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Wildcats dismissed from team after MySpace controversy
By KEVIN HAGELAND, Staff Writer
Although MySpace is often used as a means of social networking, the popular website is now at the center of a controversy that has resulted in the dismissal of at least two players from the Plano Senior High School baseball team.
Seniors Brandon Shaw and Colin Hatzmann were dismissed from the Wildcats Tuesday afternoon in connection with comments made on MySpace.
Shaw said a fraudulent profile for Plano head baseball coach David Allen was created four-to-six months ago, where various players would leave comments about the team and more specifically, the coach.
None of the comments could be specifically recalled by anyone involved in the incident and the comments have since been deleted from the profile.
In a document acquired by the Plano Star Courier, Allen said, “Brandon’s involvement as well as comments on myspace.com is a violation of our Student Code of Conduct and as a student involved in extra curricular activities, they are held to a higher standard.”
Allen later confirmed that he had written the aforementioned letter.
Shaw and Hatzmann, as well as two other players from the team, were called into a meeting as individuals and a group with Allen and Plano head football coach and athletic director Gerald Brence Friday.
Brence declined to comment on the situation.
Shaw and Hatzmann received confirmation of their removal from the team Tuesday afternoon.
“I have so many emotions going through my head at the moment. I’m mad, sad, heartbroken and worried about my future,” Shaw said. “I think we were treated unfairly and I’m going to appeal.”
The appeal will have to be made to Dr. Doyle Dean, according to the letter from Allen, but no further details were given.
Shaw also said he felt as if his father Ron Shaw was treated with disrespect in the meetings, a statement that Ron Shaw was quick to confirm.
“I think Allen is manipulative and he is a liar,” the elder Shaw said. “I am sick of the good ol’ boys network running roughshod over all of Plano sports.”
Allen could not divulge the names, but confirmed that more than just Shaw and Hatzmann would be dismissed from the team. Allen’s only other comment was, “Everyone is upset about the situation.”
With more than two players departing the Plano baseball team, what effect will this have on the rest of the team? Although several current Wildcats had strong opinions on the situation, they did not want to use their names for fear of reprisal.
“I know some thing were said that shouldn’t have been, but this punishment is not really fair. I even think a suspension would be too much,” one Plano baseball player said on condition of anonymity. “Our coach always talks about making the playoffs, but it is going to be really difficult without those two guys. I don’t think he realizes how big of a hit this is going to be.”
Another Wildcats player added that if the team were allowed to vote on the situation, the vote would be unanimous to take Brandon and Collin back.
The following are comments from the readers.
In no way do they represent the view of Starlocalnews.com
In no way do they represent the view of Starlocalnews.com
From Plano wrote on Dec 20, 2006 11:05 AM:
" what's amazing to me is how accountability for your actions has taken a back seat to suing or appealing your case because you don't like being punished for your actions. if you want to be treated like an adult, act like one. and these parents who get involved and complain about their kids predicament unfortunately are the role models for these baseball players. owe up to your actions and take it like a man. allowing the players back on the team would send the message that if you're an athlete and you screw up, don't worry about it; someone will take care of it for you. if you know it's wrong, don't do it. it's called common sense. "
T. Lindell wrote on Dec 20, 2006 2:04 PM:
" Absolutely ridiculous. Make the punishment fit the crime, don't compromise the students' futures in something so trivial. "
Tom Anderson wrote on Dec 20, 2006 4:06 PM:
" wow, MySpace is about friends and making new ones. these kids were just playing around, let them out :) "
Ageline Polosky wrote on Dec 20, 2006 5:17 PM:
" They got what they deserved. Kids today think they can do what they want and never receive punishment. Shame on his dad for pretty much allowing this behavior. He should make his son accept the punishment and let it teach him a valuable lesson. Nope, they have hired an attorney and are going to fight it. That is really teaching a lesson. Pathetic! "
Ms. M. G. K. wrote on Dec 20, 2006 7:00 PM:
"
How can anyone read the above paragraph and miss the fact that he admits saying "mean" things, but that he didn't mean for them to be "hurtful". This kid deserves a good, swift kick in the tail. If he parents had been doing it earlier, perhaps he would understand that MEAN things ARE HURTFUL.
If his parents were counting on their kid getting a scholarship, perhaps they should have paid a bit more attention to his character and less attention to his ability to hit, catch and score.
