These are the days of frivolous lawsuits and people blubbering about being bullied and parents who hover over their kids constantly but yet try to be their best friend. So what does all this have in common? Well, minus the lawsuit (which cynical me thinks is honestly in the works if this parent doesn't get the results they want), it has a lot to do with high school football. Reports came out that a parent filed a bully complaint on a school's website over a high school football game after the parent felt that the losing team was bullied. Say what? Given the trash talk climate of the NFL and even college level, you've got to roll your eyes. I did when I saw this and when I read the article my eyes were super sore. I know that the trend in sports for youngsters (like B's age group) is a "mercy" rule which I hate because I think it just teaches kids to be poor losers. Ok, so I get that this high school game was a crazy large defeat (91-0), but the coaches of the winning team did everything they could within regulations to try to make it not well a total destruction. In fact, the coach of the losing team even stated in the article: "I think the game was handled fine...They’re No. 1 for a reason, and I know coach Buchanan." Pretty classy from the coach whose team had a huge loss. He could have whined about it and pitched a fit and acted like a jerk but he didn't, and I'm sure that he talked with his team and they were bummed but probably held their heads up high and just let it go to focus on their next game.
What gets me is, if the coach didn't have an issue with it (and I'm sure if he did, then he would've taken it up with the officials and the opposing team's coaching staff at the game) then what right does this parent have to go onto the school's website and fill out a bullying complaint? What the hell does that accomplish and teach the kids? Nothing. It just reinforces the notion of "I'm entitled to feel good and get my way and if I don't, I'll just complain and make someone else deal with it" that has become so rampant. And if it was done on behalf of their child, well son buck up. I know, I'm one of those mean parents who doesn't believe in letting your kid win Candy Land to avoid a meltdown. Like I said earlier, kids need to learn how to be good losers -- we've seen what happens when they can't be good losers (or even good compromisers). If we keep allowing the bully card to be played when it's not actual bullying (and quite honestly, I'm over the whole bullying "phenomenon") then it will be harder to take real cases seriously (umm does no one teach "The Boy Who Cried Wolf" anymore?). If we keep telling kids that it's ok to throw tantrums when you don't get your way, even clear into adulthood, then we're doomed as a nation even more than I thought.
Good for these coaches for not making a huge deal over this game and for treating it as just that, a game and not an end of the world scenario -- especially in Texas where football no matter what level is the end all, be all.
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