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Chicagoland is all abuzz with the announcement that their pride and joy, the triumphant little league baseball team which won the national championship and was hailed and feted not only at home, but all over the country including the white house, has been dethroned. These boys became poster children for what could happen when black youngsters were encouraged to particiate in wholesome activities, and they were trotted out at every opportunity to show how Chicago was turning around its bad reputation. Then the world of these youngsters came crashing down yesterday when their adult coaches were cited for breaking the rules by recruiting and using talented players from outside their distract to assemble a winning team. Now, instead of being the object of admiration, these players have to deal with the stigma of cheating, and the humiliation of having their title and medals stripped from them. All over the local media everybody is ranting over the situation, some moralizing about the hard lesson children have to learn when adults set a bad example by breaking the rules. Others are saying the coaches who reported the infraction were racially-motivated sore losers who were white. Elsewhere, the argument is being raised that the only crime was in being caught because all teams are guilty of doing what was done. A few have even hinted at being disappointed over how black folks can't even be successful at covering their tracks when they do wrong. I have mixed emotions. In this country everybody loves a winner. The noble espousal of "it not being whether you when or lose, but how you play the game" is a sentiment that no longer resonates. Nowadays it's all about "winning not being everything, but the only thing". Worst of all, adults taint youthful sports with their competitive desire to see their kids excel. What makes this a teachable moment? What is the lesson to be learned? Honesty is the best policy. But nice guys finish last. Welcome to the real world.