Comparing, Contrasting Two Very Different Hoops Stories
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
By Mark [email protected]
After hearing a judge granted an injunction allowing Griffith and Hammond back into the boys basketball state tournament, it’s obvious the judge and I live on the same planet, but live in a different worlds.
On the one hand, we have the excitement of a community as Tippecanoe Valley prepares to play for a girls basketball state title. They’ll take on a team from Princeton that, based on everything I’ve read, sounds like it has a very similar character trait to the Lady Vikings.
And in the opposite corner, we have the boys basketball programs at Griffith and Hammond, high schools in northwest Indiana. The two schools had their seasons, including the postseason, cut short by the IHSAA after what can accurately be described as a small riot that broke out early in a game between the two teams on Feb. 7.
Valley has given us a great series of “feel good” moments, and at a time when the community could use some good news. Time and again we’ve heard from the players how much they care for one another, and they’ve demonstrated character in high-pressure situations over the last three weeks.
After being held accountable by the IHSAA for physically assaulting each other, and failing to find satisfaction in the appeals process in place, Griffith and Hammond lawyered up and, as of Monday afternoon, got their postseason back from a sympathetic judge issuing an injunction ordering the IHSAA to let them back in.
Never mind the court putting five other schools, who did nothing wrong, at a competitive disadvantage. Those five teams have been practicing and playing, and have the physical consequences that go along with that, for the past month, while the Wildcats and Panthers have done nothing on the court, essentially.
With Valley and Princeton, we have two schools who have earned the privilege of playing for the top spot in their class, and another two schools who had to have the privilege of competing for a championship handed to them.
To be fair, I’m not thoroughly familiar with everything that went into the events of Feb. 7. I do, however, know the Griffith-Hammond game was called off after less than three minutes of game time, which suggests there was a bit of history between the two schools long before that fateful Saturday night.
I understand that sports keep a lot of kids in school, and in some cases provides opportunity for a higher education that otherwise may not be there. I also understand there’s only so many chances to play high school games, and for the seniors on the teams, their last chances were lost with the teams’ actions.
Everything I’ve read about this case says the student-athletes have expressed remorse for their actions that night. Good for them. Cynically, I hope that remorse is sincere.
But playing high school sports is no more a right than a driver’s license. It’s a privilege granted based, in part, on personal conduct. And remorse doesn’t excuse someone from the consequences of their actions.
Unless, of course, you can get a good lawyer and a sympathetic judge.
Personally, I’m all the more happy I’ve been granted the privilege of covering the teams we do here in Kosciusko County. And my appreciation for the feel-good story grows.[[In-content Ad]]
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After hearing a judge granted an injunction allowing Griffith and Hammond back into the boys basketball state tournament, it’s obvious the judge and I live on the same planet, but live in a different worlds.
On the one hand, we have the excitement of a community as Tippecanoe Valley prepares to play for a girls basketball state title. They’ll take on a team from Princeton that, based on everything I’ve read, sounds like it has a very similar character trait to the Lady Vikings.
And in the opposite corner, we have the boys basketball programs at Griffith and Hammond, high schools in northwest Indiana. The two schools had their seasons, including the postseason, cut short by the IHSAA after what can accurately be described as a small riot that broke out early in a game between the two teams on Feb. 7.
Valley has given us a great series of “feel good” moments, and at a time when the community could use some good news. Time and again we’ve heard from the players how much they care for one another, and they’ve demonstrated character in high-pressure situations over the last three weeks.
After being held accountable by the IHSAA for physically assaulting each other, and failing to find satisfaction in the appeals process in place, Griffith and Hammond lawyered up and, as of Monday afternoon, got their postseason back from a sympathetic judge issuing an injunction ordering the IHSAA to let them back in.
Never mind the court putting five other schools, who did nothing wrong, at a competitive disadvantage. Those five teams have been practicing and playing, and have the physical consequences that go along with that, for the past month, while the Wildcats and Panthers have done nothing on the court, essentially.
With Valley and Princeton, we have two schools who have earned the privilege of playing for the top spot in their class, and another two schools who had to have the privilege of competing for a championship handed to them.
To be fair, I’m not thoroughly familiar with everything that went into the events of Feb. 7. I do, however, know the Griffith-Hammond game was called off after less than three minutes of game time, which suggests there was a bit of history between the two schools long before that fateful Saturday night.
I understand that sports keep a lot of kids in school, and in some cases provides opportunity for a higher education that otherwise may not be there. I also understand there’s only so many chances to play high school games, and for the seniors on the teams, their last chances were lost with the teams’ actions.
Everything I’ve read about this case says the student-athletes have expressed remorse for their actions that night. Good for them. Cynically, I hope that remorse is sincere.
But playing high school sports is no more a right than a driver’s license. It’s a privilege granted based, in part, on personal conduct. And remorse doesn’t excuse someone from the consequences of their actions.
Unless, of course, you can get a good lawyer and a sympathetic judge.
Personally, I’m all the more happy I’ve been granted the privilege of covering the teams we do here in Kosciusko County. And my appreciation for the feel-good story grows.[[In-content Ad]]
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