Some might say "Well stop them if you don't want to get scored on"...but this isn't professional sports.

Secondly...one doesn't have to look far to find out why he did it...

"Yates sets Texas scoring record in 170-35 win"

I think this is hilarious and I am a Lee High Schold alumni. Wise has good points. Bart R.

It's basketball. Don't blame the winning coach for playing basketball. If the losing coach thinks that forfeiting is the right thing, then he should make the call to give up. It's not for the Yates coach to decide for them that it's over.

In Va on 1/5/10 girls game, Highland Springs 77 - Armstrong 0.

If you dont want them to run the score up, STOP them. Its time for kids to learn that not everyone gets a trophy. If you want to get better then you have to be willing to work for it.

The part that redeems the winning coach is where he put his "third line' in the game. The coach is EXACTLY right when he says he shouldn't have to tell his third line to not play hard. His third liners want and deserve a chance to show the coach they are ready for the second line, and so forth. (another writer) Tom says it right, it is not the winning coach's call to decide when the game is over.

I am a coach of children and it is MY job to inform and educate players that there may be good days and there may be very bad days. As a coach you learn to win with integrity and lose with dignity. The winning coach should tell his players to be respectful at all times, regardless of the score, and the losing coach is obligated to tell his team that playing your best and losing is not a crime, losing with your head up is not a sign of weakness, and that while they are losing a game they are not losers.

That's the problem. Too many candy ass kids today because we take it easy on them. The other coach should be fired for putting together a sorry team. If you don't want to get pushed around try to coach up your players. Stop crying and take your licks.

Way to tell em Bubba!

Anyone defending this clown of a coach has about as much character and integrity as he does, which is none. No one likes a bully but another bully.

There's a huge difference between running a press, even with 3rd stringers, against a team that couldn't handle it at all, and telling your kids not to score. It's fine for them to keep playing, but pressing the entire time is way out of line. When you're beating someone senseless, common sense says to let up. They're lucky that things didn't get really out of hand. This is how people get hurt. If I was a player on the losing end, I'd have made it a goal to send someone to the hospital.

This is a fairly common issue that people have, one sided matches in which one coach allows his team to wither shut-out or blow-out another team. The point that it allways comes back to, is that these are kids and the losing coach feels disrespected. I resent the fact that you want to defend your pride using my kids feelings as ammo. If a high school team gets beaten that badly, it is not the winning coach's or the winning team's fault. It is the losing coach's, and the losing team's fault. The idea that you want to teach my children that if they aren't good enough to compete, you will handicap the other players is outrageous. No, you run better drills, you try harder at practice; or you get off the court. Fire the coach of the losing team. Or, if that's still too harsh of a reality to face, why not sit on the sidelines and suck your thumb, we'll call all games a tie and everybody can have their rainbows and unicorns?

This is ridiculous. Who gets mad at a winning coach for putting in his third stringers and still wiining by a large margin? Seriously this is the problem with competitive sports. The mentality that everyone deserves a trophy at the end is ridiculous. There are winners and losers. If you don't like it forfeit. It's not the reponsibility of the winning coach to stop playing because your team can't play defensively. And it was third stringers not the starters!!!!

The problem is morons like you that the high point of your life will be your high school athletic career. You never were much but somehow it gives you license to project what you THINK you were on everyone else. Idiot.

And when you get to that great scorekeeper in the sky, "He will mark next to your name,_____Not that you won or lost____but how you played tha game.

As a high school football coach and former girls' basketball coach, this coach makes me ill. There is no place for this in high school sports. Had he played his 2nd and 3rd string in the half court, and they still scored at will then I would have no problem with it. However, the fact that he kept pressing is appalling. It is obvious to me that this man coaches for himself and not for his kids. It really has nothing to do with basketball and everything to do with his ego. All of you who say "they should have played better" probably have never coached high school athletics to understand the mental make-up of a player. 95% of them are never going to play beyond high school so their only motivation in a game such as this is to avoid further embarrassment, which anyone with some knowledge will tell you in not a motivator for continued success. I've been to several clinics and presenters where I walk away thinking "This person coaches for themselves, not their players." I'm sure that is the impression this "coach" gives off as well.

Lot a Bubbas online today. Jackass.

That is ridiculous! I buy into the whole, "Then play defense and put up some points", but at some point you have to take your foot off the gas pedal.

I think they call it good sportsmanship. I don't know, I could be wrong.

What if the losing coach was an excellent teacher in the classroom and the winning coach was lousy in the classroom. In that case, who should get fired? I wonder how many people truly put sports above academics. In the school district in which I teach, the Athletic Director makes a bigger salary than the High School Principal.

I'd given them one possion in the 2nd half, and if they continued to press, I would have packed up my team and walked off the court. Would have given them a forfeit and no shot at the record.

last i checked good sportsmanship has absolutely nothing to do with how much you win or lose by. The goal of every person on the opposing team is to make you lose. Are they all bad sports?? Secondly, how much can you beat a team by and still be considered a good sport, 5, 10, 50, 100???? does it really matter??? Sports give kids the chance to work in a team building atmosphere and learn valuable life lessons be it in winning OR believe it or not LOSING. The coach did the respectable thing and let his third string play to the best of their abilities.

"This is how people get hurt. If I was a player on the losing end, I'd have made it a goal to send someone to the hospital."

It is considered dishonorable to let the third string players have get their enjoyment out of playing the game as they had been coached, but intentionally trying to injure another person so badly that he requires hospitalization simply because he plays basketball better than you is an honorable act. Fantastic logic. Bravo.

I don't understand why these teams that blow-out their opponents use a full court press the entire game even with their non-starters in the game. As a coach, couldn't they use that point advantage to work on maybe a man-to-man half court game. I credit the winning coach for having his team prepared and focused but still there is a point in which he could have used another defense.

Interstesting that we've come to the point where the issue is the players "feelings" being hurt, and completely disregarding as inconsequential the fact that there was a fight which could have done physical harm to one or more. They were supposed to score, to try and win. The losing team will grow out of the hurt feeling, but had someome ruptured a spleen or something.

I played football, basketball and baseball all throughout my high school career and I was damn good at it and now I am a chemist ironic I'd say. I don't consider my glory days high school either, I'm living them right now. I feel your a little disgruntled because high school might have not been the best for you, at least thats the way you portray yourself. I agree with greg, kids are way to soft these days. You have to prepare yourself for the real world and not everybody gets trophy. Life isn't fair, get used to it. Some schools have done away with winners and losers, but life HAS NOT. Some schools, have also abolished failing grades and they'll give you as MANY TIMES as you want to get the right answer. This doesn't bear the slightest resemblance to ANYTHING in real life. Basically in a nutshell kids need to quit being a bunch of nancys and we as adults need to quit training them to be that way.

I agree with that statement however there is a difference between the "every player gets a trophy" sentiment and then trying to humiliate a team on purpose. I live in Houston and what is not being stated anywhere here is the interview with the Yates players saying that the coach and players in their team meetings and on the bus to the game talked about the goal of putting up 200 points on that team. That was before the game!! That is not preaching hard play but humiliation.

Only those who support Cheney would support this Wise guy! All these people care about is being bullies whenever and wherever they can.

Sportsmanship is behavior and attitudes that show respect for the rules of a game and for the other players.

Blowing out the other team by 135 points isn't good sportsmanship.

Perhaps the winning team should have taken a quarter or two off? Would that have been better? I imagine they would still have won. I can see the headline now: "Texas high school boys team wins after sitting all its players half the game. Most not amused."

The idea that folks are upset about this is...upsetting. As others have said, not everyone walks away with a trophy. Life can be brutal sometimes, there's your life lesson.

I agree with Mike. Sounds like the kids from Lee HS quit. That isn't the winning team's problem. I coach young boys and I tell them to ALWAYS go all out until clock says 0:00. Leave it all on the field. No crying or excuses!

CHANGE THE RANKING SYSTEM- and this will stop happening. It is the same in college as well. Everything is based off total points scored. So they run them up. It isn't fair to either team. Did anyone see the Baylor- Texas State Women's score. 99-18. Same thing. Baylor had to run the score for the rakings. This is something that all state associations need to look at as well as the NCAA. Until they do-get use to it.

This is so typical of our society today. Even the commenters are behind this humiliation. I was an athlete when I was younger,good enough to play, but no star. I'm in my sixties now, so times have changed. What shouldn't change however,are the lessons that sports can teach. Teamwork, sportsmanship, and the notion that winning isn't everything have dissapeared in todays sports. Pro athletes with their bling, and me first attitudes are the norm. We've become a third rate educational system while still offering full ride schoalships to athletes. Many of these athletes probably couldn't pass a high school exit exam. The results are Michael vick, Gilbert Arenas, and any number of thugs who continue thug behavior off the field. This coach hasn't got anything to brag about. I can guess what kind of obnoxious person he is off the field. These guys live their failed playing carrers through their athletes. This game was poor form,plain and simple

I think these kids would have learned more for running a half court defense then running up the score. Give his kids a chance to show themselves? They aren't showing anything but the fact that the can hold a less adept team to a low point total. If he wanted to show his kids something he would have had them make a number of passes before scoring, at the point you are up by 50 points you know it is out of hand and at this point it should be treated as a practice to improve other skills that are lacking. If this coach can say with a straight face his team needed work on their press on a team that is inferior to them, then he was right in running the press. But his team didn't need to work on their press and any coach could have figured that out in the first quarter. As for everyone talking about it not being his fault and why should he let up. Why shouldn't he, I play sports and play to win, I don't want everyone to tie. But at some point you know you are better and you try to improve. This team learned nothing from this game but the fact that they played a team that was inferior to them. I look forward to the day when they play a team that does the same to them.

SL. The goal in any sport is put up as many points, goals or what have you as you can. Also, it is the goal to stop the other opponent from doing the same. The Lee HS coach should have called time out, called over the referees and threw in the towel. Maybe in Texas you guys need a mercy rule.

He started his first team after half time with a 100-12 lead and then pressed the rest of the game. What would YOU teach you kids about this bad day, from either direction coach?

I agree! It's basketball and one coach, obviously, does not know how to coach and is looking for sympathy. I have had the privilage of being a part of a winning tradition where all 15 players play. They are rotated in, in groups of 5. You know sort of like changing your oil every 5 minutes. All 3 groups are always excellant year end and out. Many go on to play college ball, but all of them leave with the same feeling, which is "I was part of the winning tradition", "I contributed".

If you can't run with the dogs, sit down!!

You were damn good huh? No you were average just like millions of others that play high school sports. The ones that were damn good are playing professionally now. I am not disgruntled, I have a great life. I just like to get the online meatheads, like yourself riled up. So you think kids today are Nancy's. So did your father and his father and so on. I am sure your kids are tough and well prepared for life. good for you give yourself a pat on the back.

Judging from your multiple grammatical errors, either you're (not your) lying about being a chemist or a chemistry degree isn't worth what it used to be.

How about we institue Tee-ball in High School. We can lower the rim to 6 ft. and stop keeping score. At the end of the season all participants get a trophy and a $5 Mcdonald's coupon. This is precisely what is wrong with our society today. We are raising abunch of politically correct panty waists that want life to be fair. If life were fair, I would have the athleticism of Michael Jordan, the brains of Bill Gates along with his money and Tiger Woods' Rolodex. Get over it. Wipe your kid's tear and slap him on the ass and tell him to practice harder.

A loss is a loss... be it 100-30 or 500-30. If you don't want to be put in a position in which you might get blown out... don't play the sport.

Its not like the coach left in his first string players, or it was a team of mentaly handicapped players they were beating on or anything. Why the hell should he have to tell his 3rd string players "I know you never really get to play... but don't go out there and score because we have to treat the other team like a bunch of little kids". I mean come on...

This world has become so pansified its amazing. People who know nothing about compedative sports should keep their mouths shut, and if stuff like this bothers people who DO play sports... then you should consider another hobby, like stamp collecting.

"Revenge is a dish best served cold" and "what comes around goes around". The day will come when the tables are turned, and what better form of motivation is there then getting your butt whooped.

Oh yes, and one more...."Payback is a be-atch".

Go Lee High School

The point that I find disgusting is that some people are defending the Yates Head Coach. High School sports is meant to provide an environment to learn sportsmanship, leadership, and other admirable traits. I agree that athletes should always play hard but a coach can do it respectfully. Just like in baseball, when you are winning by a lot you don't tell your players to strike out on purpose, you inform your hitters to go one base at a time, station to station. The fact that people are supporting this coach shows a deeper American problem of win, win by as much as you can, and don't worry about anything that gets in your way, especially in a high school where students are being shaped.

Why does every Bubba on here think that life is unfair. Beacuase you sit on your ass drinking beer watching sports. Life is not unfair you ungrateful idiots. So you aspire to be Tiger Woods huh? What a great example for your kids.

