For those who were unaware, one of the oldest Thanksgiving Football rivalry in the US ended in a bench clearing brawl.
Clearly, there is plenty of blame that goes around.
We can start with:
1. Taunting by the Wellesley players who were soundly beating Needham
2. The first punch by a Needham player over the taunting.
We can stop there, but since these are high school kids, it is more evident that they are taught and/or learn how to behave like this.
First, this is not about a score. It is about 'in-your-face' behavior. Celebrate a score or great play? Absolutely!!! But celebrate and congratulate your teammate. There is no need get in the face of the other team.....unless your goal is to provoke a response. The ignorance of the Wellesley players is that they didn't even consider the consequences, but only the arrogance of the moment.
Second, it is about the arrogant and snobbish upbringing of these players to think that their actions have no consequences. This, I blame their parents for, but more so the trend in society that refuses to hold individuals accountable for their actions, calling everything a systems errors.
How to respond to this? Banning of those immediate players from scholastic play and ? banning from 2020 post season play.
Recently two Martha's Vinyard players attacked a ref after losing in the post season. Those two players have been banned from scholastic sports for a year. This is an appropriate response.
It is important to send a real message that everyone can hear and understand.
I have no issue with celebrations.....but do it in a positive manner. Do some flips!! Jump around!! Run to your fans!! There is no need to degrade, embarrass, or ridicule the other players/team.
Clearly, there is plenty of blame that goes around.
We can start with:
1. Taunting by the Wellesley players who were soundly beating Needham
2. The first punch by a Needham player over the taunting.
We can stop there, but since these are high school kids, it is more evident that they are taught and/or learn how to behave like this.
First, this is not about a score. It is about 'in-your-face' behavior. Celebrate a score or great play? Absolutely!!! But celebrate and congratulate your teammate. There is no need get in the face of the other team.....unless your goal is to provoke a response. The ignorance of the Wellesley players is that they didn't even consider the consequences, but only the arrogance of the moment.
Second, it is about the arrogant and snobbish upbringing of these players to think that their actions have no consequences. This, I blame their parents for, but more so the trend in society that refuses to hold individuals accountable for their actions, calling everything a systems errors.
How to respond to this? Banning of those immediate players from scholastic play and ? banning from 2020 post season play.
Recently two Martha's Vinyard players attacked a ref after losing in the post season. Those two players have been banned from scholastic sports for a year. This is an appropriate response.
It is important to send a real message that everyone can hear and understand.
I have no issue with celebrations.....but do it in a positive manner. Do some flips!! Jump around!! Run to your fans!! There is no need to degrade, embarrass, or ridicule the other players/team.
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