OT: WIAA bans "Airball". Ridiculous.

[Mucrisco]

http://www.si.com/extra-mustard/2016/01/11/wisconsin-high-school-basketball-air-ball-scoreboard-chants-banned

[TheSultan]

Not only is that ridiculous, but when a student athlete tweeted "EAT SH*T" in response, the WIAA figured out where she went to school, informed the school administrators, and she got a five game ban. (She deleted the tweet, which was clearly meant to be a joke.)

I mean...cmon WIAA. You are that thin skinned that you tracked down where a student athlete went to school? And seriously Hilbert...suspending her? Of course the suspension is causing all sorts of ridicule and retweets - because that's how social media works.

http://usatodayhss.com/2016/wisconsin-athlete-april-gehl-hilbert-high-suspended-for-tweet-about-state-athletic-association

[MUMac]

I was going to post the other day about the girl from Hilbert that was suspended for her tweet. She used foul language, and that is likely why the suspension. But, her criticism was this new WIAA rule. I hope all High School Kids chant all these in unison. What a joke. If there is a problem, maybe they should focus on trash talking of the athletes first ...

[MayorBeluga]

Next up: not keeping score and handing out "You're a winner" trophies to everyone. Sigh.

[TheSultan]

I was going to post the other day about the girl from Hilbert that was suspended for her tweet. She used foul language, and that is likely why the suspension. But, her criticism was this new WIAA rule. I hope all High School Kids chant all these in unison. What a joke. If there is a problem, maybe they should focus on trash talking of the athletes first ...

Don't get me wrong. I certainly don't condone using foul language. However it just bugs me that administrators can't ever seem to use their judgement in cases like this.

Here is their handbook. From what I understand, they classified this tweet as a "verbal assault" and suspended her accordingly. The same penalty she would have gotten for bullying, vandalism or drug use.

http://www.hilbert.k12.wi.us/hhs/co-curricularHandbook.pdf

[TedBaxter]

The WIAA needs to remedy this by adding another football division.

[Markedman]

Don't they have something better to do then worry about meaningless **** like this?

How did any of us survive the horrors of high school?

[Goose85]

Ok, I can't stand the manner in which some younger people use the F word like it is ok in normal discourse, and I'm fine with banning foul language from being used at a high school game. But the list provided, such as airball, is an absolute joke. None of these words are really hurtful or vulgar.

Fundamentals or We can't hear you - really. These need to be banned? How embarrassing.
Many public schools have a police presence in the building now, and we are worried about students coming to a game and chanting you can't do that when there is a foul?

Here is the list from the article.
What are you going to do if the entire student section chants air ball (I didn't read the rules)?

• “Fundamentals”
• “Sieve”
• “We can’t hear you”
• “Air ball”
• “You can’t do that”
• “There’s a net there”
• “Scoreboard”
• “Season’s over” (during tournament play)

[2012Warrior]

Jeez, when I was in high school, those were the clean/boring chants. And I wasn't in high school all that long ago. Is the next update that chanting "Defense" is banned because it hurts the feelings of the offense?

[Nukem2]

Don't they have something better to do then worry about meaningless **** like this?

How did any of us survive the horrors of high school?Totally bizarre. :(

[Gato78]

Reminder: Both Sam Hauser and the Ellenson's mothers work for WIAA.

[MUfan12]

Reminder: Both Sam Hauser and the Ellenson's mothers work for WIAA.

And I'm sure they think it's ridiculous as well.

[Markedman]

Jay Bilas ‏@JayBilas 36m36 minutes ago
How ridiculous. The "adults" making these decisions have too much time on their hands, and too little sense. http://on.si.com/1ONAQPn

[IWB]

This is absurd to the nth degree. Years back they banned the "Scoreboard Cheer" from the Greater Metro Conference because of the line, "Is that not the losing team?"

Now I agree that a lot of the things that were said in the past should be banned in today's day and age...

"H-O-M-O HOMO High" was used against Marquette High kids constantly.
Then there was a kid who's last name was Moore, and it was "XXXX Moore, XXXX Moore, what's your SAT Score?"

Things like that along with the Diamond Stone "ACT" assault in Madison should be banned, but the rest? Airball? We Can't Hear You? You Can't Do That? Good God give me a break.

Should the NFL come down on Packers fans when they are losing at home in the 4th quarter and start chanting, "The Bears Still Suck"?

When I was at Marquette High our President was Fr. Bill Doran. Not a large man, not a hard core disciplinarian, but an extremely well respected man. If a ref made a bad call and the students started chanting, "Bullsh*t - Bullsh*t", no matter where he was sitting, Fr. Doran would slowly stand up and it would stop instantly, of course there was always one moron that didn't see him, but you get the point.

What now? Are teachers supposed to be armed with detention slips at games for everything they say? Absurd.

I'm sorry, but this is absolute crap. Play the games, let kids be kids and if it gets out of hand or over the top, the schools should be expected to deal with it, but the WIAA banning the list that Goose85 posted? Absolutely unreal.

