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Saturday, October 16, 2010
Items stolen from Bentworth players
Several Bentworth football players had items stolen when the Bearcats played at Clairton last Friday.
Nothing more than I hate in life is a thief. Heard these stories in the past and it disgusted me every time. I don't mind the team being a bully on the field but stealing from a locker room is unacceptable. Terrible news.
This was an unfortunate event. Obviously, no one would condone something like this happening. Its ashame that a small group of people can shed a negative light on a town time and time again.
That said...
Mike, I realize this is a "news story" and needs to be reported, but all that this is going to do is open up the flood gates on this site for the Clairton bashing to continue...as evidence of anon post #4 on 10/16 at 7:06pm. Personally, I dont think thats fair. The actions of a few get extrapolated out and applied to the entire community. Its neither an accurate description of the town or the majority of people that reside in it.
As you have said and as we all know, this is not the first time this has happened and this isnt an incident that is unique to Clairton. It should be emphasized that the Clairton administration handled this incident immediately and has already taken steps to reimburse the Bentworth team.
There have been items vandalized or stolen from practically every school that ever has a visitors locker room at one time or another. Most schools are lax about having the locker rooms guarded/locked and it is easy for students from that school who know the layouts to get in and get out. It happens at schools from every socio-economic level. Kids get stuff taken during gym classes during the school day. This has nothing to do with the football team.
Of course this has nothing to do with the football team - but it did occur at a school that doesnt exactly have a stellar reputation within the WPIAL or western PA... Just because this may have happened at other venues over the years doesnt make it right or make the players/families from Bentworth feel any better. Im not so sure that its that prevalent either. Having kids myself that played high school football, Ive never had it happen to my kids - never had it happen to anyone from their teams... Never heard it happen to opponents at my school. To not lock the Bentworth locker rooms is just amazing.
I agree to Joey. We have seen some pretty rude activity on the fields. But, my young family and I went to a few games. Went to B-town game twice. Was appaulled that teams rolled over them especially South Fayette 40 plus on the roster B-town 20. Well I give B-town all the respect for handling this year. I recently spoke with a few parents from this team, and teachers, they let 2 kids play who did not go to camp. Also, heard is was mandatory, then all voted to put them on, well rules are rules and they should of sat like a red shirt kid. By the way the former qb had to follow the rules.
There was a story in the post gazette today regarding the missing items from Bentworth at the Clairton game. In that article, the Fort Cherry AD made this statement:
"That could happen anywhere. There's been times that same thing happened at our school," Brent Fleissner, athletic director and head basketball coach at Fort Cherry, said of the thefts.
While this has happened before and will happen again, this is the first time since I've been at the O-R where it has been reported. Whether you think so or not, it is news. A local team went to play a football game and had possessions stolen.
If it happens in the future to a local team or at a local venue and it gets reported, the same will happen.
This story got to print because the people at Bentworth let us know about it.
Oh I am quite aware that the folks from Bentworth let you know about it...that much is CERTAIN. I am curious, did they let you know that the Clairton police, Clairton administration, and Clairton school board acted IMMEDIATELY to rectify the situation? Did they let you know that the Clairton Superintendent called Bentworth first thing Monday morning to handle the situation? Did they let you know that coach Lou Rood, when approached by Tom Nola to see what he could do to help them, walked away from him without even so much as a word spoke or a handshake or a thank you?
Most of the time its not reported because both parties involved take steps immediately to rectify the situation...just like what happened here. The only difference this time is that Bentworth wanted to make sure everyone knew that they had stuff taken while they were in Clairton. I wonder if they would have went running to the papers if this would have happened in Fort Cherry or Chartiers Houston or Avella? Im betting not. They did this to try and embarrass Clairton...and no one can convince me otherwise.
So, by the logic of some people here, if a convenience store is held up in a community where the same convenience store has been held up before, it just shouldn't be reported.
Im sorry mike i didnt know that the visiting teams locker room had been broken into and robbed already once this year? Oh yeah, it hasnt. In fact, I cant even remember the last time that has happened in Clairton. I mean to use your analogy you are saying that this is a regular occurrence in Clairton and everyone needs to know about it to keep on the look out. PLEASE. This was a bad thing that happened, but it was RARE. Oh, and by the way, did you happen to ask Bentworth and/or any of the coaches why they didnt close the door themselves?