It is also an environment where you learn to compete. Do you think the people that run Lowes worry about the people about Home Depot if they run them out of business. Of course not? Sports and capitalism are very much the same. Maybe, we should become a socialist society after all where we are all the same and of "equal ability". Besides in life you learn more from getting you @$$ handed to you than you ever do when you win. Losing doesn't have to be seen as victimizing.

it sounds like Yates HS is a form of a private school where they are not limited to students living in a certain county or city, so they recruit top athletes in and out of the state to play ball there. so the competition was not even on their level, imagine 9th graders playing 5th graders in bball.

HS sports IS about winning, but it is also about sportsmanship and becoming a better person. the yates bball coach should be ashamed of his actions. the game was never in doubt probably after the first 1 minute of the game, he could have lifted the press after the 1st quarter, and played all the 3rd stringers. what is one of his top players going to learn by putting a beating on a team that is not even close to them in ability?

If you aren't playing to win, why play?

Like China or the former USSR countries. They never do well in the Olympics. Idiot.

Idiot! My words were a play on the current socialization of healthcare. Try reading about something else other than sports, dumb@$$!

The goal of sports is NOT to put up as many points as you can. It is to win. If it were to put up as many points as possible, then football teams would run 2 minute drills while up by 1 at the end of the game. They don't do that, because the point is to win, not to keep scoring. The kids don't have to stop scoring, but they don't need to keep pressing the whole game.

The goal of sports is NOT to put up as many points as you can. It is to win. If it were to put up as many points as possible, then football teams would run 2 minute drills while up by 1 at the end of the game. They don't do that, because the point is to win, not to keep scoring. The kids don't have to stop scoring, but they don't need to keep pressing the whole game.

Perhaps the coach with the most integrity and class is Coach K from Duke. Once you know that you have a game in your pocket, you do not have to run up the score to prove your superiority. Coach K has a spread offense and takes up most of the shot clock before attempting another fieldgoal. A full court press when you are up by more than 100 points is absolutely ridiculous. The third stringers could certainly show their "talent" playing a zone and not putting on a full court press. One comment stated what is a blowout, 25, 50, 75 points? If a coach does not know the answer to that, he should not be coaching.

And they shouldn't stop boxing matches either.

I think that not playing hard for most of the game is condescending for the other team. In boxing the trainer of the fighter that is getting his butt kicked throws in the towel, not the other way around. Coaches always say that we need to practice like we play and play like we practice. The losing team needs to learn that life is not easy and that what you work hard to attain will be sweeter than what is given to you. Maybe we should not keep score next time and everyone could get a medal...wait that is the Special Olympics that does that, isn't it?

The life lesson would seem to be never turn down the opportunity to be a jacka$$ if the cost is behaving like a gentleman.

This is a matter of ethics. The reason for having school team sports is to teach children to work together in a cooperative manner for a common goal as a team, to be able to follow the rules of a sport, to have good sportsmanship and respect for your opponent, etc. This does not include humiliating your opponent, acting out anger from memories of past experiences of mistreatment, conceptualizing your opponent as the Enemy deserving of any type of malevolent behavior, etc. or even giving some vicarious "we are better than you are" ego boost to spectators in the stands. These latter things would teach them to be malevolent members of society, easily manipulated by demagogues.
Joe Paterno, one of the best coaches of all time, with almost 400 wins including 24 bowl wins, never ran up the score on any of his opponents. The current Nebraska football coach waved off his field goal unit several times in the 4th Quarter of his recent game against Arizona in an effort to not run up the score and humiliate his opponent. Some commenters to this article would have you believe that these coaches are "wimps" for doing this. I say that it only shows the values that they are trying to teach their student athletes and their greatness as coaches. I feel that most of these commenters would benefit from the study of ethics and reading the book: "Prisoners of Hate" by the multiple award winning Aaron T. Beck, M.D..

"So, is the Yates coach wracked with remorse? Nope. He's defending his team's Little Bighornesque victory."

Custer's ego got the best of him at Little Bighorn. It came back to bite him in the butt.

That's what Wise needs booted out on. And be it a lesson learned.

The Lee coach is right -- we don't do this to young men.

There's no excuse. Zilch. Nada.

Why were these two teams paired in the first place?

A) The Yates coach should get a raise and Coach of the Year award for teaching all those limp wristed coaches, incompetent programs, sorry arse parents, liberal administrations, and mediocre players how to play the game of basketball. B) The Lee coach should go do his thing with the park district and take his team with him. Competition is meant to separate the weak from the strong, the winners from the losers. Telling a team or a person NOT to excel is always the wrong thing to do. c) The Lee player making the intentional foul should have been thrown out and assault charges levied.*** Look around you. America has lost and is losing all of its competitiveness. This is why millions of jobs have been sent to other countries. Learning how to prepare, practice, plan, and then execute in sports prepares you for winning in the real world. America needs to start winning by 100 points every chance it gets. Let it begin on the courts and fields, in the classrooms and labs across this great land: Do your very best, Do the right thing, take no prisoners. - 30+ year Coaching Veteran

I am sick of the people who call for the heads of coaches, just because the score is lopsided. If he was playing his starters the whole game, that is one thing, but it is an insult to his 3rd string players to tell them they can't play hard. Those kids are gunning for a starting spot in the future. How are they suppose to prove themselves if they are not allowed to play.

If you want to blame someone, blame the AD's at the two schools for setting this match up, knowing one team was largely superior to the other.

I think that not playing hard for most of the game is condescending for the other team. In boxing the trainer of the fighter that is getting his butt kicked throws in the towel, not the other way around. Coaches always say that we need to practice like we play and play like we practice. The losing team needs to learn that life is not easy and that what you work hard to attain will be sweeter than what is given to you. Maybe we should not keep score next time and everyone could get a medal...wait that is the Special Olympics that does that, isn't it?

170-35 is playing to win? What is wrong with you people? What are we teaching our kids? wow....

I think that this is a big issue that does come with a lot of backlash. At what point do kids grow up, I mean this is high school Varsity sports! I mean when they are kids we protect them because they're so young, then they get to high school and we still protect them, but yet they turn 18 and go to college and all of a sudden they're supposed to act like adults and be mature!! In sports you either win or you lose. Yes, there is a thing called sportsmanship, but how is it a poor sport to be better than the other. If you come to a gym as a high school Varsity team, you need to be prepared to step on the court and play ball. If you can't stop a team from scoring 170 points on you, then maybe the whole team and the coach should re-evaluate their goals!

Exactly! We are a society that is so entitled and glorifies the victim. This is sports; it is not a back alley. Let go! This is a non-issue other than the record. Congratulations Yates!!!

I would imagine than those of you defending the Yates coach are happy that the Goldman Sachs boys are making $50MM a year each. They are just playing the game of life to win and the fact that they make 1000 times what you make is is merely evidence of their massive superiority to you.

I mean, if you aren't making that much, you should just man up, work harder and do the same. If you can't do it, it's your own stinking fault. Right? No complaints from any of you? Right?

Bill and Rick you both sound like a bunch of idiots. That also includes everyone who complains about this coach having his third stringers paly and murdered a pathetic team by more than 120 points. I mean really why do people whine like 4 year olds when their team lose by that much and bitch about...sportsmanship? Come on get real. If coaches don't want to be lose...then don't caoch anymore and just go home to your parent's basement. And fighting over getting your ass kicked? What a bunch of losers these pussies are. The lesson is that not everyone wins and that people shouldn't bitch like that loser coach did. Trophys should be handed out to teams that win and win HARD. People like Kpokeefe are absolutly right. Sportsmanship is about how you PERSONALLY treat each player...not by how high the difference of points are. Man people are a bunch fucking crybabies. I never saw or heard Japanese soldiers bitch about losing WW2 now do they?

I am astounded at the amount of people on this post that are defending the team for their poor sportsmanship. It is absolutely ridiculous that they would humiliate another school like that. It sounds like a bunch of right wing rednecks sitting back in their barca loungers....

This is a matter of ethics. The reason for having school team sports is to teach children to work together in a cooperative manner for a common goal as a team, to be able to follow the rules of a sport, to have good sportsmanship and respect for your opponent, etc. This does not include humiliating your opponent, acting out anger from memories of past experiences of mistreatment, conceptualizing your opponent as the Enemy deserving of any type of malevolent behavior, etc. or even giving some vicarious "we are better than you are" ego boost to spectators in the stands. These latter things would teach them to be malevolent members of society, easily manipulated by demagogues.
Joe Paterno, one of the best coaches of all time, with almost 400 wins including 24 bowl wins, never ran up the score on any of his opponents. The current Nebraska football coach waved off his field goal unit several times in the 4th Quarter of his recent game against Arizona in an effort to not run up the score and humiliate his opponent. Some commenters to this article would have you believe that these coaches are "wimps" for doing this. I say that it only shows the values that they are trying to teach their student athletes and their greatness as coaches. I feel that most of these commenters would benefit from the study of ethics and reading the book: "Prisoners of Hate" by the multiple award winning Aaron T. Beck, M.D..

Even in professional sports, you don't run up the score when it's clear to everyone on and off the field that you've got victory locked up -- except in baseball, where there is no clock and it is never over 'til it's over and teams (usually the Mets) have been known to blow an obvious, sure victory. Yes, he put in his third string -- but he still had them run a press. I'm guessing the commenters who seem to approve have never coached. Looks like the commenters who have coached are as appalled as I am.

I would imagine than those of you defending the Yates coach are happy that the Goldman Sachs boys are making $50MM a year each. They are just playing the game of life to win and the fact that they make 1000 times what you make is is merely evidence of their massive superiority to you.

I mean, if you aren't making that much, you should just man up, work harder and do the same. If you can't do it, it's your own stinking fault. Right? No complaints from any of you? Right?

"It sounds like Yates HS is a form of a private school where they are not limited to students living in a certain county or city, so they recruit top athletes in and out of the state to play ball there"...

Get your facts straight. Yates is an underfunded inner city public school.

So much for "Victory with honor" (According to High School Federation Rules) This coach should be suspended.

"it sounds like Yates HS is a form of a private school where they are not limited to students living in a certain county or city, so they recruit top athletes in and out of the state to play ball there"

actually, Yates is an underfunded inner city public school...

Candy punked kids. I agree with most of the posts. The kids today are spoiled and greedy. Whenever did you hear of graduation classes for completeing first grade or fifth or whatever. Back in the day, you finished your grade, got your report card and went to the next level. That was expected of you and if you didn't complete you would get your butt kicked. No apologies here.

I would imagine than those of you defending the Yates coach are happy that the Goldman Sachs boys are making $50MM a year each. They are just playing the game of life to win and the fact that they make 1000 times what you make is is merely evidence of their massive superiority to you.

I mean, if you aren't making that much, you should just man up, work harder and do the same. If you can't do it, it's your own stinking fault. Right? No complaints from any of you? Right?

There is an easy answer for the coach's justification - he is an @ss.
I played on a team in high school that could easily destroy a few of the non-conference teams.
Our coach was also an ass but when we were faced with this we turned the game into a defensive practice. In one game we were not allowe to shoot in the second half. Any time we stole the ball, or rebounded a shot we rolled the ball down to the other end and resumed playing defense.
While this did not save the opponent from humiliation that night, they were not subjected to news reports about the worst defeat ever.

I think that not playing hard for most of the game is condescending for the other team. In boxing the trainer of the fighter that is getting his butt kicked throws in the towel, not the other way around. Coaches always say that we need to practice like we play and play like we practice. The losing team needs to learn that life is not easy and that what you work hard to attain will be sweeter than what is given to you. Maybe we should not keep score next time and everyone could get a medal...wait that is the Special Olympics that does that, isn't it?

Bravo Joel! (comment no. 6)

I would imagine than those of you defending the Yates coach are happy that the Goldman Sachs boys are making $50MM a year each. They are just playing the game of life to win and the fact that they make 1000 times what you make is is merely evidence of their massive superiority to you.

I mean, if you aren't making that much, you should just man up, work harder and do the same. If you can't do it, it's your own stinking fault. Right? No complaints from any of you? Right?

I would have to think that the winning coach has no self-esteem; maybe his wife beats up on him that way around the house. Something is wrong with this guy's judgment; maybe his grandmother smoked him on the basketball coach last week.

He certainly has little or no compassion for kids. My thoughts are that he shouldn't be involved with youth sports and education.

I am a coach; have always been competitive but this guy isn't teaching his kids anything worthwhile about work ethics, competition or humanity. His comment about what should he instruct his 3rd string players to do reeks of ignorance. He is the coach, you tell them to back off, safe it for a more worthy opponent.

As far as all you couch coaches.... you are just ignorant.

Lee lost... and it is not the winning coach's fault if the Lee team was not prepared. He did the right thing by putting in his 3rd string... but it would set a bad precedent to tell those kids not to play to win...

It is not the winning kids fault for being "too good".

