Jerry Springer, white trash parents at kid's ball games

[cjb]

We have noticed that the behavior of kids and their parents at sporting events has degraded to the point where it is tantamount to a bad Jerry Springer re-run (not that I've seen any, ahem).

Four of our boys are on recreation league basketball teams. This year in particular, we have observed parents yelling, screaming and cussing at the kids, other parents and referees. Its unreal - but this last Saturday took the cake.

When a kid was picking on his teammate, my son told him that he better lay off. In the middle of the game, that kid shoved my son than flipped me off when I said "Hey, you can't do that". His Mom stood up and screamed at me "you shut your mouth!"

I politely told her later that she was raising white trash because she is white trash.

At the end of the game, one of the other team members who is a huge football player, rushed up to my son and body slammed him. When my son said "What the heck are you doing?", he grabbed his shirt, screamed "F U" into his face and took a swing at him. My other son was a few feet away and he immediately grabbed his kid and threw him off of son #1. Funny to see since this kid is well over 200lbs and Andrew is 6'1", 125lbs.

A near-riot ensued of Jerry Springer proportions. I demanded of the kid's coach that they suspend him from the championship game, some of that team's parents started rushing me, shoving me, screaming obscenitites etc. Unreal.

I was proud of my boys that they stood strong, did not back down from a much bigger kid but also did not perpetuate a fight. If the punch had connected, they would have had it out, I'm sure. But I was very proud that they stood firm and defended each other without being hoodlums.

The parents should all be ashamed of themselves. I wrote a letter to the Rec League Director to complain that the kid that flipped me off and the one that threw the punch should have been dismissed. I found out later that the latter has been expelled from the public school for violence and had assaulted another kid during a game this season.


When relaying this story to my older sister, she said "That's what its like every day when your kids go to public school". Man, no thank you.

[LisaInN.Idaho]

Good grief! What a bunch of horrible kids and parents.

[seedspreader]

Whoa... I've not seen that around here, but I believe it. People worship sports.

[Wildwood Flower]

And nothing has been done? I can't believe it.

I've heard that public schools have gotten this bad. Can't believe that either. I live a sheltered life. Kids shouldn't have to put up with this.

Where are the adults in charge?

[cjb]

I don't know why but it has just gotten much worse this past year. The economy isn't great out here so maybe people are more cranky? I don't know.

I understand being passionate about your kids but for gosh sakes - there's a reason its called a Basketball "GAME".

[sarujenna]

OMG that is shocking! I'm so glad I haven't seen anything even close to that in my kids soccer league. I can't believe people get so worked up over a game.

[Christine in OK]

Originally Posted by cjb

When relaying this story to my older sister, she said "That's what its like every day when your kids go to public school". Man, no thank you.

Wow. I haven't experienced this with my kids yet - but mine haven't reached the 6'1" height yet. I hope this isn't something I have to look forward to, since mine go to public schools, but then mine are supposed to be in one of the better school districts. It has its problems, but so far violence hasn't been one.

I agree though - my boys played YMCA ball and even some of those parents (who all sign an agreement regarding recreation and good sportsmanship) get way out of line in my opinion.

[EDDIE BUCK]

Most of the time you can understand why kids act the way they do at times, by watching the parents. Thats who train most of these kids or take their side when they are wrong. Thats a shame and its only going to get worse. Eddie

[treasureacres]

Originally Posted by seedspreader

Whoa... I've not seen that around here, but I believe it. People worship sports.

This sounds more like bad parenting then sports worship! You can see the same behaviors at the mall, skate parks, or all most anywhere. Parents don't want to discipline their children and they defend them when someone else tries to. This is exactly why I got out of teaching.

I have been a head varsity football coach for 19 seasons and my expectations of kids has not changed. We have had one player be flagged for an unsportsman like penalty in 19 years, and he did not play the final two games of his senior year because of it. It was my decision and I had to fight the parents, administrators, and eventually the school board (which his mother was a member) to have my rule upheld.

Parents and coaches need to do their jobs because all of the positives of sports can quickly be forgotten with out proper leadership.

* I forgot to add that the player that this happened to is one of my biggest supporters today, and has never expressed any hard feelings towards me and this was 16 years ago. His parents on the other hand have not spoken ONE word to me, even when other siblings played for us. What does that tell you about these parents.

