TarHeel324

JIM DEFEDE/COMMENTARY Heads-in-sand a bad message at Gulliver Prep Molding boys into men -- that's the mission of every high school coach. It was certainly the stated intention of Lazer Collazo when he joined Gulliver Prep to lead its baseball program in 2003. Sure, Collazo may have had some difficulties when he was with the University of Miami. A lengthy NCAA investigation into a private sports academy he ran forced him to resign as a Canes' coach. ''I've learned a lot of lessons in my life,'' Collazo told The Herald after joining Gulliver. ``And I think it serves me now with these young men. I might not make all of them better players, but I'll make them better people.'' And so, following a loss last month to Florida Christian, Collazo called his team together for a talk. And what inspirational message did this wizened soul offer? Well, Collazo allegedly dropped his pants, took out his penis, and, with some colorful language, accused his players of not having the testicular fortitude it takes to play baseball. ''He then,'' according to a Coral Gables police report, ``pointed to his penis, testicles and asked the team if they had a set of these or were they equipped with a vagina.'' Collazo declined to comment. His attorney, Joseph Rosenbaum, didn't deny the allegations, saying: ``You have what you have. If it happened, it happened seven weeks ago. It's dead in the water.'' There were players, coaches and parents in the locker room at the time, and someone, the police report doesn't say who, contacted the cops. After consulting with the state attorney's office, the detectives decided not to pursue a full investigation and closed the case. That was the right decision. Cops have better things to do than investigate some sexist putz. Far more disturbing than the coach's supposed vagina monologue has been the inaction of Gulliver administrators, who eagerly maintain a veil of ignorance regarding what happened. That head-in-the-sand attitude is especially sad since this is a co-ed institution. How are girls at Gulliver supposed to feel when this type of behavior is tolerated? Gulliver's headmaster, Patrick Snay, refused to answer any of my questions, referring calls to the school's public relations director, Jen Vaida, who said an internal school investigation ``found that there was no wrongdoing and that the intent behind whatever alleged actions took place was not inappropriate.'' How's that for double-speak? In essence, this is the school's position: We are not saying the coach did what he is alleged to have done, and we're not saying he didn't. Nor are we saying that what the coach did, if anything, with his genitals was appropriate, we're just saying it wasn't inappropriate. So as far as we're concerned this incident, if there was an incident, is over and we would just as soon have everyone forget that it ever took place, if, in fact, it ever did. Now that's leadership! The school never should have hired Collazo, who may be a great coach, but has a real problem following rules. He resigned from UM after the NCAA found he was paying UM baseball players to work at his academy, a violation of NCAA rules that cost the school four scholarships. When Gulliver hired him, it sent the message that a winning baseball program was more important than honor and integrity. The current efforts to coddle Collazo's Full Monty only bolsters that point. Kids learn by example. Some players lied when I called them, wanting to protect their coach. They thought lying was the honorable thing to do. If the coach and administrators won't take responsibility for their actions, how will these kids ever learn to do so? On its website, the school offers platitudes about the role Gulliver can play in making its students better people. ''Gulliver believes in nurturing the character and development of young people,'' it states. ``Through reciprocal trust, our students learn the worth and dignity of the individual and develop the ideals of respect for self and others and the importance of participation in a democratic society.'' Nice words. At Gulliver, however, that's all they are. ------- wow, this article really rips my school the guy should be canned

episode III was awesome so much better than the last two in every respect.

Better than the Grammys but thats not saying much

11 hours to go 775456[/snapback] 35 hours until the movie comes out 775461[/snapback] i got tickets for 12:01 AM wed. so that makes it 9hr's and 31 min. 775489[/snapback] you were correct Sir. the movie is on wed. night, you just saved me from trying to make the line tonight 775504[/snapback] yeah the tickets confused me at first too technically, Wed. 12:01 am is in just a few hours, but movie theatres still put it as Wednesday night when its really thursday morning BTW, only 28 hours now

that was such a bush league move by the club in the first place. if youre deal says you have to be called anaheim, deal with it

sexy... :lol

11 hours to go 775456[/snapback] 35 hours until the movie comes out

That was a pretty sweet catch, but the thread title had me worried someone died or something. 774922[/snapback] yeah i was really scared something happened to ole roy

for those of you going to sunset place for the 12:01 showing at what time are you showing up 774498[/snapback] ill prob be there 'round 8:30/9:00, grab some dinner and go inside once people start showin up

thought you meant coach roy williams at first... damn that was a sick catch

Hurricane Forum won't likely happen. 774650[/snapback] that was a fine idea that got out of control

pay attention to rain leading up to hurricane season. last year we had a dry month before hurricane season, and in the past that has also meant bad hurricane seasons

Iverson, right now, is better than Wade. but if i was an owner, i would rather have D Wade. wont be a headache off the court, is less injury prone and is much younger than AI 774615[/snapback] Iverson has not been a headache off the court in 3 years. Hes very mature now. 774617[/snapback] "I'm a starter. I've been a starter here for eight years. I'm not a sixth man," Iverson said after the game. "I'm a starter. I know in this league ... if someone comes back from an injury, if he's a starter he starts. What's the difference? If you're going to cut my time down, cut my time down. It doesn't make any difference. I'm a starter." id say that little statement was a headache for the Sixers

Iverson, right now, is better than Wade. but if i was an owner, i would rather have D Wade. wont be a headache off the court, is less injury prone and is much younger than AI

Even though Bron somehow found a way to miss the East playoffs, he is a better player and will have a greater career than D Wade but you really cant lose choosing between them

dont forget robert swift

i am there. sunset place theater 23

his biggest mistake was going to duke shoulda gone to state

two surprising things here: its a mental health facility, not for drinking or drugs and that its in South Africa

Looks like his peers really respect his opinion. :plain 770077[/snapback] if people's oponions mattered to him he would have stopped writing long ago

Monday: Soemtimes Two and a half men, nothing much else Tuesday: Law and Order SVU Wednesday: South Park (even though it gets worse every year) Thursday: The Apprentice, ER Friday: Never watch primetime TV Late Saturday: Cheap Seats mini-marathons Sunday: Simpsons, Arrested, Family Guy, Boston Legal (hopefully itll come back on Sundays instead of Gray's Anatomy), a little bit of Desperate Housewives Every night: Conan O'Brien, BBTN, Cheap Seats, Stump the Schwab

*Has tickets for midnight showing* :hat 769795[/snapback] same here bought em a few weeks ago and picked them up on sunday 12:01 am may 18 at sunset place woohoo

monster

congrats dw

yea... they need to bring back Coach reruns. I think I saw that they were on at like 5 in the morning on some channel.. but still. That show was classic. 767710[/snapback] coach is on at 7am on USA network but an even greater show is on at 6am... WALKER TEXAS RANGER nothing beats slow motion fighting