And you didnt answer any of my questions. Did they let you know about any of the positive steps that the folks in Clairton took to help their team and their staff? The answer would be no. They only told you their side of the story to make the entire city of Clairton out to be a bunch of thug thieves. Once again, they had one intent and one intent only in going to the papers with this story...to embarrass the city, the school, and the football team, period.
I think some people in Clairton need to calm down. Complaining about people's motives, or accusing them of having ulterior motives, doesn't seem like a good way to dissolve the image Clairton might have.
From this point, no anonymous comments will be posted on this subject.
if you have something to say on this subject (no matter what side of the argument you are on), it will only be accepted if you have a registered google account.
No fake names.
Only registered google account users will have comments accepted.
We can't criticized Mike Kovak for putting this into print. If I got the story I would've posted it on my blog in a heartbeat too. How do you think Newspapers get subscribers? They post controversial stuff. Its the same reason why Bill O'Reilly, Glenn Beck, Keith Olberman are so popular, whether you like or hate those guys you're going to watch. Mike White and Josh Yohe would've put this into print as well. I'm sure Mike knew he was going to get heat from Clairton folks for putting this out there. And if that didn't cross his mind, he should be fired.
Put your shoe's on Bentworth's HC's feet for a minute. If you worked with kids all winter/summer and they get stuff stolen, you'd be pissed as well. And on top of that your team just got humiliated on the field. Damn right I wouldn't want to talk to Nola either. Sometimes the best words are the words unspoken. These HC's are father figures to alot of kids. The same way Nola would've been pissed off if something like this happened to our boys at another stadium.
20 comments:
Nothing more than I hate in life is a thief. Heard these stories in the past and it disgusted me every time. I don't mind the team being a bully on the field but stealing from a locker room is unacceptable. Terrible news.
Agreed ... hardly the first time this has happened in the WPIAL, and it's just stupid.
This definitely does nothing to help Clairton's image.
Is anyone shocked that this happened at Clairton?
This was an unfortunate event. Obviously, no one would condone something like this happening. Its ashame that a small group of people can shed a negative light on a town time and time again.
That said...
Mike, I realize this is a "news story" and needs to be reported, but all that this is going to do is open up the flood gates on this site for the Clairton bashing to continue...as evidence of anon post #4 on 10/16 at 7:06pm. Personally, I dont think thats fair. The actions of a few get extrapolated out and applied to the entire community. Its neither an accurate description of the town or the majority of people that reside in it.
As you have said and as we all know, this is not the first time this has happened and this isnt an incident that is unique to Clairton. It should be emphasized that the Clairton administration handled this incident immediately and has already taken steps to reimburse the Bentworth team.
There have been items vandalized or stolen from practically every school that ever has a visitors locker room at one time or another. Most schools are lax about having the locker rooms guarded/locked and it is easy for students from that school who know the layouts to get in and get out. It happens at schools from every socio-economic level. Kids get stuff taken during gym classes during the school day. This has nothing to do with the football team.
thank you for not hiding the story
To Clairton alum...if the bashing fits
but it's okay for bears fans to trash talk other teams
the door swings both ways, alum
Of course this has nothing to do with the football team - but it did occur at a school that doesnt exactly have a stellar reputation within the WPIAL or western PA... Just because this may have happened at other venues over the years doesnt make it right or make the players/families from Bentworth feel any better. Im not so sure that its that prevalent either. Having kids myself that played high school football, Ive never had it happen to my kids - never had it happen to anyone from their teams... Never heard it happen to opponents at my school. To not lock the Bentworth locker rooms is just amazing.
I agree to Joey. We have seen some pretty rude activity on the fields. But, my young family and I went to a few games. Went to B-town game twice. Was appaulled that teams rolled over them especially South Fayette 40 plus on the roster B-town 20. Well I give B-town all the respect for handling this year. I recently spoke with a few parents from this team, and teachers, they let 2 kids play who did not go to camp. Also, heard is was mandatory, then all voted to put them on, well rules are rules and they should of sat like a red shirt kid. By the way the former qb had to follow the rules.
