http://www.boston.com/dailynews/126/nation/13_year_old_s_Crybaby_Award_ge:.shtml13-year-old's ''Crybaby Award'' gets New Jersey coach in trouble; board wants him fired
By John Curran, Associated Press, 5/5/2004 14:33
PLEASANTVILLE, N.J. (AP) A middle school basketball coach who presented a ''Crybaby Award'' trophy to a 13-year-old player has been fired from his coaching job, and the board of education wants him out entirely, officials said Wednesday.
James Guillen, 24, must make a public apology, attend sensitivity training and hold a second banquet to give out a proper award, School Superintendent Edwin Coyle said. But he said he opposed firing him as a teacher.
The boy's father, Terrence Philo Sr., said that just before the April 24 banquet, Guillen called the boy and told him he would be getting a special trophy.
At the banquet, the teen watched as all his teammates received trophies or certificates. He was then called up to receive his award, and the coach told him he was getting a Crybaby Award because ''he begged to get in the game, and all he did was whine.''
The trophy was a figure of a baby atop a pedestal engraved with the boy's name, which was spelled incorrectly. Family members said the teen was deeply embarrassed.
On Tuesday, the Pleasantville Board of Education voted to fire Guillen, rejecting Coyle's recommendation for lighter sanctions even though the board's own attorney said hiring and firing recommendations must come from the superintendent.
Coyle called Guillen's actions ''totally unacceptable'' but said an outright dismissal would be too severe a punishment. He said he would ask the board a second time to authorize, instead of firing, a five-day suspension without pay for Guillen and the forfeiture of a $3,000 pay raise. The board meets again next Tuesday.
Guillen has yet to speak publicly, but school officials quoted him as saying the award was his idea alone. He did not respond to requests for comment made at the school and through a representative of the New Jersey Education Association.
The boy's father said he wants his son treated fairly.
''I just want what's right. I want my son to have a trophy and certificate like everyone else got. No less, no more,'' he said.
Others wanted stiffer penalties.
''He should be fired,'' said Gina Jones, 43, a parent who attended the board's meeting Tuesday night. ''You should just have better sense.''
Vernon Walker, who coached in a league in which Guillen played as a teen, said ''crybaby'' was used to tell players ''you argue too much and to focus more on your play. It has to be taken in context.'' Still, he said, Guillen showed poor judgment.
― VengaDan Perry (Dan Perry), Wednesday, 5 May 2004 20:49 (twenty-one years ago)
which inspires:
<embarrasing personal admission>
Jesus, that's weird. When I was 14 and worked at a camp in Rhode Island I got the flu in the middle of summer and had to stay in my tent for a few days. When I came out I went to the staff lounge to meet my supervisor, who called the attention of the whole camp. He made me straddle a katsup-covered-tampon superglued to the top of a sailing trophy and called me 'Bitch of the Week.' I quite three days later.
</embarrasing personal admission>
― The Second Drummer Drowned (Atila the Honeybun), Wednesday, 5 May 2004 20:54 (twenty-one years ago)
Yeah, I don't think I ever had a coach who was younger than 30. Maybe possibly the hot-shot ex-soccer guy who helped begin the transition of our soccer team from a ridiculous joke to a conference contender (5 years after I gradutated, of course), but even he I think was in his early 30s.
The story is horrible, but really I can't stop laughing... at the coach! WTF was he thinking???
― VengaDan Perry (Dan Perry), Wednesday, 5 May 2004 21:05 (twenty-one years ago)
Those kind of emotional scars are bad and all, but this situation is pretty tame compared to some of the crazy things I saw growing up playing football and especially wrestling. Wrestling is a sport filled with mild lunatics, some of which become coaches, considering the sport is controlled combat I suppose that is to be expected. Many of the assistent coaches in high school sports are often fairly young, especially in football where a team has quite a few coaches.
To give the coaches some slack, parents are even worse. I used to do umpiring in youth baseball and softball. Some of the actions taken by parents was straight out wacko.
The funny thing about today is that if you screw up, not only are the locals going to get pissed at you, the rest of the world learns of your ignorance. That punishment in itself is probably bad enough.
― earlnash, Wednesday, 5 May 2004 23:48 (twenty-one years ago)