sailorus's profile

sailorus
4800
Name: Steve
Member since: January 11, 2006
Last visit: January 11, 2006

sailorus has posted 0 links and 3 comments to SportsFilter and 0 links and 0 comments to the Locker Room.

Recent Comments

ISU kicks Berryman off team

I understand the conept of zero tolerance. Recently my six year old boy was observed knocking down another six year old while playing at recess (they were wrestling). Pretty normal at his age. Under the school district's zero tolerance policy for physical contact he received a written record, detention, and I was required to take an afternoon off and meet with the superintendant. How silly. "But rules are rules." I agree the school had no choice with Jason. The school had no choice with my six year old either. I support their right to make and enforce the rules. That doesn't make zero tolerance the correct answer. It was just a rule to be followed with Jason. Its just amazing how my six year old's experience has changed my perspective on school policies that are written to politically correct zero tolerance standards. And in our culture, I feel sad whenever I see a young adult that gets screened out for what amounts to gross immaturity / stupidity. My problem is that I have had far too many birthdays. Jason has not had enough and in our culture, he may well be doomed to not having many more now. Two years ago my then 21 year old (an NCAAA athlete) managed to get arrested with TWO counts of felony assault for his obvious involvement in a fight in a bar. The school looked the other way and strong lawyer allowed him to walk away with a misdemeanor $5 Dollar fine, $5000.00 legal bill and a year of alcohol counseling. Today that same young man of mine works 60 hours a week, is doing well in corporate America and spends his weekends with Habitat for Humanity. The difference? My money I suppose. Maybe I did the wrong thing for my son. Maybe I did the right thing. With three kids over the age of 25 I am just inclined to think that the rules for age 23 and under just have to be applied with more precision than zero tolerance policies will ever allow.

posted by sailorus at 03:04 PM on February 01, 2006

ISU kicks Berryman off team

I am sure glad that my trips underage to the college town bar(s) were not under media and college scrutiny. ISU did not have choice in this one, but truthfully, if you subjected the same standard to the average college kid, they would not pass either. As the parent of six I just feel a sense of sadness and tragedy for Jason and his family. We have become a nation that worships alcohol and sports. And once again another young person has been caught in the trip wire. The standard on alcohol and conduct should no be applied only to athletes. How many federal aid education recipients were in the same bar underage? Should we place them on suspension and then if they are allowed to return to college should we take away their tuition grants and aid? I don't have an answer. Should we force random drug tests on college students and dismiss them if they fail? Somehow the standards have to make sense....

posted by sailorus at 01:06 PM on February 01, 2006

How far can taunting go before it's too far?

I wouldn't do it... but then I remember those "Hey! Whiskey Joe taunts that Jets fans tossed at Joe Willy...

posted by sailorus at 05:17 PM on January 11, 2006