After the Gunderson High basketball coach suspended five starters for tardiness, back talking and disrespect in late December, the whole team walked out. The San Jose school’s coach, Mike Allen, called up freshmen and sophomores from the JV squad. The team is losing every game by large margins, reports the San Jose Mercury News. That’s not important, says the coach.
Allen said he had given his players “two, three, four chances” to turn around their attitudes and prove their commitment to the team before suspending the five for what was supposed to be the winter break.
Instead, he said, they continued to talk back, disregard his instruction and showboat on the court.
“These kids nowadays feel they are privileged and have a right,” Allen said. “But they fail to realize what being part of a team is about.”
The mutineers blame a “power-hungry” coach.
“We weren’t being that disrespectful,” said Eddie Perez, a senior who walked out with the suspended players. “He wants to run the team his way and doesn’t listen to our own opinions.”
Lesson not learned, apparently. Good luck in your first job, Eddie. And your second job. And, if you continue to be a slow learner, your third job.