After reading the comments of so many of you who support the winning coach, it's clear that, based on the opening credo for this blog - "This blog is updated multiple times daily with sports news for the infirm and the socially inept" - the blog has found it's intended audience.

I don't care what the score ended up being...I would never advise my team to play any less than 100%. If I were on the losing end, I'd be more insulted knowing that the opposing team wasn't trying their best.

As a coach, it isn't always about winning. 2nd & 3rd stringers should learn that too. Developing character can even be done by explaining & restricting. A while back, I was running the clock when the same thing was happening, up by 80 & the coach left the starters in with a full court press. I left the clock on with a dagger look from the coach. I told him flat out, "you pull that sh*t, I pull this sh*t, fair enough?" "You can't do that!". "Oh yes I can, what are you going to do, sue me? You gonna ask for a forfeit? That would be a 2-0 win for you. It would look pretty good on the scoring stats, huh?". Well, he kept on but so did I. It was a fast 139-28 game!

No class by the winning coach. What a jerk. Typical Texan...just like Mack "kneepads" Brown.

As a HS coach, I can honestly say that pulling my kids off the press would be the right thing and the smart thing to do. This was not a game in which the winning team was going to get better at pressing. This game was probably over in 5 minutes. Work on passing drills during the game where everyone touches the ball. Shoot the lights out, pass a bit, but don't press. Don't ask your kids to stop playing. After all, it is not all or nothing. There is no "on/off switch" you can utilize. However, they had better be able to adjust their approach, or they will not be learning anything but one mode of play. College coachse want to see a well-rounded player. Different defensive sets and different offensive schemes would make the players better and make the game worthwhile. As it is, this game was a waste of time for both teams.

Wow...just wow.
I gotta say, the guy might be a douche as a person, but if all we're getting is what the article lays out...man. The guy ran a good team. The guy knew the other team might not put up much of a fight, but I know sports programs don't always get to pick & choose their opponents. So, he says "Lets make a go of 200 points on a live team."
And no, I'm no meathead. I was a competitive drama participant in HS; president senior year, three time state competitor and a finalist my senior year. The competition was the same however; it didn't matter if I walked into a round and I was up against folks who have had their scripts for a week (which they often did) to my three months, I did what I did and I did it as well as I could, regardless of who was there. I always knew who a "threat" was by their performance; those who left the stage panting, dizzy, and in desperate need of water probably kicked ass. Those who wandered onto the stage and then off didn't. Never once did I feel "bad" about beating someone who failed to perform, and when I was a novice who was wailed on I felt bad because I knew I wasn't at the level of the people who beat me, which made me work harder to reach that level. My freshman year I was murdered repeatedly. My sophomore year, I learned from my initial mistakes, did better but still got beat, but still kept learning and improving. So on until my senior year, wrapped up 5th in the state out of a pool of several hundred competitors; the top two slots went to dedicated drama schools, and the next two were legitimately better than me. But, of the six of us in the final round, four of us had competed throughout the year against one another repeatedly and, even though we whupped each other at one point or another, we got along fantastically.
As well, I'm a small business owner. I am pretty much the major factor to why two other competitors closed their doors. I'm not "proud" of the fact, but I note its reality. Its not that I set out to shut them down, but I know what I'm doing with the business and I do it better than what they could. The effect of that was the customer base preferred dealing with me over them, sales fell, and they closed while I remain open. I harbor no ill will toward them, and am currently running consignment for one of the fellows to help him liquidate his remaining stock and still get a good, near-market price for it.
Ultimate question for me is who started the fight (which I don't see). If it was the losing team, then they are REALLY sore losers. If it was the winning team, the yes they are douche bags. But the basic point of it is, as long as the rules are respected there is NO reason for someone not to do their absolute best. At no point in life does it make sense to do otherwise, again provided the rules are obeyed and respected. And to suggest that someone "take it easy" and not allow someone to reach their potential? Even if it is an ill-matched effort, make a note and pair up the opponents more evenly next time.
Competition doesn't have to be bitter, but it is competition. There is a winner and there is a loser, and it happens across all fields in life. Accept that you're not entitled to anything, even a "let up", and do everything you can, knowing the other person is doing the same.

Maybe i am just getting old or i grew up in a time when people had class, But this is the sorriest bunch of excuses i have ever heard for just plain common (low class behavior)Hey next week lets go beet up on the kids at the blind school. What i can't believe is that we actually have to say these folks have no class. It is a given!! would Dean Smith run up a score on someone like that..no he never did because he had class!! as for this loser coach! you think any major university will ever take notice to him..maybe!! but just to say what a jack ass!!!

It's a sad state of affairs when a coach can't recognize a high school game for what it is. The most important part of it, is not the basketball, but the creating of good young men.

Wow...just wow.
I gotta say, the guy might be a douche as a person, but if all we're getting is what the article lays out...man. The guy ran a good team. The guy knew the other team might not put up much of a fight, but I know sports programs don't always get to pick & choose their opponents. So, he says "Lets make a go of 200 points on a live team."
And no, I'm no meathead. I was a competitive drama participant in HS; president senior year, three time state competitor and a finalist my senior year. The competition was the same however; it didn't matter if I walked into a round and I was up against folks who have had their scripts for a week (which they often did) to my three months, I did what I did and I did it as well as I could, regardless of who was there. I always knew who a "threat" was by their performance; those who left the stage panting, dizzy, and in desperate need of water probably kicked ass. Those who wandered onto the stage and then off didn't. Never once did I feel "bad" about beating someone who failed to perform, and when I was a novice who was wailed on I felt bad because I knew I wasn't at the level of the people who beat me, which made me work harder to reach that level. My freshman year I was murdered repeatedly. My sophomore year, I learned from my initial mistakes, did better but still got beat, but still kept learning and improving. So on until my senior year, wrapped up 5th in the state out of a pool of several hundred competitors; the top two slots went to dedicated drama schools, and the next two were legitimately better than me. But, of the six of us in the final round, four of us had competed throughout the year against one another repeatedly and, even though we whupped each other at one point or another, we got along fantastically.
As well, I'm a small business owner. I am pretty much the major factor to why two other competitors closed their doors. I'm not "proud" of the fact, but I note its reality. Its not that I set out to shut them down, but I know what I'm doing with the business and I do it better than what they could. The effect of that was the customer base preferred dealing with me over them, sales fell, and they closed while I remain open. I harbor no ill will toward them, and am currently running consignment for one of the fellows to help him liquidate his remaining stock and still get a good, near-market price for it.
Ultimate question for me is who started the fight (which I don't see). If it was the losing team, then they are REALLY sore losers. If it was the winning team, the yes they are douche bags. But the basic point of it is, as long as the rules are respected there is NO reason for someone not to do their absolute best. At no point in life does it make sense to do otherwise, again provided the rules are obeyed and respected. And to suggest that someone "take it easy" and not allow someone to reach their potential? Even if it is an ill-matched effort, make a note and pair up the opponents more evenly next time.
Competition doesn't have to be bitter, but it is competition. There is a winner and there is a loser, and it happens across all fields in life. Accept that you're not entitled to anything, even a "let up", and do everything you can, knowing the other person is doing the same.

After reading the comments of so many of you who support the winning coach, it's clear that, based on the opening credo for this blog - "This blog is updated multiple times daily with sports news for the infirm and the socially inept" - the blog has found it's intended audience. For those of you trying to argue with people who are so "socially inept", don't waste your time. (Although it is sometimes fun to goad them into displaying their childish rage and name-calling!)

There are good points on both sides of this...

To the sportsmanship crowd - I agree with much of what you say, but powerhouse high schools are not a new phenomenon. These are well known. If Lee High has more games scheduled against Yates, cancel them. Your high school and their high school have two different motivations. I remembering our wrestling team (no powerhouse) defeating a local private HS called Webb 71-0 (11 pins & 1 superior decision). They just didn't have the atheletes nor the institutional desire to be an athletic power. However, match our teams up now salary-wise, I have a feeling that those guys from Webb are doing better on average. I suspect Lee & Yates might have a similar dynamic, but a much more significant disparity.

To the teach em life aint fair/try harder crowd - C'mon guys: at 100-12, there wasn't any danger that the team was going to lose. It reminds me of Billy Tubbs at Oklahoma, having his team intentionally foul w/ under a minute to go, up by 40, just so they could hit 100 points. If your kid was on the losing end & let's say he is hustling, hardworking, way down but not quitting, but clearly on a way overmatched team, I think you would prefer to see them ease the dogs up. Play man to man, use some clock each possession, but continue to try to score - just a change in tactics gentlemen, not a change in the overall goal: to win. To you guys I ask - is there any point in the development of a person where you consider sportmanship important? If not, would celebrating an injury of an opponent be acceptable? Not exactly a fair comparison, but the tough-guy certitude, sportmanship is for pussies schtick does merit the question. I hate the Dallas Cowboys (absolutely hate them), yet I think it was classless when Philly fans (my team) cheered that Michael Irvin had been injured & carted off the field. Just curious where it ends for you?

I swear if you don't stop this, I'll turn this car around!
You are in trouble mister, big trouble!

lol, anyway, it's just amazing to score that many pts in a game with kids, must have been lay-ups.

For what it's worth, I was a third stringer on a crappy football team and a great basketball team (average athlete at best!). I've been on both sides of it...lost 78-0 in football once. You know what? I got up the next day and went to the weight room with the rest of the team. The world didn't end. We weren't angry at the other team, we were embarrassed at ourselves. We knew we weren't going to win, but we had expected to do better than we did. It was our fault, not theirs. On the flip side, it was rare when I got put in the basketball games, but when I did coach let us play our normal game. If I would have got put in the game, but coach told us to make 15 passes before we shot, that wouldn't be fair to me and my "less skilled" teammates. We work just as hard in practice and should be allowed to play the game the way we practice it. I bet if you ask any of the Lee players they'll tell you they didn't get the job done...not that the other team should have let up. Sounds like the Lee coach can't handle the dent to his ego. He would have been better off manning up and saying they didn't get it done than whining about being disrespected.

When I was young, I played basketball. Averaged 20 pts a game, 4 block shots, and a dozen rebounds. If my parents arent Asian, I may have been able to take it to a higher level instead of becoming an engineer. I remember when our team would win by 10 pts, then 20, then we aim for 30. People think the more points you win the better, but it aint true. When we win by 28 pts, no one is happy, I remember feeling pissed off and angry because we didn't get that 30. It was then I realized that I no longer play for the game, I no longer enjoy the sport, I became something else and I hated it. I remember how sweet it was when we would win a game by 10, the redemption of our hardwork. But when score is the only thing that matters, it is just pride and greed.

Sure kids are soft these days, and we want to teach them that life is unfair. But you know? It is attitudes like that which continues to make life unfair for everyone, in fact making it worse for everyone. When we forget to live for one another, forget our social responsibilities, then we let go of the very thing that makes us human. Bank of America filed for bankruptsy, devastated their employees and shareholders... and the CEO retires with 50 million in pocket. Life is unfair because we allowed it to be unfair, by continue to preach "tough luck, kid" "deal with it" and continue to glorify pompous greedy selfish jackasses.

I fault Houston or whichever school district these schools reside in. These teams should have never been in the same league when clearly they are not appropriate competition for each other. Oh, and since when do we chastise kids for hard work, dedication and never giving up? I suppose these Lee supporters are also grumbling about how unfair it is that they did not receive the big promotions at work or why their senior management make such large bonuses. Put on your big boy or big girl pants and stop making excuses!! I can't stand the entitlement argument. Earn your rewards the old fashioned way - WORK HARD FOR THEM!! Lee didn't deserve to do any better than they did.

For what it's worth, I was a third stringer on a crappy football team and a great basketball team (average athlete at best!). I've been on both sides of it...lost 78-0 in football once. You know what? I got up the next day and went to the weight room with the rest of the team. The world didn't end. We weren't angry at the other team, we were embarrassed at ourselves. We knew we weren't going to win, but we had expected to do better than we did. It was our fault, not theirs. On the flip side, it was rare when I got put in the basketball games, but when I did coach let us play our normal game. If I would have got put in the game, but coach told us to make 15 passes before we shot, that wouldn't be fair to me and my "less skilled" teammates. We work just as hard in practice and should be allowed to play the game the way we practice it. I bet if you ask any of the Lee players they'll tell you they didn't get the job done...not that the other team should have let up. Sounds like the Lee coach can't handle the dent to his ego. He would have been better off manning up and saying they didn't get it done than whining about being disrespected.

A loser is not someone who loses a game, or even loses every game in a season, or a job or a marriage or anything. The loser is the one who loses and quits without persevering to win someday. This could have been a 'coachable moment' for the losing coach and his players, but not when you blame the winners for playing too well. Then you just made yourself and everyone on your team victims. Good luck succeeding at anything in life with that point of view. Isn't the point of school sports to teach kids how to live their lives? Epic fail Coach Armant. Time to 'move the team in a new direction' as they say...

