Parent arrested for biting in huge softball brawl

A fight broke out this week between parents, coaches and players after a close play at third base in a softball game between the Texas Street and Hillsdale youth teams in Mobile, Alabama. The girls are 14 and 15-year-olds. Their behavior and the behavior of those teaching, coaching and parenting them skews much, much younger.

One parent was charged with third degree assault after she bit another parent in the stomach. Yes, somebody's mother allegedly bit another adult in the stomach. Didn't we all learn it wasn't nice to bite when we were two or three? This kind of immaturity is what produces incidents like the one in Mobile. To be honest, it's even more ridiculous than I can describe. Check out the Fox10tv.com video below (email subscribers click here).



"If one swings, we all punch." That's what one of the young ladies said in the piece. What kind of mantra is that? What kind of nonsense is that? It's softball! There's no fighting in softball! "If somebody pushes you, what are you supposed to do? Walk away?" Yes, young lady! Yes! You are supposed to walk away. The alternative is the police coming to arrest someone's mom and your team being kicked out of the league.

Kids have no chance when adults don't act their age. Kids have no chance when adults don't lead. Kids have no chance when the coaches are throwing punches and the parents are biting. In the video, the adult speaking on behalf of one of the teams utters the non-word 'unsportsmanship.' Unsportsmanship is not a word. And this is not some veiled swipe at the woman's vocabulary. I'm using her non-word as an example of the biggest problem in youth sports: Adults can't teach what they don't know.

The Sportsmanship Initiative has tools for your coaches and parents that will keep youth sports safe and enjoyable for kids. Our partnership with Coaching Coaches, LLC enables us to provide the best coaches' training and parent program possible. If you are interested in not having a 40-person brawl in your league, but you are interested in the best experience possible for kids, please call 314-345-5130 or email salexander@stlsports.org.

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Rutgers can't get out of its own way

How difficult is it to find someone in athletic leadership who doesn't have a history or been accused of mistreating players? It's seemingly very difficult if you're Rutgers University. Incoming athletic director Julie Hermann is supposed to bring a fresh face and a new direction to the Scarlet Knights. However, it seems the ghosts of the Mike Rice and Tim Pernetti era have returned to Piscataway.

Former Rutgers men's basketball coach Mike Rice was fired in April after video of him using homophobic slurs, profanity and even kicking a player went viral. Former athletic director Tim Pernetti resigned after negative pressure mounted in response to his handling of Rice's alleged mistreatment of players. New Jersey governor Chris Christie even expressed his displeasure with the situation publicly.

Determined to move forward, Rutgers hired Julie Hermann earlier this month. Hermann has over 25 years of combined experience in coaching and athletic administration on the college level. Her hire seemed to be a good one for Rutgers. Hermann comes in directly from Louisville -  which had one of the great athletic years in school history in 2012-13.

The Louisville football team upset the Florida Gators in the Sugar Bowl. Louisville's men's and women's basketball teams advanced to their respective title games with the men winning a championship. Conversely, Rutgers men finished 11th in the Big East in basketball. The nearly automatic women's basketball team missed its first tournament in a decade and the football team lost the lightly-regarded Russell Athletic Bowl to Virginia Tech.

If Hermann could bring some of Louisville's winning Mojo, that would make her hire worth the trouble. Yeah, but then comes that word...trouble. The Newark Star-Ledger reported over the weekend that while Hermann was head women's volleyball coach at Tennessee, players accused her of ruling "through humiliation, fear, and emotional abuse."

Hermann's credibility has also been called into question as reports have surfaced about a pregnancy discrimination lawsuit filed by one of her former assistants. The assistant coach, Ginger Hineline won a $150,000 settlement from the University of Tennessee in 1995. When asked about the lawsuit and Hineline's wedding video used as evidence in the lawsuit, Hermann said she didn't remember attending the wedding.

Nevertheless, Hermann is shown in pictures of the wedding party. She extended well wishes to Hineline and her new husband in the video and she caught the bouquet. Yes, Hermann caught the bouquet but doesn't remember being at the wedding. She also doesn't remember the letter submitted by her players and denies calling them names I won't write in this space.

The first responsibility of any school or athletic program - from pre-K to college - is to provide a safe environment for students. This means kids should be safe from physical as well as mental harm. This means that those in charge must do their homework when checking backgrounds on potential coaches and administrators. Coaches must be trained in technique and temperament. The CNN video below sheds more light on the situation (email subscribers click here).



Something tells me Rutgers president Robert Barchi will be getting another phone call from Gov. Christie.

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Sports Commission to award $5,000 scholarship

Sportsmanship Scholarship recipients, a set on Flickr.

