scout for the Los Angeles Dodgers. My dad is a nice guy, but he is a fanatic when it comes to baseball. This spring, he will be coaching my pony league team, and I will be on the team. I pitch and play first base.

My worry is that my father will be grossly upset if I strike out, make an error or give up a run. It might be better if I play for another team. That way I won't have to worry about embarrassing my dad. Would it look funny if I played against my dad instead of for him? — Nameless, Bakersfield, Calif.

NAMELESS: Play on the team your dad will coach. Sometimes parent-coaches do put more pressure on their own children than on other members of the team. No athlete is perfect. Babe Ruth and Hank Aaron hit many homeruns, but, at times, they struck out and they committed errors. Trust me, your father committed his share of errors and struck out more than he would like to admit. If he pitched, there were days that he should have stayed in bed.

Let's hope that after you commit a physical error or swing and miss a nasty curve ball that your father treats you like he should treat all of his players — with respect. Athletic competition should be exciting and enjoyable for players, coaches, parents and fans. Make sure that your dad reads my answer!

GIVE TEENS A BREAK

DR. WALLACE: Why are teens always the ones to get blamed for alcohol-related deaths? There are a lot more older drunks on the road than teens. Give us a break! - Kelly, Alameda, Calif.

KELLY: The combination of drinking and driving is a monumental social illness regardless of the age of the drinking driver.

But statistics tell us that the youthful exuberance of young drinking drivers is deadly. Although drivers under 21 make up only 10 percent of the motoring population, they account for more than 25 percent of alcohol-related highway fatalities. Alcohol-related traffic accidents are the No. 1 killer of those aged 15 to 24.

Kelly, we all need a break, a break from the fear of sharing the highway with a driver who has consumed alcohol. It's a deadly combination.

I DIDN'T DRINK AT CHRISTMAS PARTIES

DR. WALLACE: I went to four Christmas parties and at each party alcohol was available. I did not drink even one little drop, but, at times, I felt like a "goody-two-shoes" or worse, a baby. I don't plan to become a drinker, but if I feel more comfortable nursing a drink, would wine be the safest alcoholic drink to consume? - Nameless, St. John, Ind.

NAMELESS: The alcohol in wine is no less or more intoxicating than beer or hard liquor. The strength of a drink is measured by the percentage of alcohol it contains. One can of beer, a five-ounce glass of wine and an average mixed drink containing hard alcohol (gin, whisky, vodka) all contain an equal amount of alcohol.

Never allow yourself to feel that you are inferior just because you are not holding an alcoholic drink in your hand. Consider yourself fortunate that you don't drink because alcohol is a highly addictive drug that has brought pain and suffering to many, many families.

Dr. Robert Wallace welcomes questions from readers. Although he is unable to reply to all of them individually, he will answer as many as possible in this column. Email him at rwallace@galesburg.net. To find out more about Dr. Robert Wallace and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate website at www.creators.com.

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