For what it's worth, I was a third stringer on a crappy football team and a great basketball team (average athlete at best!). I've been on both sides of it...lost 78-0 in football once. You know what? I got up the next day and went to the weight room with the rest of the team. The world didn't end. We weren't angry at the other team, we were embarrassed at ourselves. We knew we weren't going to win, but we had expected to do better than we did. It was our fault, not theirs. On the flip side, it was rare when I got put in the basketball games, but when I did coach let us play our normal game. If I would have got put in the game, but coach told us to make 15 passes before we shot, that wouldn't be fair to me and my "less skilled" teammates. We work just as hard in practice and should be allowed to play the game the way we practice it. I bet if you ask any of the Lee players they'll tell you they didn't get the job done...not that the other team should have let up. Sounds like the Lee coach can't handle the dent to his ego. He would have been better off manning up and saying they didn't get it done than whining about being disrespected.

I'm a big sports fan!!! I have played many sports in my day!!! With this coach putting in his 3rd string, yes let them score at will, but with the press....that's questionable??? Even though the kids want to show coach what they can do, in this type of game, let the kids go ahead and rack up the points...lay off the full court press though...if they want to show coach what they can do, then do it in practice!!! Whats the saying: "Practice makes Perfect"

Maybe i am just getting old or i grew up in a time when people had class, But this is the sorriest bunch of excuses i have ever heard for just plain common (low class behavior)Hey next week lets go beet up on the kids at the blind school. What i can't believe is that we actually have to say these folks have no class. It is a given!! would Dean Smith run up a score on someone like that..no he never did because he had class!! as for this loser coach! you think any major university will ever take notice to him..maybe!! but just to say what a jack ass!!!

When I was young, I played basketball. Averaged 20 pts a game, 4 block shots, and a dozen rebounds. If my parents arent Asian, I may have been able to take it to a higher level instead of becoming an engineer. I remember when our team would win by 10 pts, then 20, then we aim for 30. People think the more points you win the better, but it aint true. When we win by 28 pts, no one is happy, I remember feeling pissed off and angry because we didn't get that 30. It was then I realized that I no longer play for the game, I no longer enjoy the sport, I became something else and I hated it. I remember how sweet it was when we would win a game by 10, the redemption of our hardwork. But when score is the only thing that matters, it is just pride and greed.

Sure kids are soft these days, and we want to teach them that life is unfair. But you know? It is attitudes like that which continues to make life unfair for everyone, in fact making it worse for everyone. When we forget to live for one another, forget our social responsibilities, then we let go of the very thing that makes us human. Bank of America filed for bankruptsy, devastated their employees and shareholders... and the CEO retires with 50 million in pocket. Life is unfair because we allowed it to be unfair, by continue to preach "tough luck, kid" "deal with it" and continue to glorify pompous greedy selfish jack@sses.

The kids that are actually participating in an extracurricular activity are not the "softies" that need life lessons. They are trying to do something productive with their extra time. They may not have near the skill of the other team, but they are still practicing and putting in the time after school (which could be spent doing less productive things). No athlete deserves to be embarrassed like this for the hard work they are putting in everyday after school. "Life is tough get use to it", might have been the lesson people want sent. But the real lesson here is kick people when their down. The message should have been win with class and integrity. Neither of which the winning team displayed. I'm not saying lay down and win by only ten, I'm saying put the third string in the first half let them press, and then see what happens. I'm sure they were up by fifty early in the first half.

Winning coach was right for playing third string, wrong for continuing to press. And your a Jacka$$ for making this discussion political!

A loser is not someone who loses a game, or even loses every game in a season, or a job or a marriage or anything. The loser is the one who loses and quits without persevering to win someday. This could have been a 'coachable moment' for the losing coach and his players, but not when you blame the winners for playing too well. Then you just made yourself and everyone on your team victims. Good luck succeeding at anything in life with that point of view. Isn't the point of school sports to teach kids how to live their lives? Epic fail Coach Armant. Time to 'move the team in a new direction' as they say...

A loser is not someone who loses a game, or even loses every game in a season, or a job or a marriage or anything. The loser is the one who loses and quits without persevering to win someday. This could have been a 'coachable moment' for the losing coach and his players, but not when you blame the winners for playing too well. Then you just made yourself and everyone on your team victims. Good luck succeeding at anything in life with that point of view. Isn't the point of school sports to teach kids how to live their lives? Epic fail Coach Armant. Time to 'move the team in a new direction' as they say...

Competitive sports on any level is about winning. It should not matter if there are kids or adults playing. Whether you win by one point of 135 points, it's still a win. People who whine about things not being fair are the same ones who relish the ridiculous "Participation" ribbons they were doled out in grade school for taking part in Track & Field day or some other malarky like that. Sack up and box out if you don't want to lose the game!

Competitive sports on any level is about winning. It should not matter if there are kids or adults playing. Whether you win by one point of 135 points, it's still a win. People who whine about things not being fair are the same ones who relish the ridiculous "Participation" ribbons they were doled out in grade school for taking part in Track & Field day or some other malarky like that. Sack up and box out if you don't want to lose the game!

A loser is not someone who loses a game, or even loses every game in a season, or a job or a marriage or anything. The loser is the one who loses and quits without persevering to win someday. This could have been a 'coachable moment' for the losing coach and his players, but not when you blame the winners for playing too well. Then you just made yourself and everyone on your team victims. Good luck succeeding at anything in life with that point of view. Isn't the point of school sports to teach kids how to live their lives? Epic fail Coach Armant. Time to 'move the team in a new direction' as they say...

When I was young, I played basketball. Averaged 20 pts a game, 4 block shots, and a dozen rebounds. If my parents arent Asian, I may have been able to take it to a higher level instead of becoming an engineer. I remember when our team would win by 10 pts, then 20, then we aim for 30. People think the more points you win the better, but it aint true. When we win by 28 pts, no one is happy, I remember feeling pissed off and angry because we didn't get that 30. It was then I realized that I no longer play for the game, I no longer enjoy the sport, I became something else and I hated it. I remember how sweet it was when we would win a game by 10, the redemption of our hardwork. But when score is the only thing that matters, it is just pride and greed.

Sure kids are soft these days, and we want to teach them that life is unfair. But you know? It is attitudes like that which continues to make life unfair for everyone, in fact making it worse for everyone. When we forget to live for one another, forget our social responsibilities, then we let go of the very thing that makes us human. Bank of America filed for bankruptsy, devastated their employees and shareholders... and the CEO retires with 50 million in pocket. Life is unfair because we allowed it to be unfair, by continue to preach "tough luck, kid" "deal with it" and continue to glorify pompous greedy selfish jackasses.

The kids that are actually participating in an extracurricular activity are not the "softies" that need life lessons. They are trying to do something productive with their extra time. They may not have near the skill of the other team, but they are still practicing and putting in the time after school (which could be spent doing less productive things). No athlete deserves to be embarrassed like this for the hard work they are putting in everyday after school. "Life is tough get use to it", might have been the lesson people want sent. But the real lesson here is kick people when their down. The message should have been win with class and integrity. Neither of which the winning team displayed. I'm not saying lay down and win by only ten, I'm saying put the third string in the first half let them press, and then see what happens. I'm sure they were up by fifty early in the first half.

SIG570, Yates is an inner-city public school. And I've never seen a baseball game where one team is blowing out the other and the reserves for the winning team come into the game and only take one base at a time. They are still swinging for the fences! Some of these students' only chance to go to higher education may be via an athletic scholarship, and if this is how they have to punch the ticket, are you really going to condemn them for trying to get to college? Maybe they can change basketball to be like volleyball or tennis where you have a maximum score that you can achieve to win. Then this wouldn't be an issue.

Yates High School coach is wrong in every way and if you agree with him you are wrong too. I have coached for many many years and there is a time when you let up on a team that is way behind. The excuse that the third line needs to play is just that, an excuse for being a overzealous coach. Most all High school coaches will agree that you don't over score on fellow teams no matter what sport you play. It's almost written in the handbook they give you the first season you coach. But... their is always that one coach that didn't get the message and that's Yates High School coach. I know there is even parents and kids on that team that would agree too. Is Yates High School coach a real basketball coach?? I don't think so!!

I coached twenty five years of youth basketball, I know.

Coach Jim

SIG570, Yates is an inner-city public school. And I've never seen a baseball game where one team is blowing out the other and the reserves for the winning team come into the game and only take one base at a time. They are still swinging for the fences! Some of these students' only chance to go to higher education may be via an athletic scholarship, and if this is how they have to punch the ticket, are you really going to condemn them for trying to get to college? Maybe they can change basketball to be like volleyball or tennis where you have a maximum score that you can achieve to win. Then this wouldn't be an issue.

When I was young, I played basketball. Averaged 20 pts a game, 4 block shots, and a dozen rebounds. If my parents arent Asian, I may have been able to take it to a higher level instead of becoming an engineer. I remember when our team would win by 10 pts, then 20, then we aim for 30. People think the more points you win the better, but it aint true. When we win by 28 pts, no one is happy, I remember feeling pissed off and angry because we didn't get that 30. It was then I realized that I no longer play for the game, I no longer enjoy the sport, I became something else and I hated it. I remember how sweet it was when we would win a game by 10, the redemption of our hardwork. But when score is the only thing that matters, it is just pride and greed.

Sure kids are soft these days, and we want to teach them that life is unfair. But you know? It is attitudes like that which continues to make life unfair for everyone, in fact making it worse for everyone. When we forget to live for one another, forget our social responsibilities, then we let go of the very thing that makes us human. Bank of America filed for bankruptsy, devastated their employees and shareholders... and the CEO retires with 50 million in pocket. Life is unfair because we allowed it to be unfair, by continue to preach "tough luck, kid" "deal with it" and continue to glorify pompous greedy selfish jackasses.

There are good arguments for both sides of this story and really there isn't a real good answer. Sports and life are extremely competitive. To the people who said the winning coach was more concerned about his ego and himself then his team.. well yes. He's ambitious and will probably go on to coach College.

From last year's record it looks like he is a more than competent coach and he will probably turn out players to move on to College Basketball where if they don't go pro they have an opportunity in life to go to school and better themselves.

As far as the losing side's point of view.. sometimes I love a good blow out but I can't help but feel some compassion for the atrocious beating they took. It's part of sports and I agree to the guy who mentioned it's just like Capitalism in America. Let's stop a Corporation that is widely known from destroying mom and pop stores right? Not going to happen. Everywhere I go I can get a Big Mac(Not that I'd want one) and just about anything I need at Wal Mart while no one cares that their employees are paid little to nothing and have to work on all major holidays besides Christmas.

It's just the way life is. The younger someone learns this the better off they are at being prepared for life. I just long for the day when Presidential debates are brought to us by Doctor Pepper and Geiko. :)

Easy. Throw a towel out on the floor. Your kids are embarassed enough with a 70 point deficit.
The coach is a whining moron.

Wow...

the winning team should feel good about their win, why should they be denied a victory (especially playing with your least talented players). As someone above said, why should the winning coach have to stop the game, that isn't his job? If it was such a big deal, the losing coach should have grown a pair, told his guys (or taken a vote from the team) about forfeiting or if they wanted to continue at the risk of a severe beating, if the coach was inspiring his team, they should want to try to hang in there. Further, if it was so poor judgement and the losing coach is too busy sobbing in the locker room the referee should have done the job they were tasked with and called the game...

What lesson is to be learned from crying about losing other that help promote that you dont need to give it your all. There are many times in history (i.e. WWI and WWII) that we and our allies have been on the losing end, where would Britain have been if they gave in to the Nazi's "sorry, you're too good for us, we give in you win", no it was to die with honor for King and Country! Obviously this is just a game, but when things have you done you persevere through hardship, struggle and having to work that much harder, instead everyone has to win, in life you don't often get a free pass.

To add further insult to injury, the LOSING team started a fight, "In the third quarter, a fight erupted after an intentional foul was called on a Lee player", so the losing team had a failure of leadership. I disagree about the coach and the team, maybe that was the best he had to work with this year on talent, sometimes life deals you a bad hand but its evident that they were unable to hold it together and further had no leader, coach or team captian no less to pull the team together, even losing with together, as a team and with diginity and honor.

This coach comes off as a bully and probably beats his own kids in sports severely. he soesn't deserve to be around youths as an example of anything. But then again this is Texas and they think they can bully nanyone anytime.

Learning to keep your composure while losing is a life skill too. It sounds like a bunch of sniveling sore losers to me, and being a sore loser is least sportsmanlike quality an athlete can have. The whole point of the game is to win! That's what these people trained to do. Instead of whining the losers should practice their game some more. Somebody has to come in last.

