This past Sunday a girl’s high school basketball coach was fired for apparently not apologizing to the team that his girl’s beat 100-0. He was fired on Sunday, the same day he had sent an email to a local newspaper stating that he was not going to apologize to the other team for the victory.
And guess who disagrees with that decision? I do, that’s who. What in the world are you going to use as a reason to fire someone from a job that they are obviously good at (or the girl’s are all monsters. I mean, things are usually bigger in Texas.) This man led his team to the court, played a clean game of basketball, and simply out played (on a whole new level of the word) the other team. So why in the hell should he be expected to apologize. And for what? “Oh, you are right. I am sorry. I did not mean to win the basketball game. I meant for you to have a chance. I am sorry that your team did not score.”
However, on the other hand, I can see where he is a touch wrong here. This would be compared to a team, say the Colts, playing a game where they are up by three or four touchdowns. At that point the coach, or the players them selves, will take the star players out and let the lower end players get a chance. There is absolutely no reason to run up the score. Once this team got to about thirty or forty to zero there should have been some backing down from the players. But are they wrong? No, they are just entering the side of the fence on cocky.
But fired? I mean, come on now. Yeah, he made a mistake. He should perhaps tell the other team that he is sorry for the national attention that has now befallen the loosing team. They are getting just as much attention for loosing as the team that won is for doing just that. But take away his job for that?
This reminds me of a situation that I once lived. I was a resident assistant at Marian College when I was there playing golf. It was my sophomore year and I knew that my personality style fit. I was a people person, I was always looking for an excuse to lead, and I got my own room. It was a winning situation for all those involved. However, I used the power a little too much to my advantage.
You can ask my good friend Jason Cornman about this night but I was at his apartment drinking and having a good time with some friends. The next Monday I was fired for drinking one, under age, and two, on school property. Yes, Marian is a dry campus. (And how stupid is that? A dry campus?) But I was not fired for drinking according to the final decision. I was fired for my status that I placed on my Facebook account. I had written something to the effect, “Partying at Jason’s.” Long story short I was fired for the use of social networking. I used a public means to promote a feeling and was relieved of my duties because of that.
So was this email the reason he was fired? I mean, how would they have known he refused to apologize had they not had a copy of the email? The email is where he denied his will to apologize. Does that bring in the idea of privacy and how he should not be fired due to something they have nothing but an email address as for proof?
I think that there is something more in this story. There is more to the reason why he was fired. I mean, no offense, look at him. He does not look like someone I would want coaching my kid. (Yes, that was a trick question.)
What are your thoughts? Should he have been fired? Would you, as a coach, back your players down or try to set an obvious record for the largest win? Who should be held responsible if it is not him? This could get interesting if he decides to pursue this further.