The St. Louis Sports Commission's Sportsmanship Scholarship awards $5,000 annually to a deserving St. Louis area high school senior who exhibits outstanding sportsmanship in athletic competition. Administered by the Sports Commission Associates - the Sports Commission's young professionals group - the scholarship is part of the organization's ongoing Sportsmanship Initiative and efforts to promote sportsmanship in the community.

Please go to sportsmanship.org to download the nomination packet or call 314-345-5130. Nominations must be received by June 14, 2013. The recipient will be selected by July 31.

Simple, isn't it? This scholarship is about sportsmanship - its potential, practice and reward. The criteria are plain and straightforward. It does not matter how many touchdowns, baskets or goals an athlete scores. It does not matter how many times the team made the state playoffs. It only matters how the athlete treats others on the field.

'Others' take on a special significance relative to the Sportsmanship Scholarship. Respecting your coaches, teammates and even younger members of your club team is great. However, none of them are technically 'others.'

Volunteering at a local shelter or leading the canned food drive are tremendous examples of community service, but it's not sportsmanship. How did you treat your opponent? How did you treat the person you don't know? More to the point, how did you treat the person that it's usually OK not to like?

St. Louis, like all communities, has some strong rivalries: Kirkwood-Webster, Hazelwood-McCluer, Vashon-Sumner, University City-Normandy, Clayton-Ladue. There are many others, but you get the idea. How did you act when your biggest rival hit the deck? Did you reach down to help him up?

The goal you scored in the playoffs wasn't really a goal. What did you do? Did you accept an ill-gotten score or did you do the right thing? It's often said that character is what you do when no one is looking. Well, sportsmanship is what you do when everyone is looking.

Sportsmanship cuts both ways. It is a double-edged sword that strengthens the athlete and encourages the fan. When you download the application please read the bios of past scholarship recipients to get a better understanding of what the committee is looking for. Good luck to all of the applicants and above all - remember to be a good sport!

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For best sportsmanship...just add water

"Make sure you have fun!" This was the rallying cry from Sts. Joachim & Ann's coach for his 4th grade softball team. The girls took the field Friday night against Immaculate Conception-Dardenne. A mostly dry day on Friday gave way to increasing cloud cover which became a steady stream of rain over the Joachim & Ann field.

Weather was an issue. Sportsmanship was not. The Sportsmanship Brigade opened its umbrellas and took in a great spring game. But even better than the pitching, fielding and hitting was the attitude and overall team spirit of Joachim & Ann.

They had a cheer for almost every situation. Joachim & Ann had the bases loaded in the second inning and a cheer erupted that ended with "...a nerd on third!" The kid on third did some kind of wild dance responding to the signal from her teammates.

The Brigade was very impressed with the Joachim & Ann team as well as its coaching staff. Joachim & Ann will use its pizza party to close the season later this summer. Parents and coaches of the Joachim & Ann community should be proud of the kids and proud of themselves for the tremendous job they're doing.

Good luck to the Flames this season and make sure you keep the fire of sportsmanship burning!

Flame on!

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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Adult failure radiates from Jay Harris decision

ESPN ranked Philadelphia area high school senior Jay Harris as the #2 wide receiver in the state of Pennsylvania and the #17 senior in the state overall. As you might expect, Harris received several scholarship offers from Division I programs such as Penn State, Old Dominion Temple and Michigan State.

Harris signed a letter of intent in February to attend Michigan State. Awesome! Kid works hard and realizes his dream of playing Division I football. If he continues to improve while playing in a conference like the Big Ten, professional opportunities may await him in the future. 

Sounds like a good story so far, right? No...not so much. Jay Harris has given up his scholarship at Michigan State to become a rapper. Look, I like rap and respect rappers. This is not about rap although some will undoubtedly chuckle and/or make negative comments about the world's most popular music genre.

This is about taking opportunities off the table and going full-bore into one that may be over before you can blink. Harris could have earned a degree, pursued a professional athletic career and honed his rap skills. He didn't have to give it all up. College campuses are where many contemporary rappers develop.

Harris could have easily pursued rap by performing at college parties and other campus events. Rick Rubin started Def Jam Records in his...wait for it...dorm! Ludacris graduated Summa Cum Laude from Georgia State University. Chuck D and Flava Flav formed the legendary group Public Enemy while students at Aldephi University where they both graduated.

Yes, Flava Flav has a college degree. So, you have no more excuses. 

Harris' decision speaks to a lack of guidance in his life. As much as I write about parents and coaches being too involved, someone should have stepped in to redirect this young man. There are some mistakes we can't let kids make. The opportunity he was afforded and is now giving up should not have been taken so lightly.

We all know most kids will not be offered a Division I scholarship. Lottery odds are often better. Harris is one of those fortunate kids whose sports skill could be life-changing. His parents and coaches should have impressed that upon him more.