I remember playing point guard in high school in Columbia,S.C. My sophomore,junior, and senior years at W.J. Keenan high school beat the absolute heck out of a school in Sumter,S.C. - HillCrest. We were nationally ranked back then, something like 14th or 18th in the country. I can't remember if the coach kept the 1st string out of the game, but it didn't matter. Each year we beat HillCrest by 40 or 50 or so points.
The weird thing is that there was a kid on that HillCrest team that took those beatings each and every time, yet he and HillCrest absorbed the beatings and got better.I think the year after I graduated from Keenan(1992), HillCrest won not one but back to back state championships. That kid went on to play exceptional college basketball as well as some of his high school team mates.
To this day I wonder if Ray Allen would have continued to work as hard as he did to be as good as he turned out to be if his team didn't take the drubbings they did.
This is no lie, research his high school years between 1991 and 1994. Losing 170 - 35 is embarrassing, yet it doesn't matter if Yates intended to score 200(or anything else they intended to do).

The Lee H.S. coach should show true strong leadership.Accept the challenge and use this loss as starting point in which they work to turn things around.This is no longer about what the Yates players and coaches could have done to ease the sting, but about what Lee basketball needs to do to be competitive and win.
The Lee H.S. coach also needs to remind his kids that no matter what the circumstances, they are not to physically harm anyone.

The score is ridiculous.

So is the sportsmanship.

I've coached basketball for years, at a lower level and there is a lot you can do to keep the score down. First stop pressing. It does NOT give your team much practice for a close game, if you are stealing the ball virtually every possession.

This examplifies the reasons for global Us contempt/ Just substitute some
countries ie Granada- Nicauraga ,Columbia et al- for Lee high school
Are we as a people capable of - aw forget it we"re DOOMED

Unreal. Unreal. You are all so politically correct that you will even try to intrude that thinking on competitive sports. Save that notion for things that are not competitive. You have to know when to apply your social skills and being polite. I am a nice guy, but when I do something competitive I don't think win-win ... that is a misapplication of a positive character trait to think win-win in a competitive game. Think for yourselves people.

Is this REAlly news?? The media needs to get their priorites straight!! This is high school basketball. Not really that big of a deal when compared with someone trying to kill 300 people. Or 100,000.00 of thousands hungery people in America. Or so many troops dieying everyday to 'secure' other countries, despite the fact, they really don't enjoy our interference. Or, my special fav.... health care WITHOUT a public option!! What's the point?? If there's enoung money to pay for endless wars, there's enoungh to cover my mamogram. It's my taxes. I want a voice in how it's invested.

I have to say, the Lee coach is the one setting the bad example for the kids. If you get beat bad, whine & cry as loud as you can? What kind of message is that? Dude, you got spanked, it happens in life. And when it does, you go back to the drawing board and practice longer & harder and make sure it doesn't happen again.

I'm sure the Lee players will have a bad taste in their mouth from this beating the rest of their lives and the smart ones will work hard to be as best prepared (in every aspect of their lives) so it never happens again.

socially inept? you are tacking a positive trait such as kindness and win-win thinking and misapplying it to a competitive situation. You need to think before you speak. HS sports, JH sports, playstation, it doesn't matter ... if it is a competitive the you apply a win-lose mentality ... that is the correct mentality for a competitive situation. OMG. Think people.

Just like a Lufkin football game when the Panthers were up 44 to 7 with 3min to go. (PS It was a JV game.) The only difference was that not all the kids on the the Panther team got to play. The coach just wanted to run up the score. The other players practice all week, get hit and run laps, but are not worth putting in the game for even one down. Just a sample of what is wrong with some coaches. GO LUFKIN!

What is really pathetic is how many on here are defending the "winning" coach. One of the things that is supposed to be taught in high school (and beyond) athletics is sportsmanship. Continuing to employ the full court press when the score is 100-12 (and worse) certainly does not teach sportsmanship. I am more disappointed in the fact that most of the people on this blog support this action than the fact that it happened. Shame on you all.

What hasn't been done well above is that both sides have culpability for the way the game was handled.

Both schools have the right to play, the right to win and the right to lose.

Yates could have handled how the second half of the game was played better, using it as some have suggested as a way to work on diiferent aspects of offense/defense without putting the win at risk. Pushing competitiveness is not a sin; winning is not a sin; Yates won fairly and didn't cheat - no sin; having a blow-out is not a sin; intentionally humiliating others when unnecessary is a little more difficult to defend. In war and in business, we work to defeat enemies/competitors, but I would hope that it doesn't mean we decimate them or obliterate them.

As for Lee, the coach there has the responsibility to protect his players. Just like a general has to know when to retreat or a company needs to know when it needs to rethink its product line to protect profits (and hopefully, ethically, jobs), he could have and should have forfeited. He was not disrespected by the Yates coach; he disrespected his players by not being adult enough to throw in the towel and use it as a teachable moment in recognizing where you are and what you have to do to do better in the future.

The onus was on Yates to win ethically, but NOT to give the other team a chance to catch up. It was also not the responsibliity of Yates to end the game.

The onus was on Lee's coach to recognize that the team had no chance of winning and to forfeit at halftime.

A lot of comments can be summed up "If you can't compete get off the court".

The same is true for AIG, GM, Chrysler, Citi Corp and BOA. If you can't compete file Chapter 7 or 11 but quit whining. I wonder how many UAW card carriers support the idiot coach who wouldn't tell his moron players to back off and burn up the clock.

The US has become a country of pinheads.

Hey, It's Texas for gods sake. Just like here in Florida only dumber.

It is one thing to play to win and another to play to embarrass. I coached high school Water Polo for several years while in college. One game I knew the opponent was much weaker than my team. I put my starters in for one quarter. After a quick 8-0 lead I put in my second and third string players. At half time I informed them there would be no more picks and no more 4 meter shots. They were to work on passing and their outside game. We still played to win, but I did not want to embarrass the other team. We ended up winning 17-2. A convincing win by any standard. We could of easily ran the score over 30 had I allowed my team to play an inside game. But what good would that of been. By making them work on the outside game they actually improved their skills for when we played another team that was good at defending the 4 meter game.

That's teachin em, when the goin gets tough lets pack up our bags and run like crazy!!!

Funny how you don't see this in Pro Sports. Football teams don't keep using the all out pass when there up by 30, sure they run ball and use different plays they have. Same as in Basketball, never have I seen a college ro pro team keep running the press or always have the gas on when there up by 30+. Sure they keep playting but they always slow the pace down. Bully is right, keep on kicking the opposition when there down is something good to teach the kids.

Imagine how much of an ass you'll be when telling people you blew the other team by 120+ points.

How does everyone miss the point the coach wanted his non starters to learn and play the defense he has set up. You practice and play to win(PERIOD)If I practiced the proper customer service skills everyday and am shining above my coworkers, am I suposed to start giving crappy CS to make my coworkers not look as bad? liberals ane not able to use logical thinking.

put the last one in there for fun : )

What more could the coach have done but to tell his kids to go out and sit down in the middle of the floor and let the other team have shooting practice.

Yates has taught his team that "beat them when they're down" is justified just because they're not strong enough to beat you.

At some point, winning for pride's sake should take a backseat to honor and sportsmanship. These concepts must be taught to young people who don't have this discipline on their own.

I can think of lot's of people who fundamentally disagree that this kind of moral compass is important: some bankers, some politicians, criminals...and now coach Yates.

He's done a great disservice to his players.

ah, sounds a lot like "life" grasshoppers. The good news: much character grows from these experiences. I agree with the coach, as much as it would crush me if it were my son on the losing team. When my son eventually grew up and became a father himself, at 30 (which he is now) he will know how to prepare his son for these disappointments, had he been on the other team. There's a reasons all these particular boys were on the court, today. Ultimately they'll all be winners from this experience. Congrats to the winners and a respectful "Salute" to the players on the other team for following through and staying on the court~!

there are inequities on all levels of the playing field, whether HS or pro. Just because a player on either team is good enough to make the team does not GUARANTEE them that they will play or how much they will play. However, the player owes it to the integrity of the game and their own integrity that when he/she DOES get in the game that he/she makes a good honest effort at playing.
But this really has nothing to do with the players. It concerns the coach(es). For the coach of the team getting blown out, forfeiting is the LAST thing they would want to do. By forfeiting they are not even giving their kids the chance to play the game-whether they are capable of competing or not. Even though they are not on the same plane as the other team, at least they are playing and giving effort. For the coach of the winning team: the score was 100-12 at HALFTIME. He could have played his third stringers and just let them play a normal game instead of pressing after every possession like it was a two point game....and at least not shove it in the other team's face.

Nah, this is wrong.

Many high schools are completely outnumbered. My son's school is 1/4th the size of other schools. Some schools can field 80 high school foot ball players in each of the Freshman, JV and Varsity teams. My son's team has 15-17 in the program.

My boy still had a winning season, but there is no point in getting stomped by a 80 person team and racking up the points against exhausted kids. Once your up 20 or more call it or bring your benchers in.

Jason, you are right on! I have coached kids for years and would never run a score up like that because I could. Many of the comments supporting such action in high school sport are as moronic as the coach's tortured rationale.

No one should take the loss personally. If you can beat the other team by a huge margin, then why not? What's to stop you? It's not bad sportsmanship to play your hardest. People who are criticizing the win should put themselves in the shoes of the coach and players. They train very hard to be the best and they should show that off in a game.

If I was the opposing coach I would have called a time out with 30 seconds left. I would then instuct my team to walk off the court and forfeit the game. The score would not count towards the record if they had done that.

What I'd do is investigate the academics, the residence registrations and even birth certificates. The winning coach thinks it is about winning and everything is fair more than likely some rules have been bent.

No mention is made of the physical attributes of the players of the two teams. Some kids are taller and some kids are faster. As I recall one guiding rule in Basketball is you can't coach height.

My son's high School basketball 1A team played a private school from Houston (one of their players made it to the NBA). . .Their 7 foot player didn't make the trip. . . there was no doubt as to who would win. Our team was a good 1A team. . . their's was a Great team from Houston.

All the kids played hard and the score was one sided but not humiliating. After the game their team put on a Slam Dunk show. . .one of their players jumped over one of ours on his way to the basket. . . .(our guy was about 5'5" the Leaper about 6'8"). . . the crowd loved the game and all the players had a good time.

Good High School Coaching should be about more than just winning. Their coach understood it. . . . Yate's coach doesn't have a clue.

For those of you defending the losing coach and saying that the winning team should've stopped playing, it's obvious that you are the type of Liberal hippies that are totally politically correct and who are ruining this country.

While playing sports may be about having fun and playing a game, the main point of it is to compete and, ultimately, to win. If a team loses, so be it. There will always be a winning side and a losing side. Some games go well. Others don't. However, for a team to be expected to stop playing because they are thrashing another team is the kind of carebear attitude that is being fostered and pushed onto our kids and it's making them into spoiled wussies. Maybe the department heads at Lee High need to re-evaluate who they have coaching and leading its kids. After all, this is high-school and there are kids who want to get into college using sports. Why should they give up playing their A-game just because the other team can't compete?

It's called "survival of the fittest" for a reason, folks. If you can't handle that, then maybe you should do some reflection and re-evaluation of your own lives. Life doesn't care if you think things are unfair.

Yates High did nothing wrong in showing up and putting forth their effort. They clearly deserved the victory. If Lee High decided that they weren't going to show up and play, then they could've always forfeited. I guess they should've, in this case.

What the heck lesson did this idiot teach his players?? How to behave like a total ASS and moron and then be proud and expect approval. We have more than enough of his kind of mentors around. 99+% of his players are never going to see a first rate college bench, let alone the pros. Wasn't 100-35 good enough? You just needed more. Your stupid team gained nothing, but lost any hint of class or pride they might get from a real contest. It's sad to see he has so many fans to make justifications for him. All this crap about 'that is how life is' and so on is BS to justify having no scruples or ethics. I realize he was not actually breaking the rules here, but if you raise your kid to be a star without a sense of empathy for the other guy, you are a complete and utter failure at the most important job you have.

Just check the sports pages (and the front pages)- what ever gets the job done. Screw fairplay, honesty. What's breaking the rules if you don't get caught. A little under the table to keep the kid eligible, get someone to do his work---what ever it takes.

Coach what did you ever win? Why did your team not win any championships? How many times did a team run the score up on you and the other way around?

Why are you not coaching anymore?

It is pretty obvious, that the coach knew they were going to beat the other team, if they were talking about scoring 200 pts. on the other team in the bus.

All I see is a pathetic attempt to boost one coaches ego.

There were a lot of options for that "winning" coach. Put the 2nd and third team in before the half, have them work on their zone d, or man to man. They played an obviously greatly inferior team.
And to blow them out that badly with a press the entire game, was and is ridiculous, and showed a total lack of sportsmanship.

All he taught his player that night, was how to be bullies.

No more, no less.

Pathetic.