"
Allen H8r wrote on Dec 20, 2006 10:55 PM:
" Everyone should quit the team in order to bring them back. If they quit the only job Allen has is Math Models he will basically loose his job and "The only thing he gets up each day for". "
Steve wrote on Dec 21, 2006 1:55 PM:
" Wow. Actions with consequences. I hope some day the father, Shaw, gets it. Then he can have a nice long talk with his son. "
Dan wrote on Dec 21, 2006 2:50 PM:
" Coach Allen and the Plano administrators did the right thing. There are consequences to every action and this is a clear violation of the student code of conduct. Of course now that they got caught they were just having fun. Sorry, they are receiving just punishment. Hopefully, the boys will be better men because of it. "
Plano wrote on Dec 21, 2006 5:43 PM:
" I hope Brandon and Colin learn to think about what they do before they do it. Even if they're playing their comments can obviously still be hurtful. More importantly I hope they can learn to men and own their actions and not downplay them and act like they are the victim in the situation... "
Harry wrote on Dec 21, 2006 5:47 PM:
" This is crazy, what Coach Allen should have done is sit down the players and speak to them as adults and determine what is behind the statements. This would lead to a stronger relationship with his players instead of an advesarial relationship. Instead, he acted as judge and jury and they are off the team. The punishment should be something useful not extereme. As for parents knowing every step their child makes in a day, you would need to take away every computer, cellphone, and other convenience we have it the 21st century. As for parenting, I would suggest you meet some of the parents of the baseball players. They are more involved with their children than most. With that being said, I would hate to see if Allen was a football coach and had gatorade dumped on him. "
curt wrote on Dec 21, 2006 8:40 PM:
" wow ,thats good "take it like a man" what a moron. at most they should have been forced to say their sorry in front of the team and sat a game. now it's, you messed up go get that factory job. face it if you are great at sports it is a shot in a million at the golden ticket to life. to tell these kids to bad it's over is like a life sentence for writing graffiti. people should take their medicine ONLY when the punishment FITS the crime. "
4MERwIlDcAtPlAyA wrote on Dec 22, 2006 2:43 PM:
" I have few things to say on this issue. I believe that these kids got exactly what they deserve! This parent has been a thorn in the side of the Plano baseball team since he got there. This is the same parent that complained that the coach worked his kid too hard, and also when his kid didn't get enough playing time. He also complained when his JV son didn't get a new baseball hat and the Varisty did. OOOOOHHHH!!! BIG DEAL!!!
He did everything in his power to have Coach Allen removed from the program. Oh, I might add that his son was one who was the first to initiate fights with other players, and urinated in lockers of players that he didn't care for. This was a long time coming. Unfortunately, I think it's time for Coach Allen to go too. He's lost control of his team, and lacks the respect from the players and the parents. The player that he chose to lead the team as team captain last year, put a fist through a school bus window in anger after a game, and took a baseball bat to the Plano West locker room. Great team role model. WAKE UP BRENCE AND DEAN!!
This is a 5-A school with some great talent, and we havn't seen in playoff in a long time. "
lee wrote on Dec 30, 2006 1:32 PM:
" as a parent whose kid is bullied by athletes who are just "having fun" i hope the district sticks to their guns. the parent who thinks their child does not deserve the punishment is the problem. too bad you cannot punish the parent too. wake up mr shaw. your kid is rotten because you dont hold him accountable. "
Todd wrote on Dec 30, 2006 3:26 PM:
" Oh, come on people! Boys will be boys. They've always been boys. These kids didn't pull the fire alarm or shoot off fireworks in the hallway (as we did-- and yes, I played football). This is political correctness at its finest holding players to standards they can never achieve; sans going to a monestary. We all made fun of our coaches--- that's the beauty of living a teen's life. Humor in reality.
Had this been my MYSPACE page, my coach would have made me run laps around the track until my tongue was dragging the ground. He may have even hit me on the butt with his 3 foot paddle (3 or 4 times). But one thing is for sure: he would never have kicked us off the team. He would/did make us men. We paid for our lapses in judgement and life went on. I assure you it worked better than any of this nonsense could ever hope to achieve. The funny part is: We had so much respect for him that when he recently died, many of his players from 20 to 30 years ago attended his funeral. We loved him.
