Wardle Under Abuse Investigation At UWGB

[Stronghold]

The school is doing the right thing especial with the atmosphere surrounding colleges sports in the past year -- Penn State, Rutgers, etc.

Coaches yell at players -- they always have.  The question is was the line crossed -- racial slurs, homophobic, demeaning or vulgar language?

The danger is jumping to conclusions and that are not fair.  Chancellor Harden did exactly what he should do.  Hats off to responding immediately to clear the air.  It is responsive to the student and parent, to Coach Wardle and short circuits those who would take cheap shots, at the student, coach or school.

What is the coach allowed to say then?  "That wasn't very good, try again Joey!"

These kids are getting free educations (tens if not hundred hundreds of thousands of dollars) to work their ass off for the basketball team.  The coach should be allowed to light a fire under these kids.

[Chicos' Buzz Scandal Countdown]

But what the hell is "emotional mistreatment?" Could there be a possibly more vague/nebulous accusation?

no kidding - cant judge well without the facts but it seems a description of something frivolous

[The Lens]

Wardle could probably still be playing in overseas.  Given his competitive nature, I would imagine it is tough to not get in there and mix it up with fellow adults. 

[Benny B]

What the heck is "pussification" supposed to mean?!?  That if you're not "blessed" with a penis and an overload of testosterone that you're some sort of 2nd class citizen?

I pray none of you have daughters.  Or mothers.

[MU82]

I'm a fairly politically correct guy, and I would not tolerate my coach ever being physically abusive ... but sheesh.

Coaches yell. Coaches swear. Coaches tell their athletes to "man up," and do it quite loudly.

If you don't like it, join the debate team.

[Pakuni]

no kidding - cant judge well without the facts but it seems a description of something frivolous

I'm not saying this kid is soft or Wardle did nothing wrong, etc. I don't know. None of us know (though surely some self-styled insiders will pretend otherwise).
But "emotional mistreatment" is such a vague, subjective accusation that I'm not sure Wardle has any chance to fairly defend himself. Whereas Rice's abuse was obvious - kind of hard to label throwing a ball at someone's head something other than abuse - how does one objectively determine emotional mistreatment? Did Buzz emotionally mistreat Davante by mocking his weight? Or other players he's said are no good? It's so, so subjective in a player-coach relationship.
And the worst part of this is that Wardle may never live this down, whether he did something wrong or not.

Curious, by the way about who leaked this. Either Wardle has some enemies in the athletic dept. or Mrs. Bross is being awfully disingenuous.

[keefe]

What the heck is "pussification" supposed to mean?!?  That if you're not "blessed" with a penis and an overload of testosterone that you're some sort of 2nd class citizen?

I pray none of you have daughters.  Or mothers.

You are terribly obtuse in your logic, Benny. You confuse physical difference with intrinsic value and moral indignation over eroding values.

I have a mother who taught me chivalry. I was expected to open doors, pull chairs, listen attentively, and most importantly treat all women with respect and dignity. Her father, brothers and husband were gentlemen and she expected the same from her sons. Her brothers and husband went to war several times and all served with honor in combat. They acted as men.

Our daughter was graduated with honors from Columbia and is beginning her graduate studies at Harvard this August. She worked at the Clinton Foundation for two years and has interned at the Gates Foundation. She worked as a volunteer in refugee camps in the Horn of Africa and joined her aunt, a surgeon, on Médecins Sans Frontières missions in Sri Lanka and Nepal. We taught her that gender is never a barrier and she has lived her life accordingly. She has thrived in difficult environments and has never let matters of gender, race, age, or nationality be an issue - for herself or in others.

Both my mother and daughter are educated, accomplished women who recognize and celebrate differences in gender. Because they exist. And that is a very good thing. Both have expected me to behave as a gentleman and as a man as circumstances have warranted. Anyone who argues otherwise is a fool. And a coward - both intellectually and ethically.

[ChicosBailBonds]

If what I have been told is true about Wardle, then this isn't about forging the strongest steel through fire.  It's more of a Captain Queeg type scenario.

Sans Mike Scioscia, this describes almost every coach I have ever worked with or for....the Captain Queeg type. 

[Jay Bee]

"BROSS! DID ANYONE EVER TELL YOU THAT YOU PLAY LIKE THE DAMN TRADITIONAL THAT YOU ARE?!"

[Avenue Commons]

Political correctness knows no ends. Time to investigate the college fencing teams, golf perhaps?

What does politics have to do with this?

[keefe]

What does politics have to do with this?

Avenue, you must be kidding? This is entirely about politics. You don't think Donna Shalala has a political agenda? The emasculation of America is entirely politically motivated. The growing sense of entitlement will destroy this republic yet.

[Benny B]

You are terribly obtuse in your logic, Benny. You confuse physical difference with intrinsic value and moral indignation over eroding values.

I have a mother who taught me chivalry. I was expected to open doors, pull chairs, listen attentively, and most importantly treat all women with respect and dignity. Her father, brothers and husband were gentlemen and she expected the same from her sons. Her brothers and husband went to war several times and all served with honor in combat. They acted as men.

Our daughter was graduated with honors from Columbia and is beginning her graduate studies at Harvard this August. She worked at the Clinton Foundation for two years and has interned at the Gates Foundation. She worked as a volunteer in refugee camps in the Horn of Africa and joined her aunt, a surgeon, on Médecins Sans Frontières missions in Sri Lanka and Nepal. We taught her that gender is never a barrier and she has lived her life accordingly. She has thrived in difficult environments and has never let matters of gender, race, age, or nationality be an issue - for herself or in others.

