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While the pros battle for playoff spots and records, the best baseball in the world is being played this week in Williamsport, Pennsylvania. It's time for the Little League World Series.

I love to watch the Little League World Series. It is truly a WORLD series; players and their supporters are in Williamsport, Pennsylvania from across the United States and around the world. And they have come together to play baseball. More than 2.6 million kids play Little League in all 50 states and 75 countries. That makes the 16-teams that make it to the LLWS really special, and you don't have to watch long to realize just how great these kids are.

The cultural traditions that emerge as each game goes on are informative, and often affecting. Last night, a batter on the Japanese team struck out; when he returned to the dugout, he bowed and apologized to his team. A Japanese pitcher accidentally brushed back a batter with an unintentionally close pitch. He bowed and apologized to the batter. Roger Clemens could learn a lesson here.

I can't imagine the pressure these young athletes play under. The team from Saudi Arabia (made up of the sons of American oil workers and military working in Saudia Arabia) left home on July 18 and played in Poland for a two weeks in the regional tournament that sent them to Williamsport. They've been practicing in New Jersey for the last week or so. Several dozen fans from Mexico drove 40 hours to get to Williamsport (plane tickets cost $1,500 per person; the team flew, the fans drove). There's a team from the Netherlands for the first time ever; one of their players is an immigrant from Japan who regularly interprets between teams -- he speaks English, Japanese and a little Dutch. Pro players work when they play baseball; they're earning a living. These guys are the pride of their hometowns and countries; it makes playing for pay seem really trivial.

Every team has a story; every kid has a story. And after this week, they'll all have great memories, the stuff of even more stories. All the games are being televised on ESPN or ABC, so tune in. Or, if cruise on up to Williamsport. You don't need tickets (except for the World Championship), and admission to all the game is FREE. Is this a great game, or what.