The Super Droll is upon us, and I should probably be focusing on the hoopla that surrounds this coveted championship. After the thrilling BCS championship, this game to me is second tier. However, a recent series of events have occurred that stirred the embers of distain within my moral fiber. There has been a growing concern among some parents regarding the well being of current and future generations. Some of this concern is well founded, some is detrimental not only to the children which they so adamantly defend, but it eats away at the societal foundation.
This week, a basketball coach has been fired, and a football coach indicted, and teachers have been cited for assigning too much homework. The basketball coach taught his team to do the very best they could at all times. The football coach taught disciplining oneself to strive to achieve against all odds, both honorable characteristics to instill in any young person. Yet, both men have been publicly castigated for their results.
Micah Grimes, the coach of Covenant School in Dallas, Texas was unrepentant for his team beating Dallas Academy 100-0. (Who did the scheduling for the two schools?) Grimes should not have to apologize for his girls doing the best they can. They “played the game the way it was meant to be played. My values and beliefs would not allow me to run up the score on any opponent…my girls played with honor and integrity,” Grimes stated in an e-mail. Grimes was hired to coach girls basketball to the best of his ability. He is supposed to teach the lesson of hard work and application of a set of principles when properly executed, bring desired results. In the words of Philip Dormer Stanhope, the Earl of Chesterfield, “Whatever is worth doing at all, is worth doing well.” There isn’t a disclaimer that states “only under certain circumstances.”
Administrators of the Covenant School issued a statement which read “It is shameful and an embarrassment that this happened (the game, not the firing). This clearly does not reflect a Christlike and honorable approach to competition.” Really? I didn’t know Christ played basketball, or engaged in any sport at all. I didn't know he had an opinion on sports; where is that in The Bible? What were the girls supposed to do, quit? Make baskets for the other team to keep the score closer? I know! Maybe Covenant should’ve forfeited when things got out of hand. What a lesson that would have taught both teams. Thank goodness the Dallas Academy never gave up according to spectators. They tried their very best until the end. I think both teams learned a lesson from that alone.
It’s a good thing Covenant’s decision makers weren’t alive in 1916 when John Heisman’s Ramblin’ Wrecks of Georgia Tech beat the Cumberland College football team 222-0. I’m sure they’d have seen to it that there wouldn’t be a trophy named after him.
David Stinson, the head football coach of Pleasure Ridge Park High School in Kentucky, faces a lot more than dismissal. Stinson was recently indicted and charged with the reckless homicide, (is there responsible homicide?) of 15 year old Max Gilpin, a sophomore linema. The parents, Jeff Gilpin and his ex-wife Michele Crockett, brought the charges against Stinson.
Civil suits are what normally come out of these sorts of circumstances. The most notable case was that of Korey Stringer, the former Minnesota Viking who also died from heat related illness. But Max’s parents aren’t satisfied with financial compensation for death which occurred while Max was doing something he loved. Max so loved the game he took the over-the-counter supplement Creatine, to increase muscle strength to better compete. However, the side effects from taking Creatine can be cramps, heat intolerance, and electrolyte imbalances. It also can cause dehydration. In a statement, Ms. Crockett stated that Max had stopped taking Creatine prior to football practice commencing. Yet Creatine can remain in one’s system for up to thirty days. Also, Max was also taking Adderall to combat his ADHD. (Is this something every kid has now?) Adderall can raise ones blood pressure, and cause severe dry mouth. Dehydration, high blood pressure, and dry mouth are a bad combination in hot weather.
The attorney for Jefferson Commonwealth Dave Stengel stated, “This is not about football, this is not about coaches. This is about an adult person who was responsible for the health and welfare of a child.” Take note all you football coaches, don’t tell your players to tackle too hard, exert too much effort, or give 100%, because you never know what can happen. Don’t ask for their maximum effort until you’ve interviewed their parents, and family doctor. Remember to administer a urine analysis to find out what these kids put in their system. Mr. Stengel also stated that “a reasonable man should have realized that something like this could have occurred.” What an astute declaration. Is he aware that a reasonable man also realizes paralysis can occur playing football, broken bones, lacerated spleens, bruised kidneys? These are some of the inherent risks of giving forth maximum effort in a field of athletic endeavor. Reasonable people are aware of the risks of flying, driving too fast, and many other day to day activities. Reasonable people consult their physicians, but still tragedies befall them, such is life.
Mr. Gilpin hopes “something good will come out of this.” “Good” meaning coaches unwilling to coach because of what may happen? “Good” meaning schools doing away with football programs, or canceling games if the weather is too hot? Mr. Gilpin is also considering suing Riddell, the makers of the helmets and shoulder pads used by the players. As if no one knows the person that does this equipment will get hot when they put them on. Mr. Gilpin also “expects anyone responsible for Max’s death to be held accountable.” Does that list include him and his ex-wife? They signed the permission slip knowing what Max was ingesting?
The last issue of parental micromanaging kids happened in South Florida. Irate parents are complaining their kids are getting too much homework. This workload interferes with the students extra-curricular activities and takes away from family time. One woman cited her child averages 5-6 hours of homework per evening. Her child is in the 6th grade. Are you kidding me? Who else isn’t buying into this line of shit? It’d take me 5 hours too if I spent 3 of them texting, instant messaging, farting around with my Facebook page, and playing Xbox.
“Family time,” wasn’t that the excuse parents gave when they toiled too much on the job? Well then, there’d be more family time if both parents weren’t busy at their careers. There’d be more family time if parents didn’t encourage their children to sign up for everything short of military duty. There’d be more family time if parents weren’t so certain that their child won’t get into the right college without getting top notch grades and participating in a laundry list of extra-curricular activities. These are the same parents who’ve decided schools are not just institutions of learning, but glorified babysitters. Maybe if parents parented, schools could get back to the business of instruction, and spend less time disciplining and maintaining order. These are also the first parents that who are up in arms that their child didn’t learn what they should due to lack of instruction.
Have all of these well-meaning adults spilled McDonald’s coffee in their collective laps? Why is it everybody else’s fault? Why is everyone pointing fingers instead of assuming some responsibility? Why are we as a nation installing so many restrictions in an attempt to insulate kids, that the only lesson parents are teaching them is “there’s always someone else to blame.” Is that what the Miami father told his kid whom he’d just bought a brand new Corvette after the kid wrecked the previous one? Well, the kid went out and wrecked the second one too. This time he killed somebody. The kid was 15, too young to obtain a driver’s license. Dad was seen on television wailing “my poor boy!” What lesson did that parent teach his kid? When will parents realize they need to learn some lessons too? They want excellence from, and for their children but without the sacrifice. If this mentality doesn’t change we’re going to wind up with a generation of pussies with wet crotches.
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