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One coach asked me Monday - "Who is running the system in the Public League - the animals?" What's scary about this story is that you have an official now afraid to do the right thing, because of more backlash. I was there, and I saw it first hand. If this happens in the suburbs, the student-athlete is done and charges are filed. A number of Public League coaches agreed with me when we spoke Tuesday. Here's the latest update from Wednesday's Chicago Sun-Times:
A high school soccer referee was still deciding late Tuesday night whether to press charges against a Kelvyn Park High School student-athlete who physically assaulted him during a Public League tournament match Monday afternoon in Chicago.
Jose Luis Rivas was attacked by the teenage offender midway through the second half of a game between Lane Tech and Kelvyn Park at Amundsen High School. Chicago Police were called to the scene after the student-athlete ran on the field, swung at and shoved Rivas after a foul was called on Kelvyn Park.
"I'm scared right now that [if I pursue charges], some of the teenagers might do something to my family," Rivas said in a phone interview Tuesday night. "They know where some of the referees live, and I don't want anything to happen to my family. I will let the police know what I want to do on Wednesday."
Kelvyn Park coach Jorge Ramirez confirmed the student-athlete -- who was not dressed for the game -- was a member of his team.
A second Kelvyn Park player also shoved Rivas in the back before the second official, Juan Jaramillo, and Lane Tech coaches could get to the other side of the field to restore order.
Chicago Public Schools spokesman Frank Shuftan said such behavior by student-athletes is unacceptable.
"The individual students involved will be handled under our Student Code of Conduct," Shuftan said. "We have received the referee's report of the incident and are acting based on his description of what occurred."
- Joe Trost
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If the Public League does not take sound, quick and strong actions against both players and Kelvyn Park then I suggest the IHSA get a back bone and band all Public League Schools from the Play Offs.
Why is this any different than a teacher being assaulted in the classroom ?? What is done then ??? I live in the suburbs so I guess I need schooling on this.
This student has to face charges. The coach needs an evaluation. There is no room for this at the high school level. There is only one way to distance this jerk from the game. The sooner the better.
Having given more thought to this , I think coaches need to take more responsibility in these situations . We all know who the violent players are on our squads so why do we allow them to participate ??? What is interesting here is the comment from the player's coach " I thought I had gotten rid of all the violent players on my team " . What kind of team was this ?? I know CPS teams carry players from different backgrounds but give me a break. Maybe the reason this player was still on the squad was because the coach felt intimidated if he left him off the team ??
Of course we know who the violent people are in City Sports Organizations but would it be fair to ostracize the hard working, blood sweat and tear shedding student athletes who put it all on the line to get to the playoffs. When most of us were coming up thru public school, sports meant something. To be honest it still does!!! You give it all you got and after the smoke clears; you leave it where it is......On the field So to all of you overly aggressive Thuggish-Criminal Athletes, RESPECT THE GAME!!!!!
To ban all city teams is just stupid. What about good programs like Kelly and Lane. Just because you have one bad seed, doesn't mean you ban the whole public league. It is the same in the suburbs. You have your bad teams out there too! It is just a shame that this is what gets published rather than the positive things that are being done by coaches in the city.