Missouri basketball players pour urine into opponents' water cooler

"This may be the worst act of bad sportsmanship ever!" That quote came directly from my boss, Frank Viverito, president of the St. Louis Sports Commission. I had just returned from a meeting Monday afternoon and Frank's facial expression was somewhere between outrage, disgust and sadness.

He wouldn't tell me what the act was. Frank only said he emailed me the story and I just had to read it to get the full effect. I was a little skeptical. In four years of writing this blog and nearly six years on the job, I've seen some pretty bad stuff. Adults have attacked kids. One time a bunch of coaches set their kids' trophies on fire. There's even a story about a group of kids beating up referees.

All that said, the boss may very well be right. Cassville (Mo.) High School hosted Monett (Mo.) High in a girls basketball game on Feb. 4. Last week, Monett's administration sent a letter home to parents describing a most disturbing incident. The letter states that four Cassville players each urinated into a cup, then poured the fluid from one of the cups into Monett's team water cooler.

According to reports, Monett players did drink from the tainted water cooler during the game. Monett officials also wrote in the letter to parents that they did not learn of the prank until March 20. The letter went on to state that the Cassville players had been disciplined and this was confirmed by a statement released by Cassville administrators as well.

Monett officials went on to say they had been in contact with infectious disease specialists and implored parents to exercise restraint and not to attempt any form of retaliation against Cassville. Details beyond this are vague as both school districts are bound by law to protect the privacy of their minor students regardless of the situation.

Pranks are nothing new in high school. Shaving cream, whipped cream, eggs, toilet paper and any number of other items have been used in high school pranks probably since there's been high school. This goes beyond just a prank. Urine is human waste and can spread disease if ingested. Several kids were put at-risk. Our kids have to learn that rivals are our opponents - not our enemies.

I have contacted the superintendents of both Cassville and Monett to see if there is something the Sportsmanship Initiative can do to help. At the time of this post, neither district has responded. No matter who the rival is, sporting events should always be safe environments for kids.

The actions of the Cassville players made the environment unsafe. Let's be sure our kids know what's appropriate and what's not in the contexts of sport and life.

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Our C.J. is a Sportsmanship Idol

The Sportsmanship Brigade had the occasion to see North County Christian take on St.Ann in an 8th grade boys basketball matchup last Saturday afternoon. While there is certainly great sportsmanship talent all over the St. Louis area, one young man caught the judges' attention.

Anyone from St. Louis and many people outside of the Gateway City have heard of Curtis Finch, Jr. Finch was a contestant on this season's American Idol and made the top 10. Finch is known as 'C.J.' locally. Likewise, North County Christian has its own C.J. and this young man could easily win a Sportsmanship Idol competition.

C.J. is North County's team captain and shows it in his play and attitude. He is unselfish on the court and serves as a major motivator from the bench. C.J. is also one of the most respectful young men I've ever come across.

When Brigade members gathered with the North County team after the game to explain our selection, C.J. said, "Thank you, sir. This is a great honor, sir." He said 'sir' so many times, I thought my own father was standing behind me. C.J. is an awesome young man and certainly deserved recognition from the Brigade.

C.J. between Brigade members Donovan Lucas (L) and Joe Jackson(R)

The Sportsmanship Brigade is a group of Sports Commission volunteers who attend youth sporting events looking for acts of good sportsmanship. Athletes, coaches, parents, fans and officials who exhibit good sportsmanship are rewarded with a certificate of recognition and a gift card to a local business. For more on the Brigade, including scheduling and volunteering information, please visit sportsmanship.org or call 314-345-5130.

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University City & Normandy: Revisited

On February 27, I wrote an article on this site entitled U. City and Normandy may never play again. As you know, this blog is about more than sharing stories. It is about finding solutions whenever possible. Soon after the article posted, I spoke with the superintendents of both the Normandy and University City districts.