There was a story in the post gazette today regarding the missing items from Bentworth at the Clairton game. In that article, the Fort Cherry AD made this statement:
"That could happen anywhere. There's been times that same thing happened at our school," Brent Fleissner, athletic director and head basketball coach at Fort Cherry, said of the thefts.
Read more: http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/10292/1096316-55.stm#ixzz12oUoymZJ
Again, this is not an isolated incident...it has happened before, it will happen again...and in areas a lot different than Clairton (McDonald).
While this has happened before and will happen again, this is the first time since I've been at the O-R where it has been reported. Whether you think so or not, it is news. A local team went to play a football game and had possessions stolen.
If it happens in the future to a local team or at a local venue and it gets reported, the same will happen.
This story got to print because the people at Bentworth let us know about it.
Oh I am quite aware that the folks from Bentworth let you know about it...that much is CERTAIN. I am curious, did they let you know that the Clairton police, Clairton administration, and Clairton school board acted IMMEDIATELY to rectify the situation? Did they let you know that the Clairton Superintendent called Bentworth first thing Monday morning to handle the situation? Did they let you know that coach Lou Rood, when approached by Tom Nola to see what he could do to help them, walked away from him without even so much as a word spoke or a handshake or a thank you?
Most of the time its not reported because both parties involved take steps immediately to rectify the situation...just like what happened here. The only difference this time is that Bentworth wanted to make sure everyone knew that they had stuff taken while they were in Clairton. I wonder if they would have went running to the papers if this would have happened in Fort Cherry or Chartiers Houston or Avella? Im betting not. They did this to try and embarrass Clairton...and no one can convince me otherwise.
So, by the logic of some people here, if a convenience store is held up in a community where the same convenience store has been held up before, it just shouldn't be reported.
Im sorry mike i didnt know that the visiting teams locker room had been broken into and robbed already once this year? Oh yeah, it hasnt. In fact, I cant even remember the last time that has happened in Clairton. I mean to use your analogy you are saying that this is a regular occurrence in Clairton and everyone needs to know about it to keep on the look out. PLEASE. This was a bad thing that happened, but it was RARE. Oh, and by the way, did you happen to ask Bentworth and/or any of the coaches why they didnt close the door themselves?
And you didnt answer any of my questions. Did they let you know about any of the positive steps that the folks in Clairton took to help their team and their staff? The answer would be no. They only told you their side of the story to make the entire city of Clairton out to be a bunch of thug thieves. Once again, they had one intent and one intent only in going to the papers with this story...to embarrass the city, the school, and the football team, period.
Anon, did you actually read the story in the O-R?
I'm guessing you didn't because if you did, you would notice that I did not write it.
And another reason why I'm guessing you didn't is because the story states that the Clairton administrators are taking steps to remedy the situation.
Read before you write.
I think some people in Clairton need to calm down. Complaining about people's motives, or accusing them of having ulterior motives, doesn't seem like a good way to dissolve the image Clairton might have.
From this point, no anonymous comments will be posted on this subject.
if you have something to say on this subject (no matter what side of the argument you are on), it will only be accepted if you have a registered google account.
No fake names.
Only registered google account users will have comments accepted.
We can't criticized Mike Kovak for putting this into print. If I got the story I would've posted it on my blog in a heartbeat too. How do you think Newspapers get subscribers? They post controversial stuff. Its the same reason why Bill O'Reilly, Glenn Beck, Keith Olberman are so popular, whether you like or hate those guys you're going to watch. Mike White and Josh Yohe would've put this into print as well. I'm sure Mike knew he was going to get heat from Clairton folks for putting this out there. And if that didn't cross his mind, he should be fired.
Put your shoe's on Bentworth's HC's feet for a minute. If you worked with kids all winter/summer and they get stuff stolen, you'd be pissed as well. And on top of that your team just got humiliated on the field. Damn right I wouldn't want to talk to Nola either. Sometimes the best words are the words unspoken. These HC's are father figures to alot of kids. The same way Nola would've been pissed off if something like this happened to our boys at another stadium.
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