Many Chicagoans Greet JRW Decision With Sadness

(CBS) -- Throughout the Chicago area, there is sadness and anger over the decision.

CBS 2's Jim Williams takes a look why so many are feeling so many emotions that JRW lost its title.

The story made us feel like none other in 2014.

Jackie Robinson West was tonic for a city plagued with bad news. Pastor Dwayne Grant.

"These boys represented the best of who we were especially in a time of great violence in our city"

The best of Chicago and so today, the day we learned the U.S. title is gone, there is anguish. Calls poured into Perri Small's WVON talk show..

"They're heartbroken…and I understand why. This city embraced this team and their families," Small said.

With pure, uninhibited joy, the city embraced the boys and their families who shattered stereotypes of the South Side and its people. It was baseball excellence, paired with good manners and sportsmanship.

Today's announcement sparked an explosion of comments on social media.

Charmaine Overman said "This is really sad and unfortunate. Once again children suffer due to decisions that adults make. I feel for the children because they played and competed professionally."

Some expressed anger at the Little League office, but Steve Gassman posted: "JRW should be forced to return all the donated money given to them for appearances, trip to the White House, freebies. The bottom line is RULES ARE RULES!"

Still many people told us they'll continue to support the team. The Rev. Darius Randle wore the team's famous yellow t shirt this afternoon.

"We stand in solidarity with the Jackie Robinson West team," Randle said.

Some African Americans believe racism is behind the decision to strip JRW's title, but a team from Georgia lost its state championship this year and two other little league teams were stripped of their national titles in the last 23 years.

This dispute will go on but all sides agree on this: they feel bad for the kids.