While there is nothing wrong with winning, and there is nothing wrong with losing, there is something very wrong when sportsmanship takes a back seat in a game.

This is the type of coach that builds PRO Players like Arenas. They feel they can to anything they want to do.

I wonder if he normally uses a zone defense or a man to man but the team needed work on the press? Could the coach of said the press is where we need the most work across the board and that will be the defense we run against this team?

Eric_35 - you're an idiot. I'm not a liberal hippie. In fact, I'm about as conservative as a person can get. But political views have nothing to do with this. It's about honor and sportsmanship - of which the Yates coach has neither.

While I agree you never reign in the kids or tell them to ease up, there is absolutely no justification to keep pressing. Continuing to press with a 100-12 point lead at the half is completely on the coach shows absolutely ZERO class.

Eric_35 - you're an idiot. I'm not a liberal hippie. In fact, I'm about as conservative as a person can get. But political views have nothing to do with this. It's about honor and sportsmanship - of which the Yates coach has neither.

While I agree you never reign in the kids or tell them to ease up, there is absolutely no justification to keep pressing. Continuing to press with a 100-12 point lead at the half is completely on the coach shows absolutely ZERO class.

after the end of the second quarter, only second string should be playing and after the end of the third quarter only the third string.

This coach, principal and school board should not be allowed to be within 1000 yards of children, much the same as child molesters/sex offenders. This game is tantamount to child abuse. I don't see how anyone connected to this HS and its basketball team could show their face to anyone in the next (at least) few weeks. The new name of the school should be "Yates Sportsmanship HS" Houston TX. If I were Houston, I'd reverse the annexation that put this district into Houston. I'm ashamed for this coach, AD, principal and myself for living on this planet with them.

The Yates coach should be fired - plain and simple - the man is a moron and he sending the wrong message. Lets fire Eric_35 too

If you keep score I am going to try my best to win. But I will not try to embarrass the other team in the process. Full court press after a 100-12 start. This coach is an a$$ and so is anyone that agrees with him.

You all talk big until..........your kid is on the losing end.

But then its a different story.

What has been lost in this country is common sense, and fair play. This notion that all kids get trophies, so they deserve to get the heads bashed in - is preposterous.

The coach is a douche. And most of you are morons.

This coach may think he won........ In the eyes of many, he lost. I'm sure he taught his own players more than he's bargained for..... He's lost the respect of many.

In many sports it often happens one team out classes the other. In kids softball or baseball there is a run rule. If the other team is getting beat badly the game is called. Why can't that happen in high school basketball. It was very obvious the under dog team was never going to catch up. I say call the game when it is obvious and keep kids from being hurt or humulated. Having coached kids before, you can only be as good as the raw talent you are teaching. Don't let situations like this get to the extreme. Do what is fair and move on.

"Could the coach of said the press is where we need the most work across the board and that will be the defense we run against this team?"

Could he "of said"???? Do you speak English much? You're an idiot.

I keep reading these posts about how Yates should've showed "class" and should've "eased up" while playing. I wonder to myself if these people who say this would've done the same thing if they were in that situation. Yes, the score was a blow-out. It's not the first time it's happened and, I'm sure, will not be the last. If nothing else, maybe the ref should've called the game. Maybe there should be a "mercy" rule in place, kind of like a ten-run rule in some extracurricular sports.

Yates came in and played hard. Lee didn't. Lee further showed a lack of discipline by fighting. In my opinion, they got the shellacking that they deserved.

To the people defending Lee....would you personally have "eased up" on your opponents? It's so easy to be a Monday morning quarterback and criticize a team for its decisions. It's a lot different when you're out on the field, on the court, on the ice, etc. Who's to say that the Yates kids themselves didn't want to decimate their opponents? After all, the kids could've eased up. They are the ones playing the game...not the coach. It seems to me that the kids put in the effort to squash Lee.

Unforunatly with most coaches in every sport in school its all about the coach .He has his kids play to win and will do whatever he can to achieve that end result .Kids who come to practice every time they are required will sit on the bench while other who do not come regularly will play .Chances are none will ever play colledge sports of any kind .Hmmmmm the team who scored 170 points should forfiet the game and the coach should be banded from coaching basketball .Its a bad message to our children .

There are some organizations out there some of you might of heard of. Little league( 10 run rule) Pop Warner football ( 4 touchdown rule) Class leagues that have withstood the test of time. This jackass wouldn't be allowed to coach in either. There is more to sports than just winning. I am the father of 4 boys and 1 of them is extremely gifted athletically and will be playing college sports at a high level. I wouldn't allow him to play for a jackass like this. He has had some fine coaches and this guy isn't fit to carry their jockstraps! He pushed his kids to get 100 by halftime. I wonder if he pushes his kids to get 100 in the classroom. I betcha he doesn't.

I was both on the basketball team and Captain of the Chess Team in HS. I can tell you beyond a shadow of a doubt that I learned more from my losses then I ever did from my wins. I remember in basketball we were down by about 30 points and we started to halfazz it and give up. Coach Davies called a time-out, pulled us all in and lit a fire under us. He taught us that you never give up and to make them earn it. We went back out and gave it our all. We still lost by about 40 points, but you didn't hear us belly-ache about it. We all just decided that it wasn't going to happen again. We just started practicing harder. The next year we came back and beat that same team.

If nothing else, look at Micheal Jordon. He didn't make his HS team. He spent the next year practicing, made the team, and then became one of the best players in history. What would have happened if they just patted him on the head and said "It's OK, everyone makes the team" "We just care that you feel good about yourself"

Yes, douchebag, I would have eased up. Teams at the high school level are often not even close to evenly matched.

Oh, and apparently Lee managed to "show a lack of discipline" by fighting. Who do you think they were fighting, brainiac?

You're a nitwit.

Why don't they have a "mercy" rule that calls the game after so many points ahead at a certain time?

The coach of the losing team should be fired not for losing so bad but for allowing his team to suffer that humiliaton. He should have walked off at half time and forefited the game. Just tell the other team your tired and walke off but deny them the record.

What a douche-bag!

As someone who participated in college sports and the martial arts I can firmly attest to the 'thrill of victory'. You want the teams to go out and do their utmost to win and in the face of an overwhelming opponent still fight with everything they have. I personally commend the players of the two teams for a) putting forth the effort to break scoring records and b) for still being able to still score and not walk out despite taking a public 'flogging'.

With that said, I have faced opponents who have been inferior to me in skill and only made an effort to 'embarrass' them if they shot their mouth off prior to a match. Even then no matter what the sport I never made an effort to obliterate a weaker opponent. You teach children (highschool students are children still) to play the game fairly to their best ability but remain humble and magnanimous in victory or defeat. The goal is to encourage your opponent to 'step up their game' for next time. In sports you grow from overcoming the strength of your opponents not from grinding them into the dust.

I think that the coach was correct in putting his team out there to win. That's expected. However, saturation bombing of an opponent who was clearly outclassed early in the game was dishonorable. His attitude afterward was also dishonorable and the example he set for his charges was shameful. Honor and the act of treating our fellows in an honorable fashion is the only thing separating us from the beasts in the field. If nothing else, treating a defeated opponent honorably makes them less likely to want to kill you.

In my sons' travel soccer league, the rule is that if a team is up more than five goals, they take a player out, and continue to take players out as the difference increases. My sons' coaches, who are determined that their players learn sportsmanship, both go the extra mile and take out not just a player, but the player who scored the goal. Both the boys' teams are very, very good, (and, incidentally, are the only co-ed teams in their respective divisions), so this rule gets invoked pretty often. And I suppose it can be nearly as humilating for the other team to be unable to score when they are playing against only a goalkeeper as to lose by a huge margin. But my boys have learned that their victories mean more to them when they are competitively won, and they have learned that compassion is more than just a feeling, but a way of life expressed in action.

Yates scored 5 times more than Lee did. The Yates coach wasn't trying to give his 2 and 3rd teams a chance to compete. He could do that with another team. Not the Lee team who were obviously not as talented as the Yates team. All the Yates coach accomplished was humiliating and embarrassing a less talented group of boys and their coach, whom I'm sure works really hard with the kids he has.

Hey Greg

Anybody ever tell you you are a moron? Huh? Nobody learns "how to lose' from taking a drubbing like that you idiot. Sports are supposed to be fun, and a learning experience to a certain degree. It's fools like you that cause kids to leave sports and make the entire experience meaningless for ALL involved, winners and losers.

You know what I learned when I tried sports in high school and got the bloody hell beaten out of me? I learned that, although I REALLY suck at sports, I'm great at other things. That's a part of life.

The winning team not only went to play, but they went to win, and that's good. The losing team realized that sometimes life doesn't feel very fair. This was a great learning experience for the losing team and their coach. They learned that if they don't want to be humiliated like that again, they'll practice harder and learn to adapt to "unfair" play.

The supporters of the losing team can whine and cry all they want to about how unfair and dishonorable this was, but the truth is, that's life. Our kids need to learn to deal with loss and disappointment honorably because they're not going to be winners at everything.

A lot of people here seem to have a lot to say about the winning team. What about the loosing coach? Why did he not throw in the towel. It is his responsibility to prepare his team and throw in the towel. I wonder what everyone would be saying if the other team did not bother to play the second half

So many adult retards tonight. My goodness, I can't believe this "kids are soft today" stuff. "You tell em grandpa". Are most of you really that stupid. The "winning" coach has serious behavior issues. Guaranteed he's dealing with an assortment of personal issues, like domestic violence. His family is probably afraid of him. His team has a history of winning. That's great. But during the season they have a few competitive games, a few easy games and a couple of blowouts, most likely against a smaller school with no sports teams to brag about, maybe even a private school with all 5'8" white kids. And what do you do? You humiliate them. Deliberately. Could he have just played a half court game with his 3rd stringers, the kids that spend most of the season on the bench. That's their only chance to play for any real minutes. They work as hard as the starters but hardly ever leave the bench during a game. They deserve that opportunity to play. And the excuse the coach used is pathetic. What an arrogant, self-centered lying sack of shit.

Full court press the whole game, after an 88 point halftime lead? What kind of moron would coach like this, and what kind of morons would defend it? The world, unfortunately, is full of coaches like this. I played for a couple myself - bitter, frustrated ex-jocks living vicariously through their players. Even at age 14, I could see this. Why can't the supposed adults who insist this kind of behavior somehow teaches both teams some sort of lesson?

What about the coach for Lee High? You don't think he should have known when to throw in the towel. I am sure he would be complaining if the other team didn't bother to compete after the second quarter. The Yates team did what they were supposed to do. The other coach should have known that his team could not compete and he should have avoided further embarrassment by throwing in the towel.

So many adult retards tonight. My goodness, I can't believe this "kids are soft today" stuff. "You tell em grandpa". Are most of you really that stupid. The "winning" coach has serious behavior issues. Guaranteed he's dealing with an assortment of personal issues, like domestic violence. His family is probably afraid of him. His team has a history of winning. That's great. But during the season they have a few competitive games, a few easy games and a couple of blowouts, most likely against a smaller school with no sports teams to brag about, maybe even a private school with all 5'8" white kids. And what do you do? You humiliate them. Deliberately. Could he have just played a half court game with his 3rd stringers, the kids that spend most of the season on the bench. That's their only chance to play for any real minutes. They work as hard as the starters but hardly ever leave the bench during a game. They deserve that opportunity to play. And the excuse the coach used is pathetic. What an arrogant, self-centered lying sack of shit.

Hey Greg

Anybody ever tell you you are a moron? Huh? Nobody learns "how to lose' from taking a drubbing like that you idiot. Sports are supposed to be fun, and a learning experience to a certain degree. It's fools like you that cause kids to leave sports and make the entire experience meaningless for ALL involved, winners and losers.

Does this coach not realize the difference in situations from the time he lost a game because he asked the kids to 'put on the brakes" to this poor example of a game? As an administrator, I'd like to see him fired. No school needs this sort of example leading young minds.

Geez, I thought women were drama queens. I have been a certified athletic trainer for 10 years at the high school level. The kinds of things that happen to KIDS for the sake of a win sometimes makes me want to vomit. This is how we ruin kids by allowing them to have a mistaken sense of "right and wrong." What Yates coach did was wrong on so many levels. The sad thing that I see year after year is that very very few of these high school "all stars" have any kind of outstanding talents to make it at the upper levels. Life is so much more than about sports. Remember boys, it's a friggin' game.

I'm not going to take sides in this issue, but isn't controlling the point spread considered a bad thing? Don't college players get in trouble for that kind of behavior? I'm not suggesting that the Vegas line on this contest was Yates by 140, but the principle is the same.

Well put Tom, I agree with you..

