Other Sports The letter of the law or douchebag? - Page 3

**BigRichard** · 05-11-2010, 03:24 PM

This guy is a douchebag if you ask me. What is your take?

F you if repost

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/201...nnbin&hpt=Sbin

Remember the story of the college softball player who hit the game-winning homer and blew out her knee as she trotted around first base, but was carried to second, third and home by opposing players -- even though she represented the decisive run in a game that determined the championship?

This is not that story.

This is the story of a high school pole vaulter whose successful leap in the last event won the meet and the league championship for her team -- until an opposing coach pointed out she should be disqualified for breaking a rule, reversing the outcome so that his team captured victory and the league title.

The girl's infraction? Wearing a friendship bracelet.

The debatable moment in sportsmanship occurred April 29 in South Pasadena, Calif., where the visiting girls team from Monrovia High was seeking its first-ever Rio Hondo League title against longtime powerhouse South Pasadena High.

With the teams separated by a few points and only the pole vault remaining, Monrovia needed a second-place finish in the event to secure the victory and obtain the title. Both teams gathered around the pole vault pit, loudly celebrating and agonizing over every clearance and miss. Although South Pasadena's Rachel Ma led at 7-feet-6, two Monrovia girls had cleared 7-feet to give their team the lead.

But South Pasadena's best vaulter, Robin Laird, had not competed yet. Now she stood at the top of the runway, preparing for her first vault of the long day -- an attempt at 7-feet-6 that could win the event, the meet and the league title. The crowd fell silent. A crosswind was blowing. Laird began to sprint down the runway through the gauntlet of spectators, but suddenly stopped; something didn't feel right.

"I was feeling nervous," she would later say, "because the whole league championship was on the line."

Laird walked back to the top of the runway, gained her composure, then took off again. This time everything was in sync. She planted the pole, lifted herself into the air and soared easily over the bar to give her team a 66-61 victory. While half the crowd cheered and the other half groaned, Monrovia coach Mike Knowles reacted by pointing to his wrist and gesturing toward Laird, who was wearing a thin, colorful string bracelet.

"This is my 30th year coaching track," Knowles said a few days later. "I know a lot of rules and regulations."

The rule in this case -- Section 3, Article 3 of the National Federation of State High School Associations -- is clear: "Jewelry shall not be worn by contestants." So is the penalty, and in the time it takes to read "the competitor is disqualified from the event," South Pasadena's win was transformed into a 65-62 victory for Monrovia.

South Pasadena coach P.J. Hernandez was dumbfounded.

"I said, 'Coach [Knowles], you really want it to come down to this?' " Hernandez recalled.

When Laird was informed that she had been disqualified because of her bracelet, she burst into tears.

"It wasn't so much that I had been disqualified, personally," Laird said. "It was that I had just lost the league championship that my coaches and teammates had worked so hard for ... I had just lost it with this little piece of string on my wrist."

When the ruling was announced, Monrovia's athletes and supporters erupted into a reflexive cheer and South Pasadena's reacted with stunned resentment. But people on both sides mostly retreated into schools of thought, pondering issues of sportsmanship vs. gamesmanship, the letter of the law vs. its spirit and what lesson to derive from what had just happened.

Even Monrovia athletic director Randy Bell struggled to process the outcome. "I don't think it was anything people were particularly proud of," he said. "A rule was invoked, and correctly so, but I don't think anybody was excited to win that way."

Knowles, 54, is in his first season at Monrovia, but he has won a lot during a career in which he coached Pasadena's storied Muir High to nine CIF-Southern Section championships, three California state championships and one mythical national championship.

"It's unfortunate, that's all I can say," Knowles said. "It's unfortunate for the young lady. But you've got to teach the kids that rules are rules."

South Pasadena's Hernandez doesn't dispute the technical validity of Knowles' call, Laird's obligation to have followed the rule or even the life lesson to be learned by everyone involved. But Hernandez thinks the scope of this teaching moment ought to be broadened to examine when the teaching could have best taken place.

"Mike Knowles was down by the pole vault pit, kind of waiting and sitting there, keeping an eye on our girl, waiting for her to attempt the vault and then make the call, " said Hernandez. "I am upset that he wanted to win so badly that he would do it that way. We feel sportsmanship is important, too, and that it is in question with him in this situation."

Knowles denied he was lying in wait.

