Basketball award certificate

COACH GIVES 'CRYBABY AWARD' TO TEENAGER

PLEASANTVILLE, N.J.-At a middle-school awards banquet, basketball coach James Guillen, 24, presented a "Crybaby Award" to a 13-year-old player.

Guillen had promised the boy a special award, which turned out to be a trophy with a baby on a pedestal. The boy's name was misspelled. The coach told the boy he got the award because "he begged to get in the game, and all he did was whine."

Although the board of education voted to fire Guillen, superintendent Edwin Coyle ordered a five-day suspension and a coaching ban. Guillen, who hasn't commented yet, must also forfeit a pay raise, attend sensitivity training, and apologize publicly.

"We have a young man here who made a bonehead mistake," Coyle said. "[Guillen] has a lotto offer. ..and we think he has a good future here."

Family members said the boy was very embarrassed. His father said he just wanted his son "to have a trophy and certificate like everyone else got. No less, no more."

Vernon Walker, a former coach of Guillen's, said Guillen used poor judgment but the award must be taken in context. The "crybaby" designation, Walker said, told players they "argue too much and [should] focus more on [their] play."

Source: The Associated Press

Do you think Guillen's punishments were appropriate? Why or why not? If you were his superintendent, would you have fired him? Why or why not?

What emotions do you suspect this boy experienced at the banquet? afterward? What long-term impact might the award have on him? Is it ever appropriate for a coach to criticize a player in front of teammates? in public? Explain. If the player did indeed whine a lot, was Guillen's criticism legitimate? Why or why not? Do you think the player learned the lesson that he needed to focus more on his own play? Why or why not?

Do you think Guillen considered the consequences of his actions ahead of time? Why or why not? Can you think of more constructive or productive ways that the coach could have pointed out the boy's shortcomings? What consequences should someone face for one case of poor judgment? Should a promising teacher get a second chance when young people's emotions are at stake? Why or why not?

Are embarrassment and humiliation effective ways to learn a lesson? If so, under what circumstances?

When someone embarrasses you, do you fight back? run for cover? other? Think of a "bonehead mistake" you've made: Were you able to make amends for it? If so, how? What consequences did it have on others? on you?

Scripture links: 2 Kings 2:23-25; Psalm 69:19-20; Proverbs 14:9; 22:10-11; Matthew 18:15-17; Titus 2:6-8; and James 3:1-2.

STEPHANIE MARTIN is a contributing editor for group and writes weekly Breaking News discussion starters for group's online resource MinistryandMedia.com. She's a freelance writer and editor in Colorado.