[Ashtina98]

You should be so proud of your boys. I have noticed the same thing around here. In fact my dd's (who are 9 and in the 4th gtrade) were in public school until Christmas when my dh let me pull them out to homeschool, they were telling me about 9 & 10 yr old girls waving their fingers in front of other girls' faces and saying things like "no you didn' " (t left off intentionally) and "don' mess with me". Not to mention the potty mouths these kids have!

We live in a community where you have the haves and have nots and not a whole lot in between. But I don't think lack of money is an excuse for acting like white trash either and the kids who are behaving this way are the ones who don't come from wealthy homes. It seems like when I was a kid it was the "rich kids" who acted snotty but here it is just the opposite. It must have something to do with the mentality at home, the parents have issues and pass them down to their kids.

We have stuck to Upward sports for sometime since it provides a Christian environment but have decided to try city softball this year, we'll see how it goes.

Dee

[Larburlingame]

My kids are adults and my grandson doesn't like sports and I am happy he doesn't.

Sports now days is nuts. Wining is everything. I thought sports were for fun and to teach sportsmanship.

[freeinalaska]

Wow, that's beyond anything I've seen at a kids sports event and I've seen plenty. I've been involved in kids sports for a long time and I am often appalled at the behaviour of parents and coaches. I mean really what are parents teaching their kids when they yell at refs and get angry at poor performance by their kids or their team mates.

Even at the highschool level I watched the coaches throw temper tantrums at what they thought were bad calls. At my son's last highschool baseball game I was so appalled by the visiting coaches behaviour that I had some words with him through the dugout fence. He turned red in the face and I thought he was coming to kick by butt. He ended up stomping away and kicking things.

My own little league career was stopped short during my first season of T ball. The parents all had to take turns at being the umpire. After my father's first time behind the plate it was over. He was cussed at and called names by other parents for making what they thought were bad calls. We had better luck with church your basket ball.

[Callieslamb]

I feel your pain CBJ...but...how do you do this?

Originally Posted by cjb

I politely told her later that she was raising white trash because she is white trash.

And meanwhile, you don't see kids playing pick-up games for fun - they are too busy being organized into teams. Parents put so many family resources into their kids' sports that they must think that each and every one is going to play pro ball! It is unbelieveable to me. Families dashing, dashing, dashing all the time.

[freeinalaska]

Originally Posted by callieslamb

Parents put so many family resources into their kids' sports that they must think that each and every one is going to play pro ball!

What is it with that? I've known plenty of kids who, because of their parents, thought they had a chance at being a pro. I've wanted to shake some sense into some dads who pushed their kids like they were on their way to the world series.

[Becca65]

Wow thats crazy! Out of control kids and parents.. Glad we've never experienced that with our Rec center.. The kids are pretty well behaved where my kids play.. oh and the parents also.
I don't agree with that happening at PS everyday though, thats stretching a little.. I'm sure it depends on the area.

[RockyGlen]

I was SO glad when ds said he did not want to play baseball this year because the kids have filthy mouths and talk about nothing but sex. It's gotten really bad out there. Last year we had cheerleaders showing up and they make the most vulgar, suggestive moves and then their parents get mad when the 13 year old boys make suggestive comments and then the boys parents get mad and on and on...spiritually and morally bankrupt.

I think the players get alot of it from parents, but also alot from the people we, as a society, place on pedestals. We tolerate fools like that basketball player who wore a wedding dress, and men with their pants around their ankles and three tons of precious metal on their necks and potty mouths, and we sit there telling our kids how great Amy Winehouse or Dennis Rockham, or Michael Vick are and then we expect our children not to emulate those behaviors....

[SunsetSonata]

Sounds like the entire team and their families are white trash! Were you the ONLY adult there? What a bunch of hostile idiots!

Humanity DOES disappoint me!

[cjb]

Originally Posted by Callieslamb

I feel your pain CBJ...but...how do you do this?



And meanwhile, you don't see kids playing pick-up games for fun - they are too busy being organized into teams. Parents put so many family resources into their kids' sports that they must think that each and every one is going to play pro ball! It is unbelieveable to me. Families dashing, dashing, dashing all the time.

Ok, I should have said that I "calmly told her..".

I know it wasn't the nicest thing to say but it had to be said, IMO.

[Iddee]

>>>>When a kid was picking on his teammate, my son told him that he better lay off<<<<

Don't they have coaches and referees to do that, or is your son one of the officials?

It looks like you gave the key to the melee in that one statement. Kids don't like to be bossed by other kids.

[Wendy]

This is yet another reason I am glad my kids aren't into sports!