"I didn't notice the bracelet until after she cleared the height and walked by," he insisted. "[I had] a sinking feeling for her. I didn't want to have to do it. But it's a real rule -- it's in the book -- not something I made up. About 10 years ago, I had a girl who wore an earring in the 4x400 relay and it ended up costing us a CIF title. I feel bad for what happened, but I guarantee you she'll never wear jewelry during a track meet again."

Laird, a senior who will be attending -- but probably not pole vaulting -- the University of Southern California next year, says, "I find it hard to believe" that Knowles did not see the friendship bracelet when she took that aborted trip down the runway. "But I don't want to say for sure that he saw it," she said. "It isn't my place to say that."

Laird disgustedly tore the friendship bracelet off her wrist after being disqualified, and she concedes that Knowles is right about her mistakenly wearing one again in competition -- or maybe ever.

"As of right now, I am not wearing one," she said. "Although I do still have a tan line on my wrist. That's my scarlet letter."

CoMoChief · 05-11-2010, 04:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ClevelandBronco

I would go out of my way to avoid congratulating the coach if my kid was on his team.

Then I'd have a long discussion with my kid.

I agree. I sure as hell wouldnt feel like a winner after winning something like that.

chiefzilla1501 · 05-11-2010, 04:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MOhillbilly

if it were my coach and someone was called for a foul and then fouled out and lost the game i would take the win and be happy w/ it.

This is not even remotely the same thing. A foul is a part of the game and when one fouls, you disadvantage the other team. Granted, the rule's stupid, but it's in place, likely, for safety reasons. NOt because it gives any kind of unfair advantage.

If I was the coach, no way in hell I'd pull a prick move like that. This is amateur sports. Teaching these kids sportsmanship is a hell of a lot more important. If I'm a parent/athlete, I would despise the fact that I won because my coach was an overcompetitive asshole.

**Bwana** · 05-11-2010, 04:05 PM

Douche and STUPID ****ing rule.

Braincase · 05-11-2010, 04:12 PM

If the rule states "jewelry", than "jewelry" should be defined. Webster's Online defines jewelry as: objects of precious metal often set with gems and worn for personal adornment.

A piece of string is not jewelry. The coach is a douche.

big nasty kcnut · 05-11-2010, 04:14 PM

I think it unfair cause it seem to be a arcane rule that not a lot people knew about. That he is a bitch and **** his win at all cost attitude he should of told the girl so she wouldn't get dq. I hope he get what coming to him in term of being fired or lose in a similar fashion.

siberian khatru · 05-11-2010, 04:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MOhillbilly

its about winning. no mercy.

Pants · 05-11-2010, 04:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MOhillbilly

if it were my coach and someone was called for a foul and then fouled out and lost the game i would take the win and be happy w/ it.

I agree with you 100% if that foul gave the team that committed it some sort of an advantage. Winning due to a reeruned technicality is not really winning at all, and the kids know it deep down inside. They got beat. Technicality that has nothing to do with performance reversed the call.

Coach = complete douchebag and obviously cares more about his resume than the kids.

**The Franchise** · 05-11-2010, 04:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Braincase

If the rule states "jewelry", than "jewelry" should be defined. Webster's Online defines jewelry as: objects of precious metal often set with gems and worn for personal adornment.

A piece of string is not jewelry. The coach is a douche.

This.

I wouldn't consider a piece of string to be jewelry.

lostcause · 05-11-2010, 04:29 PM

Bring her in for a look

GoHuge · 05-11-2010, 04:29 PM

I think it's ridiculous. Rules are rules, but a douchebag is a douchebag.

If I was the coach of the girl's team that lost I would challenge the rule of what actually constitues something being considered "jewelry." If they have that rule surely they'd have to classify what is or isn't jewelry. A piece of string? Somebody should have asked Coach D-bag if he'd give his wife a piece of string as a present? Of course he wouldn't. So why does it apply to the girl?

Maybe it's because nobody here was in that moment, but nobody thought about challenging that stupid rule? Go to any god damn jewelry store and ask them to show you the "piece of string" section. I've got a feeling you wouldn't have much luck. You leave a term open to interpretation and you can find a way to get around it. I'm as competetive as anyone, but who wants to win like that in amateur sports? What message does that send? Even if you get beat fair and square if you look hard enough you might find a way to win on a technicality? Those are as rewarding as moral victories and in KC we know good those feel!!!

**Gonzo** · 05-11-2010, 04:30 PM

This is complete bullshit. Like a friendship bracelet gives her an advantage? Give me a ****ing break.

If I were on the winning team, I would fedex that trophy to that girl asap.
This coach should rot in hell.
Posted via Mobile Device

**Predarat** · 05-11-2010, 04:32 PM

Sensei Kreese would agree with what that coach did.

