Rotflol!
Posted on 05/03/2013 2:14:35 AM PDT by markomalley
Some people are outraged after a high school track team is disqualified from competing in state finals because one runner made a religious gesture. In just a few seconds the boys Columbus High School 4 X 100 relay team went from winning the regional meet, heading to state championships to having it all stripped away. How did the "W" so quickly become "DQ"? Well. when the anchor of the relay team crossed the finish line, he won the race, raised his finger to the sky and that gesture caused the winning regional's relay team to be disqualified.
"It's a sad deal. I think it's a travesty. Those kids work hard," says K.C. Hayes. Hayes' son Derrick Hayes is the runner who won the race then pointed to God, turning a once in a lifetime opportunity into a huge heartbreak that will likely last his lifetime. "As a team they reached their goal and in an instant it was just gone, over something we think is a non-issue. I guess someone else thinks it is an issue. He just said dad I was pointing at the heavens" says K.C. Hayes.
A judge with the University Interscholastic League or UIL, which enforces the rules for high school athletics, was there at the meet in Kingsville and made the call to disqualify the four member relay team. "For those kids the work they put in, what are we teaching them? Ok you're going to sacrifice, work hard and do everything it takes and ok it's just ripped away," says Hayes.
"It's a harsh consequence for what some people may deem a small gesture. The rule states no celebratory gestures including raising your arms," explains Columbus I.S.D. Superintendent Robert O'Connor. According to the UIL the relay team was disqualified for "unsporting conduct". The UIL also points out, it does not have a rule prohibiting religious expression. "You can do whatever you want to in terms of prayer, kneeling or whatever you want to once you get out of the competition area. You just can't do it in the competition area. It goes back to the taunting rule. I can't taunt my opponent," O'Connor explains.
"It's not a malicious act. It's not a taunting act. It's a 'we did it' and he (my son) knows where the source comes from. I know him. He's not a malicious kid. On the football field he'll hit you and then help you up," Hayes says.
"It's heartbreaking," says O'Connor. Superintendent O'Connor says since Saturday's track meet and the disqualification he has received a number of nasty emails. One read 'Dear sir, you, are an idiot'. O'Connor wants to stress this is not his decision. This is coming from the UIL. In fact, the district protested the disqualification but the UIL is not changing the decision.
people, we have to start fighting....
Sue.....sue......sue.....
so now a kid can't smile when he wins a race?....
its just total bs and it has to be called out immediately...
Seems to me the RACE was over when the kid crossed the finish line. Now if he had done like odumbo does and raised his MIDDLE finger (something odumbo is quite fond of doing to the American people), there would be nothing to talk about.
I truely hope that there will be a lawsuit brought forward to stop these absolutely stupid, foolish things from occuring every day in our schools. It is time we take this country back. It has got to stop.
What ever happened to “Freedom of Speach”? (The Libs are getting their way as Article 1 of the Constitution has been stripped, now on to Article 2 ....sarc).
I’m not sure this an act against religious faith or expression. I can pretty much guess (admittedly having done no research) that the ban on “celebratory gestures” came out of some taunting and showmanship by race winners as they approached the finish line, perhaps dancing, pointing, running backwards across the finish line or other such crap. Making judgment calls in this context is likely more dangerous than either letting it all go or prohibiting it all.
As long as the rules are clear before the race, and evenly applied, based upon what I have read so far, I support the decision.
a young kid....running in an exciting race....he brings his team to win the race....and we expect the human mind, the human body to remember NOT to be happy?????
It was Fletcher who said that to the Senator.
Granny said “doodly squat.”
Yep
I left Minnestoopid to get away from this kind of bovine scat.
I am thoroughly embarrassed.
I know better!
TEXAS!?!? I expect this kind of crap up here in the People’s Democratic Socialist Republic of Illinois, but TEXAS???
Why isn't the "judge" named?
If you're going to destroy all the hard work those kids put in, your decision should have a name attached.
Not so anybody should get violent with you, but just so your friends and acquaintances know what a complete jackass they're hanging around with.
Still, I miss Texas, and would be back down there if a couple other things had worked out differently . . .
Rotflol!
They need to take the Super Bowl trophy away from the Ravens because these fans were obviously taunting the loser. Poor sportsmanship you know.
Be careful or you’ll end up on a “Missouri boat ride” :)
Yes, and all that shouting “We’re number one! Waahoooo” is also some sort of prayer. Clearly.
would he have been disqualified if he bowed to mecca?
John the Baptist displaying unsportsmanlike conduct.
I reached the same conclusions xzins. While it may be possible the runner was pointing to God, I find the gesture to more often mean, “We’re Number One!” Secondly, whether the rule against celebratory gestures is foolish or not, all of the teams should have known the rule prior to competing.
I also think it’s unwise (and nearly impossible) to discern the runner’s intentions. If a runner make any gestures that appear unsportsmanlike in the competition area, we cannot know why the gestures were made, but we can enforce the fact that they were made. So, again, it may be a stupid rule, but it appears to be fairly enforced (religious claims notwithstanding).
Personally? I’d call it unsportsmanlike behavior, and we know how quickly that can get out of hand once you start permitting it.
UIL over the last few years has been taken over by the morons that have moved here from outside the state (like left coast). They have enacted some really goofy stuff.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.