High school sports are supposed to help kids develop their skills, foster vibrant friendships, learn about sportsmanship, build character and most of all, have a little quality fun... this game produced none of that. That is an indictment on both coaches (both should have taken action to stop the madness), and reflects a sad ethic on the part of the winning team, and the whole system of high school competitive sports. The winning team could have taken their coach aside or huddled together to agree on a way to be sportsmanlike and still challenge themselves to play well. If that character building is not a part of the system of sports in schools, then I question the value of linking this kind of activity to education, since it's really not providing the value it should provide.

The losing team will suffer humiliation both as a group and as individuals. That can be devastating for youth, and goes far beyond the "learn to take your lumps" lesson that some are suggesting would be appropriate. I was drilled and drilled to compete and it had the opposite impact, I just learned to hate the game and all it stood for. This game's result will probably discourage the underdogs from making an effort to improve, because it will appear all but hopeless. And it can hardly be a badge of pride for the winning team either. It benefits nobody to have allowed this to happen. No lessons are being learned, nobody is inspired to hit the boards a little harder. So it's all for naught.

It's sad that this was allowed to happen. There were a LOT of options to avoid it. Play a period a man-down. Play a little lighter. Mix the lines. Forfeit. Etc.

In the grand scheme of things, it's not that important an issue for the world... but honestly, if the goal is to inspire young people to achieve their best, this game was not the way to do that.

As a card carrying liberal - I must disappoint all of my kind and let you know that the onus was on the losing coach to help his team handle this loss that he must have known was coming. He could have spoken with the opposing coach prior to the game and agreed upon an 'exit' strategy. If he didn't care enough to do that then he needed to set an example of losing gracefully without grumbling. The refs should have called a conference at halftime and addressed the issue of a forfeit.

As for the 'show me the birth certificates crowd' - I have a 6'5" 14 y/o who is not the tallest nor the star player on his team by any means. It is maddening when parents/coaches complain about our team's height and prowess after they come to our club to play. These kids work very hard both on and off the court and its true - you can't coach height. Our coaches let up to avoid just this type of discontent on the part of parents and coaches who tend to take the losses much harder than the kids and react badly to any loss - close or not. Our team has passed the ball and not scored and heard complaints from parents and coaches who say that's demeaning and we should keep the ball on the court.

that is just to bad for a team to lose by that much pts

This is a matter of ethics. The reason for having school team sports is to teach children to work together in a cooperative manner for a common goal as a team, to be able to follow the rules of a sport, to have good sportsmanship and respect for your opponent, etc. This does not include humiliating your opponent, acting out anger from memories of past experiences of mistreatment, conceptualizing your opponent as the Enemy deserving of any type of malevolent behavior, etc. or even giving some vicarious "we are better than you are" ego boost to spectators in the stands. These latter things would teach them to be malevolent members of society, easily manipulated by demagogues.
Joe Paterno, one of the best coaches of all time, with almost 400 wins including 24 bowl wins, never ran up the score on any of his opponents. The current Nebraska football coach waved off his field goal unit several times in the 4th Quarter of his recent game against Arizona in an effort to not run up the score and humiliate his opponent. Some commenters to this article would have you believe that these coaches are "wimps" for doing this. I say that it only shows the values that they are trying to teach their student athletes and their greatness as coaches. I feel that most of these commenters would benefit from the study of ethics and reading the book: "Prisoners of Hate" by the multiple award winning Aaron T. Beck, M.D..

So what if Wise (insult to real coaches to call him coach) rubs it in some teams face? So what if an opposing player decides to take it out on one of the Yates players by taking out his knee when he goes up for one of his fast break lay-ups. So what if that kid loses his ride to college. Oh, kids never take things into their own hands. Who would really be at fault then Wise? The decisions made in some of these games aren't very Wise. Sorry, I couldn't resist. I'm sure the streets outside of the windows at Yates are full of great high school athletes, but what are they doing now? I agree that if he was trying different things and his team was still scoring it would be hard to complain. I don't believe in laying down, but take advantage of the situation and coach other things. Don't blame the kids for doing their best. Blame the coach for not doing his. Winning the game doesn't always make you a winner.

I agree. For Wise to be called either a coach or a teacher is an insult to all who have or still carrry that title. Coaching isn't just playing to your teams strength, but working on the weaknesses. Having coached High School age kids in travelling baseball, I always self evaluated based on player progression. And maybe it was my own ego but I took alot of pride in seeing a player do well and kowing I helped him in some way, no matter how small.

It is absolutely sickening to me how many of you are defending the Yates coach. These are kids who will now have to live with this horrible memory. You are so called adults and this is down right frightening. When there is a disparity of that much in talent level, a staff of Coach K, Phil Jackson, and the ghost of Red Aurebach could not have helped those poor kids. And so many of you are completely exposing your lack of knowledge when it comes to basketball. If your opponent is unable to handle a press, you know that in the first two minutes, you take it off. And it's SOOOOO much easier said then done to simply think a little more practice, effort, or better coaching could have prevented this disgraceful display by a coach who should have been fired within five minutes of this event. This was not a game because games are supposed to be fun and enjoyable and CLEARLY far too many of you have completely lost sight of this and it is really really sad.

It's too bad, really, that the emphasis of so many posts here center on simply winning and losing. We celebrate the winning coach for bludgeoning his opponent and chide the losing coach for somehow not doing a better job. We justify this spectacle as a perfect shadow of "real life" and suggest "it's about time these kids get used to losing." I fully agree life is filled with defeats and victories and teaching kids to face and learn from these, no matter the way the chips fall, is our responsibility as adults. Like many posts, I also disagree with the trend that everyone should get a "trophy!" But all this talk suggests that life is simply about winning or losing (or, by extension, being a winner or a loser). Is it really? Is that the best guidance we can offer our kids? Is it vastly more important to teach our kids the life lesson of losing or could we do well to teach winners how to help the underdog. I'm not suggesting the winning team should have started a training clinic for their opponents during the 2nd half. I'm just suggesting that maybe there is something to the idea that things like honor and regard for the dignity of others should enter the conversation about what we could teach our kids. If we included that in the dialog, I think we'd all find that winning is still good, facing loss is a reality of life and the tactics of coach Yates in this situation somehow missed an opportunity to teach his team something more significant and lasting. Indeed, pride is a funny thing.

How can a team only score 35 points? My god they had one player on the winning team score 37 points. Thats pretty sadd........ I would be pissed to if I was the other coach who lossed to. I would quit if my team stunk that bad. Not because the kids sucked. I would quit because I sucked as a coach.... 35 points as a team......... 35points WOW

"I feel very disrespected right now," Lee coach Jacques Armant said.
Coach Armant should feel disrespected he did not prepare his kids, to play. Coach Armant you don't have film on Yates? Coach you don't know they press, you didn't practice a press break in practice? What is wrong with our society. America is made up of competition this is Varsity Basketball these aren't 8 year olds these guys are 16, 17 and 18yrs old compete. We live in America you must learn to compete. SAT, college admissions, med school, law school are all competitions if you don't believe me find me the guy in college with a 400 SAT score and 1.5GPA. The only one Lee has to blame for having 170 dropped on his team,is him. Here is an idea coach guard somebody.

I know some coaches in my area who "run it up." They are also the first to whine when someone beats the sh*t out of them.

Very classless act. Being a coach myself, I would say to a mature coach there is no place in sports for humiliating a team that is that much inferior to you. This says a lot about a classless (coach)/person. What is this teaching the children. Too often these AAU coaches are stressing winning as apose to character or integrity.

i hope the kids on the losing end learn something from this and make you practuce harder evertime you step on the court....work hard and be tough. to the winning coach i dont agree with the pressing all game once up by 50pts and to the losing coach i know your not a quiter but pull your boys off the court at halftime would have been wise.

The Coach of the losing team should have had his players "bark and growl" at the other team..make fun of them and have some fun. But, I have to say that kicking someone's ass that bad is pretty weak.

I am sorry Dean Douglas. I didn't (did not) know that my response would be proofread for grammatical mistakes by a man of your stature. I did not know you worked for the New York Times as an editor. Chemistry still does hold a lot of merit these days, especially when you have a PhD in organic chemistry, which is used for cancer research. Essentially just trying save you and the millions of others from the prostate cancer that could kill you when your 55.

After reading the Mission and History of Jack Yates High School as posted online, one thing is clear. As a learning institution, the school motto "Character and Achievement" should be changed. Breaking athletic records is a fantastic achievement, but character is definitely lacking. How about "Athletics above Education". As long as the athletes succeed (even if only during high school) who cares about the examples they set or the rest of the student body.

I can't believe the number of people who think this is ok. As a coach, you don't ever ask your players to let up or stop playing hard, but you do stop pressing and trapping the other team. Pick them up at half court and play good defense. You work the clock to speed the game up and bring it to an end sooner. It is a great time for a team that normally traps to work on their half court game.

If you have ever seen Yates play you know that he play's 15 kids because off the style of ball. Those last 5 or 3rd string are as good or better than many other varsity teams around the state. That is what makes this so egregious those kids can still flat out play his top 15 are better than the top 1-5 at many schools. Playing his 3rd string doesn't bail this team out. This is terrible and if a coach was made to resign after winning 100-0 up here in Dallas how is this any different. Listen to the words of the District chair and principals, nothing will happen because they want to protect their golden goose. At this level of High School sports, this is acceptable, at the level all the rest of us coach and play at this would cost us our jobs and more importantly our reputations.

Bill, you did read what this coach said, correct? As a coach yourself, you should know better than most that you coach your whole team, from the best player to the worst, to play the same. I am in total agreement that he should tell his third-stringers to play as fiercely and as competitively as if they were the first-string squad in a championship game! That's what you teach these youngsters, to win! Whose fault is it that the other team couldn't hang? Not the winning team's fault. Not the winning coach's fault. If anything, the fault should be put on the losing team for not playing harder. Look, if these teams were so mismatched, they would probably be playing in different divisions. But they were scheduled to play each other for a reason, and that reason is that they were obviously close together as far as talent goes. I mean, you surely wouldn't pit the LA Lakers against the Holy Sisters of the Poor, right? No high school athletic programs would allow that kind of mismatch to begin with.

Besides, what if the winning team were to just stand aside and allow layup after layup by the other team, just to make the score a little tighter. That wouldn't be right, either. And, I'm quite sure the losing team's coach would beg the other team to not make it look like they were handing the game to them. As a player, you either play all out, or you don't play.....it's that simple!

As the losing coach I would have instructed my players once we were down by 50 to foul the opposing players each time they got the ball forcing them to the line and to the point of causing each of my players to foul out.

I can't believe the majority of people blogging here are in support of this. Sports is not just about winning. **** it, sports are a waste of time anyways. Athleticism doesn't teach you anything. It keeps you in shape. "It teaches team-building" you say? Yeah so does a good education in which team projects are put together (this happens on every level of education) and in a job. Sports are a ****** waste, and whole lot of you are pathetic jocks that wish they were still in high school. Get a life.

You know what would really teach these kids something? Go read a book. Go act in the school play. Go learn to play an instrument. Go learn to better yourself in any respectable way. Beating up on some poor kids who clearly aren't nearly as athletic as you just teaches them that it's okay in society to "be the best you can be" when being your "best" only demeans everyone else around you.

You probably are all also conservatives, in love with the Bush family, love hunting and fishing, think every gun you buy should come with a free bottle of booze and spent the best days of your life playing football in high school. ******* pathetic. You're the problem with society. You've ruined our country. Go **** yourselves.

I find it strange how people defend the feelings of the players on the losing team, but not those of the 3rd stringers on the winning team. In a close game they probably get next to no playing time, so when they get a chance to get some extended time, it's likely to be a game they are well ahead in. And then they should never show their abilities to press for 2nd/1st string by playing hard???? Sports are competitive, and sadly not for everyone. Or rather, everyone needs to find their own level - and some of these boys may just not be High School standard.
If score doesn't matter, why do they keep it?

Are you people really that retarded? They weren't going for the win. They were going for two things: a state record and total humiliation of the other team. This is classless coaching. I'm going to put it in all caps for you: "YATES RAN A FULL COURT PRESS THE ENTIRE GAME". For those of you who are not familiar with Jack Yates High School, they are high school basketball's 500lb gorilla. Their third string can beat 90% of this nations schools. The full court press used after the 100-12 half-time score was just taking a piss on someone you've already knocked out. If I'm reading my local Houston paper correctly, there were still 1st stringers in during the 3rd and 4th quarters. Also, you can tell that Wise had no real answer when he responded with having let down his team last season by putting on the brakes with a 9 point lead against Elsik, a much higher caliber team than Lee. This is bad sportsmanship by the coach, period. No one should blame the players, just Wise. There was a reason a melee broke out during the game and it stems from the lack of respect given to the much weaker team. Once you start making sports only about winning, then comes the cheating, maligning and violence. Then everyone loses. Yates Ballers, please bring the State Championship back to Houston but do it with class, respect, honor and dignity. Those qualities will bring you more in life than the trophy.

