Athlete's dad files suit over penalty

[Kyle]

Originally Posted by Schultz133

thats like saying its ok if someone takes steroids at home, as long as its not at school. if you get caught drinking out of school your punished, if you get caught fighting out of school your punished so why not chewing or smoking? what makes that so differant? its all on the contract

Tabacco does not give you an unfair advantage in sports. You're only in trouble with the school for fighting if it's related to school, like beating someone up on the way to the bus. Plus drinking is illegal for minors, Smoking? come on...


I believe he should be able to play sports but the real question is will this kid grow up and be mature or can he seriously not wait another 5 minutes to light up.

[HardCore]

The whole situation is a real shame!! Luke is an incredible wrestler. It is too bad that he thought he was above the rules. Kudos to the school dist for sticking to their policy and not letting him slide because of who he is. I find it hard to believe that the football coach had it out for Luke...get a life; I am sure he has better things to do with his time!! The thing that I find hard to believe is that he didn't take the situation more seriously. How many times has Daddy bailed him out in the past that he feels the consequences shouldn't pertain to him?! As a parent of young wrestlers, my sons wouldn't make it to the third violation and I wouldn't need the school to step in and punish them! How is it he calls himself an athlete when he smokes; usually the 2 don't mix. I wish Luke all of the luck in the world; hopefully he learns from his poor judgement!

[stillwrestling]

This kid is 17 almost 18 years old. Schools need to start reailizing that although a kid isn't legally an adult until 18, you can't treat him like a 6th grader right up until that point. Where else but in high school do you actually need to get permission to take a leak? Prison maybe? I don't know. I'm a high school teacher and I find it absolutely ridiculous how many rules we have. A kid can't can't take a leak without asking my permission and then getting a written authorization. What is wrong with this picture?

Ralph Waldo Emerson once wrote: "You have the right to be trusted."

I'm not surprised some kids break the rules. We treat them like criminals and make so many rules for them that they almost have to lose respect for us and the rules.

I do not agree with smoking. It's dangerous and a killer. But frankly, a kid should not be beholden to an institution that won't even trust him to take a leak on his own to look out for his best interests.

My 2 cents. Bash away.

[cdeboflex]

i agree with stillwrestling. i mean, honestly, its not like he was getting drunk after practice and doin donuts in the parking lot. he was driving home, smoking a cigarette. its not good for you, but you can't suspend him for it in my opinion. and im pretty sure theres no law against smoking. we're not allowed so smoke on/cadicorner (sp) to our campus. i mean if i was a coach, i'd be pretty PO'd at my kid, but i don't think i would kick him off. maybe some extra conditioning, and by some i meant till he has to be drug off the mat, maybe it would teach him why you need your lungs.

[Fockerized152]

If he was really smoking, then he got what he deserverd. But, where is that actual proof? A teacher saw him driving in a car? Teachers see 100s of kids a day, thousands of kids in their career, how is he absolutely positive that it really was Roth when he got 2 seconds to see him as he drove by? Could it have been someone who just sorta looks like him? There are 2 kids I worked with who could have passed as brothers. The eyes play tricks and you see what you want to see sometimes. Sometimes I barely reconize my brother if he drives by me in a car.
And I'm no lawyer, but since it is getting brought to court, doesn't there need to be proof beyond a reasonable doubt?? A teacher who probably didn't get a very clear look at him, to me, does cause doubt.
These are just my thoughts. I don't know him personally, I've only heard of him through the rankings page. If he has admitting to doing it, then this is all pointless. I didn't read that he did say he did it, only that his dad said he was wrong.

[greatt slambino]

It is ashamed this kid won't wrestle, but the rules are in place and there has to be guidelines. He is obviously addicted to tobacco and it it bothersome to read some of these post that imply he simply disregards the rules. Nicotine addiction is one of the cruelest addictions there is and all of us know many people that have tried for years to stop without success. Just because he is an elite athlete does not make it any easier to quit. I can only hope people had the maturity to offer him help somewhere along the way.
My other concern is how much integrity do the coaches and school officials have that were involved in this decision. Would the same coach that finger this boy for smoking use that same finger to call the police if one of his fellow coaches was leaving a local drinking establishment after drinking a couple of beers? The same scenario applies to the administrators who handed down the sentence. I can say that the majority of the school officials and coaches I know break the rules and laws on a regular basis and the same kids they pass judgement on know it. These same people ask our kids to be near perfect while most in charge are far from it. I do respect the school's policy, but I think smoking does not get enough respect from parents and educational institutions. There is not one good thing about it!

[wagon0619]

Originally Posted by stillwrestling

This kid is 17 almost 18 years old. Schools need to start reailizing that although a kid isn't legally an adult until 18, you can't treat him like a 6th grader right up until that point. Where else but in high school do you actually need to get permission to take a leak? Prison maybe? I don't know. I'm a high school teacher and I find it absolutely ridiculous how many rules we have. A kid can't can't take a leak without asking my permission and then getting a written authorization. What is wrong with this picture?

Ralph Waldo Emerson once wrote: "You have the right to be trusted."

I'm not surprised some kids break the rules. We treat them like criminals and make so many rules for them that they almost have to lose respect for us and the rules.

I do not agree with smoking. It's dangerous and a killer. But frankly, a kid should not be beholden to an institution that won't even trust him to take a leak on his own to look out for his best interests.

My 2 cents. Bash away.

Yeah, I agree. Why not just put ashtrays in the schools too! They shouldn't have any rules, just make it a free for all. Go to class if you want to.

[wagon0619]

Originally Posted by cdeboflex

i agree with stillwrestling. i mean, honestly, its not like he was getting drunk after practice and doin donuts in the parking lot. he was driving home, smoking a cigarette. its not good for you, but you can't suspend him for it in my opinion. and im pretty sure theres no law against smoking. we're not allowed so smoke on/cadicorner (sp) to our campus. i mean if i was a coach, i'd be pretty PO'd at my kid, but i don't think i would kick him off. maybe some extra conditioning, and by some i meant till he has to be drug off the mat, maybe it would teach him why you need your lungs.

There is a law, and its called the code of conduct. Both the kid and the parents had to read and SIGN it for him to compete, so he knew exactly what was coming.

[cdeboflex]

Originally Posted by wagon0619

There is a law, and its called the code of conduct. Both the kid and the parents had to read and SIGN it for him to compete, so he knew exactly what was coming.

was this a rule specifically made for him?????

[flyonthewall]

I never wanted to post on this ever again, because honestly i beleive in time he will find his path. Alright all of you that are in highschool are you ready to put your reputation on this board, and are you perfect and deserve to judge him in this manner (because at sometime your judgement will come beleive this = judgement does comes) I agree that its here and its really not what we should have expected from a guy that should probably be standing on a stand in Champain. Now, it is this. Its time to back off let Dad do his thing, but honestly the thing that is wrong is smoking. He is going to spend his money fighting this and helping his son know what smoking or wrestling is more important. Its really ashame because right now school is only thing important. There are Core classes he needs to achieve and there is lots of other things he needs to prove.

Here is the bottom line if you do not want to lose rights to wrestle then i guess this is a eye opener. That is honestly the most positive thing you can get from Luke he has given everyone a reason to be better!

Im also going to say i do not think kicking him the *** Is what a Dad should do. How about hugging and and saying Son im so proud of you but right now im really dissapointed because smoking is not like you. Son i think should you really put your life first and you will be better im not going to support you in this and want you to be a better man. I think you have so much potential and im going to support you if become a better man.