Parents and coaches must encourage kids to maximize every opportunity. It's impossible to lock an open door. Let's make sure our kids open every one they can. Jay Harris' stage name is Jay Datbull. We'll see if he becomes the next Pitbull or his music becomes just plain bull.

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Sportsmanship on Tour(s)

South St. Louis County is home to several great parishes and St. Martin of Tours adds to the area's stellar reputation. St. Martin's 5th graders hosted Immaculate Conception in a cold, but compelling baseball matchup on Friday night.

With a game time temperature of 60 degrees and a howling wind, the weather favored the gridiron more than the diamond. The Brigade gathered a few jackets and we went to work. Both teams played hard and played well. However, St. Martin's kids encouraged one another and showed tremendous team spirit.

The Brigade couldn't decide on one standout so we picked them all. We're suckers for good sportsmanship. 

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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The Book of Ezra

The Sportsmanship Brigade made its way to Barnhart, Mo. on Wednesday evening for a 6th grade baseball matchup between St. Joseph - Imperial and St. Francis of Assisi. A soggy turf and the threat of more rain didn't put a damper on these boys' spirits. They played with great intensity and had fun in the process. Particularly, St. Joseph's second baseman displayed leadership beyond his years.

Ezra is his name and he could very well write a book on sportsmanship and respect. He encouraged every pitcher who took the mound and made sure his team remained focused until the last out. Ezra's selection by the Brigade seemed as natural as him patting a teammate on the back.

Ezra and the St. Joe - Imperial team

The Sportsmanship Brigade is a group of Sports Commission volunteers who visit youth sporting events looking for acts of good sportsmanship. Athletes, coaches, officials and fans who exhibit good sportsmanship are rewarded with a certificate of recognition and a gift card from a local business. To volunteer as a Brigade member or to request a visit from the Brigade, please visit sportsmanship.org or call 314-345-5130.

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Referee death reveals societal failure

"Stay in a child's place!" This command was directed at me many times as a youngster. My mom used to let me know that I was crossing a line and to take a step back. I didn't like hearing it because it made me feel as if my place as a child was less than that of an adult.

I was wrong. My mom was protecting me. She planted the seeds of the mantra I now use in my professional life - Know. Your. Role. As a whole, our kids do not know their roles. They call us by our first names and answer "What!" when called. Many have little respect for their parents and almost none for other adults.

We have all heard about a team taking on the personality of its coach. Kids take on the personalities of their parents as well. Disrespectful parents often produce disrespectful children. The death of youth soccer referee Ricardo Portillo as the result of being punched by a 17-year-old player reveals a complete societal failure in the area of respect.

I have written extensively about referee assaults. Some states even have "referee assault" on the books as a felony. Florida will give you up to five years in prison for it. Still, referees are treated poorly - as if they have some stake in athletic contests beyond calling them fairly.

You can't watch a game of any kind on any level without someone complaining about the officiating. Referees are called names, cursed at, assaulted and now they're getting killed. The young man accused of killing Portillo did not know his role. He's a player. It's not his job to challenge the official. As a kid, it's certainly not his place to raise his hand to an adult.

Ricardo Portillo was a father himself and his family will miss him. Watch the NBC Latino story below about what his daughter had to say about the incident (email subscribers click here).



We must show greater respect for referees and teach our children to respect adults in general. How we raise and coach our kids will determine which team they will be on. Remember, prison uniforms have bright colors and numbers on them too.

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Referee dies after being punched by player

Ricardo Portillo, the youth soccer referee who was punched last week by a player after a game, has died. This is a follow-up to last week's post chronicling the incident which initially put Portillo in critical condition. The Newsy.com story below provides further details (Email subscribers click here). Please keep Mr. Portillo and his family in your thoughts and prayers.

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From the mouths of babes...

KMOX sports director Tom Ackerman is a huge supporter of the St. Louis Sports Commission and its Sportsmanship Initiative. He's helped us with multiple trivia nights, golf tournaments, the Musial Awards and countless other events. Tom knows what sports means to the St. Louis region and he certainly understands what sportsmanship is all about.

His parenting skills aren't too shabby, either. Check out the tweet he posted early Wednesday morning:

Driving home from the Cards game last night, I listened to the Kings tie the Blues.My 6-year-old: "So everyone gets to play more, right?"
— Tom Ackerman (@Ackerman1120) May 1, 2013

To put things in perspective, the St. Louis Blues hosted the Los Angeles Kings in Game 1 of their first round Stanley Cup playoff series on Tuesday night. St. Louis dominated most of the contest only to have the Kings come back and tie the game late to force overtime.

Rather than get upset that the hometown team may let one slip away, the younger Ackerman was happy that there would be more hockey - that everyone got to play a little more. Keep up the good work with the little one, Tom. More play never hurt anyone.

For all you homers out there, the Blues did win 2-1 in overtime.

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