[farmerdoc]

Not sure how this isn't an impingement upon free speech, especially since these are public, taxpayer funded schools for the most part.

Got to believe that there is a lawsuit in the making, as soon as the first school gets punished, by having to forfeit a game or something along those lines.

Dumb,dumb,dumb.

[Mucrisco]

http://www.sbnation.com/lookit/2016/1/3/10705228/arizona-state-is-using-a-wild-unicorn-sex-party-to-distract-free

Wonder what would happen if some kids did this.

[IWB]

I hope when State rolls around the students from all schools join together and chant Airball! before the opening tip.

[TheSultan]

And I'm sure they think it's ridiculous as well.


And if they don't, I'm not sure why that should change our minds.

[IWB]

Jay Bilas really going after them today...

https://twitter.com/JayBilas/status/686970780350038020

[Mucrisco]

I've seen far worse behavior from parents than I do the students. I agree with IWB. Let the schools decide what is appropriate and how to deal with it.

[CaribouJim]

PTI weighed in on it today and were in relative disbelief as well.

[IrwinFletcher]

What is the over/under on days for this decision to be reversed?

I will go 1.5 days.

[CaribouJim]

Jay Bilas really going after them today...

https://twitter.com/JayBilas/status/686970780350038020

Can't disagree w/ Bilas on this one. How could you? However, I am way beyond tired of his self-proclaimed conscience of college b-ball and amateur sports in general persona.

[MKE_GoldenEagleFan]

For the WIAA to be discussed on ESPN it lets you know they really stepped in it.

[mufansince72]

So they can't do it in HS, but they can go to UW Madison and chant "you can't read this" or "ACT" or "you weren't admitted" to Diamond?

[Mucrisco]

870

Ashwaubenon's response.

[Phantom Warrior]

At one school in the North Shore, one student chant that was banned by the school's administration many years ago was, "That's all right. That's o.k. You're gonna work for us one day," which was yelled when that school's team (any team) was about to lose.

[TheSultan]

What is the over/under on days for this decision to be reversed?

I will go 1.5 days.

They "clarified" yesterday that it was simply guidelines. Not a rule.

[MUMac]

They "clarified" yesterday that it was simply guidelines. Not a rule.

That is a joke. Sure, it's not a formal rule, but it certainly reads like an edict. Here is a copy of the original email from the WIAA:


"Seasons Greetings,

I hope everyone has a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year, as well as the opportunity to take a short breather.

Heading into the new year with the holiday tournaments and conference schedules ramping up, and the winter sports Tournament Series soon to follow, we want to identify a point of emphasis for sportsmanship this season.

As we reviewed the fall tournaments and the sportsmanship evaluations and observations, we want to address concerns with a noticeable increase in the amount of chants by student sections directed at opponents and/or opponents’ supporters that are clearly intended to taunt or disrespect.

Not wanting to restrict creativity or enjoyment, an enthusiastic and boisterous display of support for a school’s team is welcomed and encouraged at interscholastic events when directed in a positive manner. However, any action directed at opposing teams or their spectators with the intent to taunt, disrespect, distract or entice an unsporting behavior in response in not acceptable sportsmanship. Student groups, school administrators and event managers should take immediate steps to correct this unsporting behavior.

Some specific examples of unsporting behavior by student groups including chants directed at opposing participants and/or fans. Among the chants that have been heard at recent high school sporting events are: “You can’t do that,” “Fundamentals,” “Air ball,” “There’s a net there,” “Sieve,” “We can’t hear you,” The “scoreboard” cheer, and “Season’s over” during tournament series play.

Thanks for your assistance!"

[TheSultan]

Oh I agree with you Mac. I was simply saying that there was nothing really to "reverse." Just that they decided to "further clarify" what they supposedly meant.

[Markedman]

Full retreat mode now.....
https://twitter.com/wiaawi/status/687307981562732544

[Goose85]

This is a crazy political time where Dems and Reps can't get along, don't work together, and publicly disagree with what the other says, even if they really agree.

Thankfully there is one thing that it seems all can agree upon, and that one thing is that this recent letter emphasizing sportsmanship rules by the WIAA is crazy.

Huffington Post
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/wisconsin-high-school-chant-ban_56965df3e4b09dbb4bad5923

Fox News
http://www.foxnews.com/opinion/2016/01/13/students-advised-to-stop-chanting-u-s-u-s-and-air-ball.html

I guess it is no longer just sports sites jumping on this bandwagon.

[Hamostradamus]

Full retreat mode now.....
https://twitter.com/wiaawi/status/687307981562732544

Wow, how the hell do they get, "To be clear... there has been NO new directives, NO new rules, NO new mandates, NO new enforcement expectations." from their previous directive?

The retreat makes them look even dumber than their previous order.

[MKE_GoldenEagleFan]

They would have been better off saying nothing, now they just look silly.

[IWB]

A letter to the WIAA from State Representative Dale Kooyenga.....

http://legis.wisconsin.gov/assembly/kooyenga/pressreleases/Pages/Letter%20to%20the%20WIAA.aspx