The aftermath of Covenant School’s 100-0 win against Dallas Academy two weeks ago in Texas has become the latest bubble-gum debate: Is it ever OK to run up the score? Are there gray areas?
Who’s to blame?
It’s Covenant School coach Micah Grimes, because he was fired on Sunday, mostly for refusing to apologize for the team’s final score.
He earned it.
This isn’t rocket science.
Grimes already knew the opponent was from a school which has predominantly kids with learning disabilities, a school with eight girls on the team (about 20 in the school, which does make you wonder how that ratio is fit to field a basketball team), and hadn’t won a basketball game in nearly four years.
You can argue about whether the two teams should have scheduled one another to begin with, but every state and sport is different, and often times it’s out of an individual coaches control. Nor is that the issue here.
Grimes had at least six chances to back away. When the score became 40-0, 50-0, 60-0, 70-0, 80-0 or 90-0.
Instead, the team reapplied its pressure defense later in the game.
That part is unacceptable, and the Covenant School’s apologies some 10 days after the game is disingenuous. It’s pretty lame to say you’re sorry only after you’ve been called out publicly.
Better late than never, I guess.
“It just happened,” Grimes wrote in an e-mail to the Dallas Morning News. “Please know Covenant intended no harm against them. I see this as a real learning opportunity, so we can prevent this from happening in the future.”
That part is taken care of, and he can give himself all the credit.
I coached my son’s bb team when he was in the 5th grade in the Mesa area. Our team was comprised mostly of kids new to basketball, and certainly new to organized ball. We played against many teams that had been together since (virtually) kindergarten with the same coach. They were organized, well coached and knew their plays.
On a couple occasions those “experienced” teams won in routs. I complained to the league that these coaches should carry some restraint (not pressing, playing their bench more, etc) considering these are merely elementary age kids. They acted like I was absurd.
It amazes me that even at an elementary age setting adults are so competitive. It was disappointing to the point I never coached again.