**Iowanian** · 05-11-2010, 04:33 PM

I hope he is held to the same standards and expectations in his remaining career as a teacher and coach.

**The Franchise** · 05-11-2010, 04:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Predarat

Sensei Kreese would agree with what that coach did.

Yeah but he wouldn't agree with REPOST!

**DaFace** · 05-11-2010, 04:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ClevelandBronco

It should be a poll.

Douchebag.

I agree. Hope the OP is OK with me adding one...

View Poll Results: The letter of the law or douchebag?
Letter of the law	8	11.43%
Douchebag	62	88.57%
Voters: 70. You may not vote on this poll

05-11-2010, 03:24 PM
BigRichard Buddy Christ is a Chiefs fan Join Date: Nov 2008 Casino cash: $409546	The letter of the law or douchebag? This guy is a douchebag if you ask me. What is your take? F you if repost http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/201...nnbin&hpt=Sbin Remember the story of the college softball player who hit the game-winning homer and blew out her knee as she trotted around first base, but was carried to second, third and home by opposing players -- even though she represented the decisive run in a game that determined the championship? This is not that story. This is the story of a high school pole vaulter whose successful leap in the last event won the meet and the league championship for her team -- until an opposing coach pointed out she should be disqualified for breaking a rule, reversing the outcome so that his team captured victory and the league title. The girl's infraction? Wearing a friendship bracelet. The debatable moment in sportsmanship occurred April 29 in South Pasadena, Calif., where the visiting girls team from Monrovia High was seeking its first-ever Rio Hondo League title against longtime powerhouse South Pasadena High. With the teams separated by a few points and only the pole vault remaining, Monrovia needed a second-place finish in the event to secure the victory and obtain the title. Both teams gathered around the pole vault pit, loudly celebrating and agonizing over every clearance and miss. Although South Pasadena's Rachel Ma led at 7-feet-6, two Monrovia girls had cleared 7-feet to give their team the lead. But South Pasadena's best vaulter, Robin Laird, had not competed yet. Now she stood at the top of the runway, preparing for her first vault of the long day -- an attempt at 7-feet-6 that could win the event, the meet and the league title. The crowd fell silent. A crosswind was blowing. Laird began to sprint down the runway through the gauntlet of spectators, but suddenly stopped; something didn't feel right. "I was feeling nervous," she would later say, "because the whole league championship was on the line." Laird walked back to the top of the runway, gained her composure, then took off again. This time everything was in sync. She planted the pole, lifted herself into the air and soared easily over the bar to give her team a 66-61 victory. While half the crowd cheered and the other half groaned, Monrovia coach Mike Knowles reacted by pointing to his wrist and gesturing toward Laird, who was wearing a thin, colorful string bracelet. "This is my 30th year coaching track," Knowles said a few days later. "I know a lot of rules and regulations." The rule in this case -- Section 3, Article 3 of the National Federation of State High School Associations -- is clear: "Jewelry shall not be worn by contestants." So is the penalty, and in the time it takes to read "the competitor is disqualified from the event," South Pasadena's win was transformed into a 65-62 victory for Monrovia. South Pasadena coach P.J. Hernandez was dumbfounded. "I said, 'Coach [Knowles], you really want it to come down to this?' " Hernandez recalled. When Laird was informed that she had been disqualified because of her bracelet, she burst into tears. "It wasn't so much that I had been disqualified, personally," Laird said. "It was that I had just lost the league championship that my coaches and teammates had worked so hard for ... I had just lost it with this little piece of string on my wrist." When the ruling was announced, Monrovia's athletes and supporters erupted into a reflexive cheer and South Pasadena's reacted with stunned resentment. But people on both sides mostly retreated into schools of thought, pondering issues of sportsmanship vs. gamesmanship, the letter of the law vs. its spirit and what lesson to derive from what had just happened. Even Monrovia athletic director Randy Bell struggled to process the outcome. "I don't think it was anything people were particularly proud of," he said. "A rule was invoked, and correctly so, but I don't think anybody was excited to win that way." Knowles, 54, is in his first season at Monrovia, but he has won a lot during a career in which he coached Pasadena's storied Muir High to nine CIF-Southern Section championships, three California state championships and one mythical national championship. "It's unfortunate, that's all I can say," Knowles said. "It's unfortunate for the young lady. But you've got to teach the kids that rules are rules." South Pasadena's Hernandez doesn't dispute the technical validity of Knowles' call, Laird's obligation to have followed the rule or even the life lesson to be learned by everyone involved. But Hernandez thinks the scope of this teaching moment ought to be broadened to examine when the teaching could have best taken place. "Mike Knowles was down by the pole vault pit, kind of waiting and sitting there, keeping an eye on our girl, waiting for her to attempt the vault and then make the call, " said Hernandez. "I am upset that he wanted to win so badly that he would do it that way. We feel sportsmanship is important, too, and that it is in question with him in this situation." Knowles denied he was lying in wait. "I didn't notice the bracelet until after she cleared the height and walked by," he insisted. "[I had] a sinking feeling for her. I didn't want to have to do it. But it's a real rule -- it's in the book -- not something I made up. About 10 years ago, I had a girl who wore an earring in the 4x400 relay and it ended up costing us a CIF title. I feel bad for what happened, but I guarantee you she'll never wear jewelry during a track meet again." Laird, a senior who will be attending -- but probably not pole vaulting -- the University of Southern California next year, says, "I find it hard to believe" that Knowles did not see the friendship bracelet when she took that aborted trip down the runway. "But I don't want to say for sure that he saw it," she said. "It isn't my place to say that." Laird disgustedly tore the friendship bracelet off her wrist after being disqualified, and she concedes that Knowles is right about her mistakenly wearing one again in competition -- or maybe ever. "As of right now, I am not wearing one," she said. "Although I do still have a tan line on my wrist. That's my scarlet letter."
Posts: 10,813

