Winning Is Everything Lombardi Would Cringe at 92-4

Even in my rough Chicago South Side us kids enforced slaughter rules in our sandlot games & other sportsmanship conduct was taken for granted, yet Fox News says a Conn Catholic HS suspended its girls b-ball coach for just one game after he slam-dunked his way to a 92-4 win.

Was Sacred Heart’s one day’s suspension for its coach & an apology to kids at visiting Lyman Hall showing enough awareness let alone R-E-S-P-E-C-T? Consider score was 56-0 at the half & 80-0 after three periods. True, we don’t have all details. Perhaps Lyman was that bad & maybe couldn’t get a basket even if SH defenders stood still. Yet, where I came from (& in most communities to this day) SOMEBODY should have stopped this humiliation while in progress. Where were the refs? School administrators or teachers in attendance? Some responsible parent? Mind you, this goes beyond invoking a 20- or 30- point slaughter rule & goes to the heart of what sportsmanship is all about: That is, you should never knowingly humiliate an opponent (the trashy NFL & NBA demonstrations notwithstanding) &, even unnecessarily take advantage of their obvious incompetence. Clearly, this “game” should have been stopped at half-time, if not sooner.

Sacred Heart president, Sister Sheila O’Neill gave a nod to sportsmanship when she issued this statement: “Sacred Heart Academy values the lessons taught & cultivated through athletic participation, including ethical & responsible behavior, leadership & strength of character & respect for one’s opponents. Last night’s Girls Basketball game … does not align with our value or philosophies.” Fine. But, sister, just a one game suspension for Coach Winning Is Everything Lombardi?

Davd Soul