Friday, January 25, 2008

HE CAN PLAY!

Strath Haven's Bobby Calderoni, the crutches-using soccer player on the school's JV, has won his appeal to the PIAA Board of Directors, after being banned from interscholastic play.

He was deemed too dangerous to the other players on the field by Brad Cashman, the PIAA executive director, after he received a complaint from the parents of a goalie who broke his finger and blamed Calderoni for the mishap. The board overturned Cashman's decision almost unanimously.

I wrote about Bobby in my print column today. Read it. It's good.

More Sunday.

6 Comments:

Anonymous Anonymous said...

That is great news for that young man. Sort of ironic though that the state PIAA, which supports inclusion and diversity, would restrict someone with a handicap, and would rule him ineligible to begin with. Even more ironic is that the family that complained is probably liberal too.

Oh well, they got this one right!

January 25, 2008 2:27 PM 
Blogger Franny Ward said...

Sorry, Children with "handicaps" shouldn't be allowed to play sports. Next you"ll have blind kids and their parents wanting to play.

Just like when an "All Girl's" volleyball team is up against some "boy" who screams discrimination, and has to let the "Boy" play or risk a law suit.


And to "Anonymous" who said...

"Even more ironic is that the family that complained is probably liberal too." Liberal people wouldn't be the kind to complain. Consertatives would. Get it right my boy.. Get it right.

January 25, 2008 6:22 PM 
Blogger Spencerblog said...

"Children with handicaps should't be allowed to play sports."

Now, there's an elightened view of inclusion.

January 25, 2008 10:24 PM 
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Nice column today Gil!

I can't believe someone actually thinks children with handicaps should not be allowed to play sports. I guess children with learning disabilities shouldn't be entitled to an education.

January 27, 2008 5:24 PM 
Anonymous DJC said...

To Franny.....I happen to be Calderoni's brother. I played football and lacrosse at Strath Haven and guess what....I have Cerebral Palsy too. Granted I don't have as a severe case, but since I have a "handicap" does that mean I shouldn't have been able to play.

Your comments just go to show the ignorance that is still present in today's society.

I bet if it were you or your children you would not be disagreeing with the decision.

Grow up its the 21st century.

January 28, 2008 6:53 AM 
Blogger Franny Ward said...

Well djc I stand corrected. If I were to bother to have read the article in full I've would have posted differently.

And as far as me dealing with "Handicapped" children, I've been active with them for over ten years. I looked at the legal issue, not the personal issue like I should have before opening my big mouth.

Cheers.

January 29, 2008 12:27 PM 

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