05-11-2010, 04:05 PM	#33
Bwana It's Five O'Clock Somewhere Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Billings, Montana Casino cash: $2138113647	Douche and STUPID ****ing rule.
Posts: 70,000

05-11-2010, 04:12 PM	#34
Braincase Banned Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Pond> Me <Barn Casino cash: $11298284	If the rule states "jewelry", than "jewelry" should be defined. Webster's Online defines jewelry as: objects of precious metal often set with gems and worn for personal adornment. A piece of string is not jewelry. The coach is a douche. __________________ BrainCase
Posts: 15,429

05-11-2010, 04:14 PM	#35
big nasty kcnut The pizza king of kansas Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Somewhere in the u.s.a. Casino cash: $150900	I think it unfair cause it seem to be a arcane rule that not a lot people knew about. That he is a bitch and ** his win at all cost attitude he should of told the girl so she wouldn't get dq. I hope he get what coming to him in term of being fired or lose in a similar fashion. __________________ When it's grim, be the grim reaper and go get it. Adopt a chiefs Travis Kelce. You woke up the wrong mother**er!
Posts: 19,042

05-11-2010, 04:29 PM	#39
lostcause Veteran Join Date: Apr 2009 Casino cash: $9609965	Bring her in for a look
Posts: 4,759

05-11-2010, 04:29 PM	#40
GoHuge The Truth Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Overland Park Casino cash: $10006072	I think it's ridiculous. Rules are rules, but a douchebag is a douchebag. If I was the coach of the girl's team that lost I would challenge the rule of what actually constitues something being considered "jewelry." If they have that rule surely they'd have to classify what is or isn't jewelry. A piece of string? Somebody should have asked Coach D-bag if he'd give his wife a piece of string as a present? Of course he wouldn't. So why does it apply to the girl? Maybe it's because nobody here was in that moment, but nobody thought about challenging that stupid rule? Go to any god damn jewelry store and ask them to show you the "piece of string" section. I've got a feeling you wouldn't have much luck. You leave a term open to interpretation and you can find a way to get around it. I'm as competetive as anyone, but who wants to win like that in amateur sports? What message does that send? Even if you get beat fair and square if you look hard enough you might find a way to win on a technicality? Those are as rewarding as moral victories and in KC we know good those feel!!!
Posts: 3,991

05-11-2010, 04:30 PM	#41
Gonzo Stuff & Things Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: The Yukon Casino cash: $10126924	This is complete bullshit. Like a friendship bracelet gives her an advantage? Give me a ***ing break. If I were on the winning team, I would fedex that trophy to that girl asap. This coach should rot in hell. Posted via Mobile Device*
Posts: 21,498

05-11-2010, 04:32 PM	#42
Predarat Run Chiefs fans, run!! Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Nashville, TN Casino cash: $9973863	Sensei Kreese would agree with what that coach did.
Posts: 10,776

05-11-2010, 04:33 PM	#43
Iowanian Supporter Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Utopia Casino cash: $3798454	I hope he is held to the same standards and expectations in his remaining career as a teacher and coach.
Posts: 61,982