Both my mother and daughter are educated, accomplished women who recognize and celebrate differences in gender. Because they exist. And that is a very good thing. Both have expected me to behave as a gentleman and as a man as circumstances have warranted. Anyone who argues otherwise is a fool. And a coward - both intellectually and ethically.

Quite the diversion... but when you're using a variation of female anatomy slang in a pejorative manner, you're not celebrating gender.

[GGGG]

Avenue, you must be kidding? This is entirely about politics. You don't think Donna Shalala has a political agenda? The emasculation of America is entirely politically motivated. The growing sense of entitlement will destroy this republic yet.

Jesus...what the hell is it about this place that they have to be completely hyperbolic about everything?  This isn't about male emasculation, etc. 

Here is what the report is going to find IMO.  He did nothing that will require his termination.  However, I think he isn't a very good coach and I think some of the ways he deals with his players is part of that.

[MU86NC]

Quite the diversion... but when you're using a variation of female anatomy slang in a pejorative manner, you're not celebrating gender.

Benny - just admit your a kitten! and wrong...

[GGGG]

Benny - just admit your a kitten! and wrong...

How can his opinion be "wrong?"

God I love when topics like this bring out the pseudo tough guys.

[mu-rara]

I'm going after my 8th grade basketball coach.

[PuertoRicanNightmare]

How can his opinion be "wrong?"

God I love when topics like this bring out the pseudo tough guys.

I think having Benny, upon hearing some variation  of the word "kitten,"  rushing to the defense of wronged women everywhere is pseudo something. Pseudo tough guy? Probably not. But what a hero he is.

[TheDOC816]

Demeaning or vulgar language is not crossing the line.  I guess coaches should now have certificates they can hand out at practice that say "you tried hard, good for you".  Come on

[Sir Lawrence]

I attended an EEOC seminar for work last year.  One of the speakers stated "many of us have experienced a$$hole bosses.  Unfortunately, it's not illegal to be an a$$hole."

[The Love House]

+1

Now, where's my participation award?

[Canned Goods n Ammo]

My dad was a coach at a variety of levels, including high school varsity baseball, for many years. He was old school in a lot of ways.

As a kid, I was at most practices and saw him yell at kids, throw guys out of practice, kick kids off of the team, etc.

BUT, he NEVER demeaned a kid, swore AT a kid, used racial, ethnic or gay slurs, etc. etc.

I realize D1 athletics is incredibly intense (WAY more than HS athletics)... but the idea that a coach HAS to treat players poorly to motivate them is off of the charts stupid.

Can aspects of a coach/player relationship be misinterpreted or taken out of context? Absolutely.

Do coaches need to bully kids to "get the most out of them"? No. Nope. Nada. No way.

[StillAWarrior]

I attended an EEOC seminar for work last year.  One of the speakers stated "many of us have experienced a$$hole bosses.  Unfortunately, it's not illegal to be an a$$hole."

As someone who deals with EEOC on a very regular basis, I don't often agree with them.  I do agree with the speaker's legal analysis, but would substitute, "Thank God" for "unfortunately."

[EnderWiggen]

My dad was a coach at a variety of levels, including high school varsity baseball, for many years. He was old school in a lot of ways.

As a kid, I was at most practices and saw him yell at kids, throw guys out of practice, kick kids off of the team, etc.

BUT, he NEVER demeaned a kid, swore AT a kid, used racial, ethnic or gay slurs, etc. etc.

I realize D1 athletics is incredibly intense (WAY more than HS athletics)... but the idea that a coach HAS to treat players poorly to motivate them is off of the charts stupid.

Can aspects of a coach/player relationship be misinterpreted or taken out of context? Absolutely.

Do coaches need to bully kids to "get the most out of them"? No. Nope. Nada. No way.

This^^^.

Coaches should be tough, but not abusive.  And we don't know exactly what went on, which is why there is an investigation.  This isn't about a "pussification" of America.  Even in that Glorious 1950's America that never existed, there were still lines that coaches shouldn't cross.  If one of those lines were crossed (not saying it was), action should be taken.

[akmarq]

Quite the diversion... but when you're using a variation of female anatomy slang in a pejorative manner, you're not celebrating gender.

Nice to see someone has their head on straight. God forbid that not every man is brimming with machismo and ready to go to war. Insulting a man by comparing him to a woman is demeaning to everyone.

[mu-rara]

My dad was a coach at a variety of levels, including high school varsity baseball, for many years. He was old school in a lot of ways.

As a kid, I was at most practices and saw him yell at kids, throw guys out of practice, kick kids off of the team, etc. BUT, he NEVER demeaned a kid, swore AT a kid, used racial, ethnic or gay slurs, etc. etc. I realize D1 athletics is incredibly intense (WAY more than HS athletics)... but the idea that a coach HAS to treat players poorly to motivate them is off of the charts stupid. Can aspects of a coach/player relationship be misinterpreted or taken out of context? Absolutely. Do coaches need to bully kids to "get the most out of them"? No. Nope. Nada. No way.

We had  HOF HS baseball coach.  Never swore at or abused players, but he was a master motivator.  If he thought you were motivated by demeaning you, he did it.  He might insinuate that you just weren't up to playing varsity baseball, or many other tricks.  A lot of state championships, and a lotta guys that got it, maybe years later, and used the same tools for success in life.