So, here's my point. Stop being armchair educators! Teach them. Mold them. Punish them if necessary with something other than dismissal. Kicking them off the team is the fastest way to do nothing. Plano H.S. educators, you've taught these kids NOTHING. "
Sports Gal wrote on Dec 31, 2006 10:27 AM:
" Yes the boys may have said mean things - but what about the Freedom of Speech guaranteed to all citizens in the constitution? Has anyone forgotten that we have that right?
Kicking them off the team because a coach can't handle criticism from teenagers and obviously does not have control of the team or a rapport with the parents and players is not the right solution. Sitting the players down, speaking to them like men and benching them for a few games seems more reasonable. It is his responsibility to coach these kids not give up on them. "
carol wrote on Dec 31, 2006 2:46 PM:
" Why are these boy's lives over? Can they not get good grades and a student loan and go to college on thier own? Can they not try out for a position on the college team at thier college of choice? MySpace is a public forum. Why does everybody become amazed when they are called out about it? It is pretty much the same as sticking a poster in the hallway saying these things and expecting no one to comment on it "
Kit wrote on Dec 31, 2006 4:53 PM:
" When a person is on a school team, whether out in public, at school, or online, that person is a representation of that school. If there are feelings of dislike or disapproval regarding another person at the school, regardless of how strong that feeling is, it should not be professed in such a public manner. It creates a negative impression of the school itself and not just of the persons involved. Being dropped off the team may be harsh, but it is a valid point. The players did not care about being on the team to think "what if someone else reads this," that someone else being their friends, instructors, parents, or the coach's family, or even scouts for colleges or pro sports. They did not care that every time they made a negative comment online, they placed the entire school in a bad light. So apparently being on the team was not that important. Extracurricular sports are seen often as a right, but they are not. They are a privilege that is earned not just with hard work on the field, but also by one's actions during the course of their day, both in and out of school. These students did not deserve this privilege, and should have been suspended or let go. And the parents, before hiring lawyers and throwing hissy fits, should consider letting their children deal with the consequences of their own actions and accept responsibility. How are they ever going to grow up if parents dont let them go and take care of their own problems? "
A Realist wrote on Jan 1, 2007 1:58 PM:
" Wow. I can't believe the morons here that think the kids future is ruined because they are off the team. There is a lot more to life than sports and making money playing sports. Maybe these kids (and maybe the idiot parents too) will learn there are consequences for actions and being a athlete doesn't make you exempt. Kudos to the coach for kicking them off the team. I would have done the same thing! "
From Carrollton wrote on Jan 1, 2007 4:32 PM:
" Obviously integrity and character take a back seat to sports in Plano.
The kids did get what they should have gotten according to the school rules of conduct. Period.
They gave up their chance at a great season with their teammates and a great college career because they made the choice.
Will they be better off? I doubt it. What are the chances that they will learn something positive from this when dad runs in to try to fix it for them every time? "
Eric wrote on Jan 2, 2007 6:09 AM:
" The punishment was justified. What adult in the workplace would get away with insulting their boss in this manner? If anything, this should strengthen the team by showing them respect for authority and how true "team players" should behave. No responsible adult with good judgement should condone these childrens' behavior. "
Common sense went where in the last 33 years? wrote on Jan 2, 2007 8:04 AM:
" Scenario: Johnny and Mark get into a fist fight after school. 1973 - Crowd gathers. Mark wins Johnny and Mark shake hands and end up bes t friends Nobody goes to jail, nobody arrested, nobody expelled. 2006 - Police called, SWAT team arrives, arrests Johnny and Mark. Charge them with assault, both expelled even though Johnny started it. >>>>>Scenario: Jeffrey won't be still in class, disrupts other students. 1973 - Jeffrey sent to office and given a good paddling by Principal. Sits still in class. 2006 - Jeffrey given huge doses of Ritalin. Becomes a zombie. School gets extra money from state because Jeffrey has a disability.>>>>>>Scenario: Mark gets a headache and takes some headache medicine to school. 1973 - Mark shares headache medicine with Principal out on the smoking dock. 2006 - Police called, Mark expelled from school for drug violations. Car searched for drugs and weapons. >>>>>>Scenario: Pedro fails high school English. 1973: Pedro goes to summer school, passes English, goes to coll ege. 2006: Pedro's cause is taken up by state democratic party. Newspaper articles appear nationally explaining that teaching English as a requirement for graduation is racist. ACLU files class action lawsuit against state school system and Pedro's English teacher. English banned from core curriculum. Pedro given diploma anyway but ends up mowing lawns for a living because he can't speak English. "
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