Both leaders expressed concern over their high schools' relationship and how that relationship was being portrayed in blogs like this one, television outlets and in newspapers. Good sportsmanship is rooted in truth and it is incumbent upon me to find the truth and communicate it as best I can.

It appears my original post contained a factual inaccuracy relative to a single sentence. I wrote, "Another incident happened earlier this season when Normandy students hurled bricks at the U. City team bus with students on-board." That was technically incorrect.

Bricks were thrown at the U. City team bus, but they were thrown by a U. City student. The U. City student who threw the bricks had transferred from Normandy a few weeks before the incident.

To be fair, the U. City athletic director was quoted as saying, "We had bricks thrown through the bus windows as they left. They did leave the parking lot. After that, the superintendent decided we weren't going to play them in anything anymore."

Qiana Luckett, the parent of a U. City player was quoted as saying, "They had to stop the bus. Kids were throwing rocks at the bus. It was just horrible. I just thought maybe it would be better because last time it was just chaotic."

Ms. Luckett's statements suggest more than one child threw rocks and/or bricks at the bus. I have not been able to gain consensus from both U. City and Normandy as to whether or not there were additional kids involved and if those kids were U. City or Normandy students.

To be honest, those particular details mean very little in the grand scheme. As I wrote in the beginning, it is our purpose at the Sportsmanship Initiative to foster positive discussion that will lead to a workable solution. No matter who threw what at whom, the essential question is this: How do we get our young people to stop?

In my conversations with both superintendents, I expressed a desire to meet with them or the staff person they designate to come up with a solution that will bring the districts and their communities together in a display of solidarity and sportsmanship.

I am happy to report that those efforts have not fallen on deaf ears and preliminary discussions have begun. My hope is that in the coming weeks and months I can report more tangible results. In the meantime, let's keep the U. City and Normandy districts in our thoughts and continue to support the children of each community.

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Girls basketball player slams opponent during Illinois playoffs

Okawville and Carrollton high schools met in the Lebanon 1A Sectional of the Illinois State girls basketball playoffs on Valentine's Day. By all accounts, Cupid was not in attendance at this game. Instead, there was a heartbreaking display of unnecessary physical play and poor sportsmanship.

Granted, playoff games tend to be more physical than those in the regular season. The teams are better defensively and baskets are harder to come by. The Okawville - Carrollton match-up seemed to go overboard, though.

A local newspaper described the physicality as resembling a "MMA or WWE match." One can't help but wonder if that quote was made in reference to the body slam Okawville senior Megan Wienstroer suffered near the end of the game.

Okawville had a tough time scoring from the field in the fourth quarter, but the team continued to put the ball in Wienstroer's hands. She drew consistent contact from Carrollton and made all 15 of her free throws in the game - including four in the final 17 seconds to give her squad the win.

Frustration finally set in for Carrollton during the game's last play. One of its players grabbed Wienstroer from behind and slammed her to the floor.  As the final buzzer sounded, Carrollton players could be seen yelling at the disapproving crowd. Coaches rushed the Carrollton players off the court before the situation escalated any further. Video of the incident can be viewed by clicking here.

The young ladies at Carrollton are probably outstanding student-athletes. In every other aspect of their lives, people around them would more than likely shower them with praise academically and athletically. On the other hand, situations like this are where coaches and officials have to take control.

Wienstroer could have been seriously hurt and there would have been no excuse for it. A momentary lapse in judgment can have long-lasting effects. Regardless if this was the state playoffs or not, safety should always be in the forefront of any athletic contest.

Losing is a part of sports, but no one should take on a loser's mentality. Our kids need to learn that reputations far outlive box scores and who you are means a lot more than how you play. Carrollton has imposed undisclosed disciplinary actions on the players involved, but the damage was done.

Coaches say that the difference between winning and losing often comes down to a play or two here or there. Similarly, being labeled a winner or a loser often comes down to the choices we make. Shaking hands with your opponent after a tough loss can make you look like a winner. However, body slamming the other team's best player at the end of the game can make you look like a...

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