It’s only a game. Most kids understand that. But some of their parents and fans of their teams apparently have lost sight of this.
Take an episode in Texas last month. Manvel High School had just beaten LaMarque High School 60-45. The teams exchanged handshakes after the game. Then an adult (physically at least) fan walked up to the Manvel coach and walloped him in the face.
Unfortunately, that isn’t the only such case. In South Carolina, two players reportedly were beaten up for Tebowing (striking the prayerlike pose made famous by Denver Broncos quarterback Tim Tebow) after a big win over a rival high school. In Baltimore, fans at a high school game began brawling with the players right in the middle of the contest. We understand that in some parts of the country high school basketball games are played after school in empty gyms from which fans are barred from attending.
Think this boorish behavior is foreign to the land of Hoosier Hysteria? Consider an episode that happened right here in Anderson recently.
An Anderson Preparatory School eighth-grader, as we understand it, was suspended from the team at a game in Muncie. His father started a ruckus after the game, and police became involved. It didn’t end there.
We don’t know the particulars that led to the suspension. It doesn’t matter. What does matter is that the parents entered the school, demanding to see an administrator. One of the APA administrators approached them and identified himself. Whereupon the dad decked the administrator, reportedly giving him a concussion.
Fortunately, the out-of-control ignoramus was arrested. So was his wife after a stream of epithets and obscenities.
We’ve heard all too much about the failings of today’s youth. Methinks the blame in most cases is misplaced. Like father like son? Perhaps, which reinforces my point.
I’ve had children and grandchildren who played on sports teams. I haven’t always agreed with their coaches’ decisions. But I hope I had the good sense not to take matters into my own hands when things didn’t go their way for my precious little darlings. (Of course, even if I had had anger management issues, most of those coaches or administrators could have flattened me anyway.)
Instead I told them, “A coach is a dictator — and that’s the way it has to be.”
When kids fail in school, it only makes sense to look beyond the boy or girl himself. Motivation and discipline begin with those who mentor youngsters. If there is no motivation, the kid won’t be motivated. And if there is no discipline, how can he or she be expected to know how they are supposed to behave?
Bozos who insist on talking with their fists instead of their brains have real problems. Teachers and coaches today deserve the highest praise for what they have to put up with instead of getting the blame for the sins of the father.
Jim Bailey’s column appears on Wednesday. He can be reached by email at jameshenrybailey@earthlink.net.
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Jim Bailey: Kids play basketball, but some adults prefer basketbrawl
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