Instead of egos and salaries, we are treated to teamwork and camaraderie.

Instead of stoic athletes, we are treated to smiles and tears.

No one is mistaking the Little League World Series for a Major League Baseball game, but that doesn’t mean the annual event in Williamsport, Pennsylvania isn’t worth watching.

The Little League World Series is truly a world event – nine different countries were represented this year – and while the diversity is certainly an appealing aspect, the most fun rewarding part of watching the event is the emotions of the kids and the friendships that form between players of different teams.

No one is worried about steroid testing, future contracts or impending free agency.

Instead, it’s just a bunch of kids playing a game they love. This is evident throughout the game as the field is often littered with kids flashing beaming smiles and appreciating the opportunity they have been blessed with.

On the other end of the spectrum, we are occasionally shown kids crying in defeat, but often times those kids are accompanied and consoled by a coach or a teammate – a lesson for all of us about helping others in tough times and making sure you are there for your teammates.

The Little League World Series is not perfect and although the kids are very skilled, they often make “little league” mistakes, but the experience of watching the Little League World Series isn’t necessarily always about the baseball.

Major League Baseball is big business can often be stressful for fans and players alike, but in Little League, odds are most fans don’t have a rooting interest in any of the games.

The Little League World Series provides baseball fans the opportunity to just sit back and watch the game without worrying about who is on deck, up in the bullpen or even caring about who is winning or losing.

Anytime baseball is on television, I am likely to check it out for at least a little bit. The relevance of the game and possible story lines will impact how long I watch, but when it comes to the Little League World Series the skill level and score don’t make a difference.

There is something special about watching those kids have so much fun playing baseball and as long as the big, genuine smiles continue to flash across the screen, I’ll continue to watch.