Asten,
Why didn't we just drop another 10 A-bombs on Japan then, if we're going to go by your example? Use better analogies and some decent grammar, Dolt!

I'm just going to go out on a limb and predict that LEE is a black school. Correct me if I'm wrong.

Nate,
Competitive Drama....Really. You're bored aren't you? I'm A-okay with the drama thing (my daughter are into it big time)but that doesn't really apply here. A contest that is determined through judges scores vs. a contest that is proven point by point for a set time limit are two completely different animals. I don't see how a blowout in a drama competition and a basketball game compare.

An oppertunity to show a bit of sportsmanship was lost here. Yates could have played just as hard when Lee crossed hal court point. The Lee coach lacks and showed no class on his part.

everyoen thats complainin bout the coach runnin up the score is just mad cuz lee got woopped... lee is obviously garbage if they lose by over 100 points, even in hs... thats just sorry.. the coac hhad his third line in and they played hard, lee played hard, lee stilll got destroyed, sad. You practice how u want to play.

You sound like a loser coach.The sportsmanship was all there if you are looking at it correctly.He placed in the third string players and all.The other team coach could have quit if he wanted to save the embarrasment.What message was he sending to his players.No one seems to be thinking about that.

There are plenty of ways to work your second and third teamers hard, without running up the score.
The Yates coach taught his players nothing by overwhelming an inferior opponent. Unless avery kid on the Yates team is a young Kobe Bryant, they will eventually run into someone bigger, faster, better. Will they have learned how to handle themselves on the losing end? Obviously not.

I'm amazed that there are so many defenders of the winning coach's behavior. Obviously we're not evolving very rapidly.

Can't believe there are so many losers on here. Any respectable coach would be ashamed. You see this in college and even at the professional level. You just don't run it up. The killer is running the press the whole time. Why do you think you always see teams killing the clock when you get that far ahead? What a loser coach and program he runs.

I'm shocked that anyone would defent this coach. I've been on both sides of this issue as a parent - seeing my son's team get destroyed by a coach who wouldn't let up, and seeing my son's team win easily with their starters benched and their 3rd five playing only half court defense - NO PRESSING.

The result of routs where the winning team keeps the noose tight is always bad emotions that cause rough play that can easily lead to fights and injuries. When a coach has his players play hard but pulls off the press and trapping, the resulting play is still high effort basketball.

When one team doesn't let up even though they are routing their opponent the risk of someone getting hurt is significantly increased. IMO this coach is cultivating an environment that is creating greater opportunity for harm.

I'm sure Yates 3rd five gets plenty of quality work in practice guarding their 1st five. What Yates coach did was disrepectful at the least...negligent at the most.

In our society today no one should be that aggressive or mindless of people feelings. These are kids for God sake treat them as such. I can not belive that coach honestly thinks that what he did was okay. These kids had to go before their peers with their heads hung down. What was he thinking? What if it was his son on the team; would it be acceptable? Now coach think to yourself how many of those KIDS did you discourage not to even try to pursue their dreams. How much of their confidence did you take away? IT IS JUST A GAME NO ONE IS GETTING PAID. ONLY THE PROFESSIONALS! THIS WAS SOMETHING THE KIDS WHERE PROUD OF BEING A PART OF. PEOPLE LIKE YOU ARE WHY SO MANY OF OUR YOUTH TURN TO THE STREETS AND COMMITT CRIMES.

In our society today no one should be that aggressive or mindless of people feelings. These are kids for God sake treat them as such. I can not belive that coach honestly thinks that what he did was okay. These kids had to go before their peers with their heads hung down. What was he thinking? What if it was his son on the team; would it be acceptable? Now coach think to yourself how many of those KIDS did you discourage not to even try to pursue their dreams. How much of their confidence did you take away? IT IS JUST A GAME NO ONE IS GETTING PAID. ONLY THE PROFESSIONALS! THIS WAS SOMETHING THE KIDS WHERE PROUD OF BEING A PART OF. PEOPLE LIKE YOU ARE WHY SO MANY OF OUR YOUTH TURN TO THE STREETS AND COMMITT CRIMES. People you cannot not be that simple not to know that this man wants another state championship. Therefor he is only going to have the best on that team. Playing his third string was like playing his starters.

I don't watch, play, or like sports. I have no problem with what the coach did. I think the problem with so many of the babified slacker young adults today, is attitudes like the ones I have seen in this thread. Blaming the winning team for playing their best? If the losing team didn't want to have any more points scored on them, then they should either play harder or forfeit.

My beef is with the officials. They should have grabbed both coaches at half time and said enough is enough. It's a high school game, not a pro game.

The only time you are disrespected is when you allow yourself to be disrespected. The losing coach should have pulled his team at half time and packed it in. He allowed his players to be abused for another half.

We have twisted sports in this country. The point of almost every sport is to be the fastest or to score the most points possible. Either we have lost our competitive edge or some people, in the sporting world, are looking to hard at the over/under and not on the actual game.

Oh, and if your boss walked up to you and said they were doubling your salary, not a soul on this board would say, "Oh No Boss, I am making WAY too much money. Take some back." You would have to be an idiot or a Saint, and there are only a few Saints in the world today.

And if you are one of these self-flagellating simps on this board, I suggest you check out wretched excess areas like Dubai, Hong Kong, Thailand, Japan, Monaco, France and China, before you start heaping tons of abuse on America for being greedy and overly officious with it's money.

couldn't have said it better. but trying to convince these knuckle heads any different will never happen. just be glad you're not married or have to live with them.

First of all, I work at Yates and a proud alumni. Second, if a child that is far down on the bench, who work just as hard in practice and have the same abilities as the starters, when the coach puts them in they want to shine like the starters. They are trying to be seen by scouts as well. When I played football at JY, we averaged 63pts a game, did you see anyone complain....? We were winning 56-0, 63-7, 76-0, etc. did anyone from the other team complained....? I helped out with baseball last year and we called a game in the 2nd inning cause we were losing 26-0.......did anyone complained......? MAN UP MAAAAANNNNNN!!!!!! you have to take the bad with the good, suck it up, evaluate what went wrong, correct it at practice, and move on to the next game....

The only sporting event that I know that has a "mercy rule" is Little League baseball. It's like the the bumber stickers you see that came out after the one's that recognize honor students for simply attending school.

Unfortunately this tactic doesn't work well in lopsided matches. A team must field at least 7 players or forfeit the match. I've refereed several matches that when the winning team was down to the minimum 7 players they continued to score. The only remedy is to have the team play keep away and practice their passing skills.

I noticed you brought up the mentally handicapped team that got blown out by over a 100 pts recently. I bet you thought that was okay too. While I sometimes worry that our kids are not competitive enough these days, I would rather have a kid with a little compassion for his fellow man than a egotistical bully anydays. In all likelihood, none of the players on the wiinning team will make the pros. The rest are going to learn a very different life lesson after they leave high school.

There is a huge difference between winning/defeating and humiliating an opponent.

A win turns into a purposeful humiliation when the point spread is so large, that there is no hope of losing the lead.

At that point coaches with class cease serious scoring efforts and run out the clock any which way they can and the losing coach does likewise.

It's called sportsmanship.

The opposite behavior is considered obnoxious LOSER behavior even in winning, because it shows a misplaced value on HUMILIATING an opponent.

A mature individual does NOT get pleasure from humiliating another.

People who think humiliating an opponent is privilidge of the winner have a screw loose.

We all make mistakes, but there is no justification for being so utterly blind to the wholesale idiocy, immaturity behind the humiliation of an opponent.

It does NOT teach children the value of winning.

It does teach them that humiliating an opponent is fun.

It teaches them what other people feel means nothing.

What you do in excess to harm another person emotionally does not matter because it is not you.

And in a school environment that is the worst lesson a child can be taught, because it contradicts the message of cooperation everyone needs to learn in order to succeed in society and for society to stay healthy.

From the posts here, it seems few remember the golden rule - do unto others as you would have them do unto you.

It shows Class and intelligence, because NOT running up the score demonstrates you know the difference between winning and humiliating an opponent.

You can decide you don't care, and when you win you'll win big.

But if you expect to be loved and appreciated by those around you forget it.

Nothing says "avoid this person" more than somebody who is a SORE WINNER.

That is why the Yates Head Coach will always be a High School head coach. and Roy Williams will always be a College head coach. Blowing a team out doesn't prove how great you are. In the end, it only counts as one win in the stat column. These kind of games also have negative impact on your team as a whole. This guy wastes all of his team's energy trying to make a win look that much more impressive. This kind of thing can catch up with you down the road late in the season when you team is tired. This guy also messes up his future job prospects because no one is going to want to hire a coach that brings negative attention to their school. That's what happened to that high school girls coach who one 100-0. He is now out of a job. The lesson to be learned is when you have the game won and there is absolutely no chance for a come back, you should try to get the game over with in the quickest manner possible and get on with the next game. This guy should be fired and never allowed to coach again. He obviously doesn't know how to manage a team. I don't care how much basketball knowledge he has. Obviously, he doesn't have very much if he has to do this sort of thing. I think Yates can find themselves a better coach. Maybe someone who knows what their doing.

Cheerleaders were not doing there job, where are the fans support here, no mention of that!

Well said on so many accounts. This coach was out of line and needs to take call it a day. I'm glad to see so many people understand how wrong he was in taking this game where he did. There's nothing right about it, period. This shouldn't even be debated.
Unfortunately, some bloggers don't know the first thing about sportsmanship, youth development (yes, they might be in high school but they're still kids) and leading by example. And whoever noted that "sportsmanship has nothing to do with how much you win by..." shows as much ignorance as the coach.
This is an annoyingly sad story, but we have to keep bringing incidences like this to light. Be it crazy parents, poorly coached kids, corrupt referees or idiots like this guy who shouldn't be coaching, we can't take any pressure off the goal of improving the programs kids participate in- this is where character, integrity, compassion and a myriad of life-skills are learned on a daily basis. It's literally one of the only arenas where kids can learn these skills... and they must have the right role models and mentors to show them the way.
Long post- boil it down, this guy is a prime example of who we DON'T want involved with shaping kids moral compass.

I am amazed at some of these comments. I have a son in the 12th grade and he has played sports since Kindergarten. I have always loved for our team to win and didn't like losing too much, but I realize it is a part of life. I am glad that my son has seen both sides (usually more losing than winning), BUT high school sports have gotten way out of hand. We now have coaches that recruit from all over the world so that their school can win and we have kids whose parents actually take them from school to school just so they can be noticed and maybe get a college scholarship. What??? What happened to making friends at school? What happened to sports being a normal and important part of the school experience? Nowadays "average" or "normal" kids aren't able to play sports because coaches are too worried about winning and kids are too worried about playing in college or the NBA. Kids that have gone to a school from the beginning aren't able to play on their sports teams because of the better players coming in from all over the place. That is absolutely ridiculous!! Yes, there is a time where the other coach should back off. I don't believe in whining or sitting on the side lines sucking my thumb (as one poster put it), but come on. Beating a team is great and more power to Yates for that, but what the coach did was about his glory -period!! There's no room in high school sports for that. It still should be about the kids and not the coach's ego's. You folks that are defending the Yates coach out to be able to honestly admit that he acted irresponsibly! I have taught my son that you learn something in winning and in losing, but I have also taught him about sportsmanship and treating people like they should be treated. Some you need a lesson or two!

I am a coach, and 8 kids that should be playing basketball for our school district have transferred out and are playing for other schools in the area. All of those schools have now defeated us this year. I could evaluate what went wrong and fix it in practice, but I am still coaching the kids that sat the bench in 5th, 6th, 7th, and 8th grade while the kids that are now transferred got all of the playing time.

This is a state champion caliber team beating down a team that obviously has a lot of needs. Right now I am guessing that this other school has just lost a couple of future players and possibly a couple of current players may not want to be a part of it anymore. You can say that the kids are weak, but it is Yate's coach that is weak. For one he told his kids to ease up in a 9 point game???? Are you kidding me? Second, he thinks pressing for the entire game will better prepare his team for those situations???? Third, once his 3rd string had it's time to shine and every kid was in double figures, he couldn't ease up a little???

If they can't handle the pressure in the league they are in - move the team down Double AA or B.

They seem to be in the wrong conference!

Ben, How did this become about being a conservative, drinking beer, hunting or Bush (I don't believe this can be blamed on him)? Can't people have a difference of opinion without bringing in hatefulness? We are discussing a high school basketball game. It has nothing to do with political views or whether we hunt or drink. If you have nothing useful to say about the issue, then just be quiet, please. Thank you.

I was a high school player and didn't play after high school. I would of done the same thing it doesn't matter the score you get told IN PRACTICE to push and never let up you don't see nba players letting up.

this team is a sorry excuse for a basketball team my SCHOOL C.A.JOHNSON WILL DESTORY BOTH TEAMS

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