Posted on 09/30/2005 11:52:12 AM PDT by Macaw
A legless teen in Ohio who was told he cannot play during a game in Cincinnati because of a rule requiring players to wear shoes and knee pads will be allowed to play in future games, according to a Local 6 News report.
Bobby Martin was told at halftime of a recent game at Mount Healthy High School in Cincinnati that he could not finish the game because of the shoes and knee pads rule.
Martin said the decision made him feel disabled for the first time.
"That's the first time in 17 years," Martin said. "That's a landmark."
"Bobby was in tears about that, the whole team was mad," a teammate said. "The coach was in tears."
The Colonel White High School senior had played in all of the other season games as a member of the punt return team, using his arms to move down the field.
After checking the case, the Ohio High School Athletic Association said game officials made a mistake when they kept Martin from playing last week, according to an Associated Press report.
"The officials erred, but they erred on the side of caution," said Bob Goldring, an assistant commissioner with the OHSAA. "They did not want to see him get hurt."
Goldring said the association planned to send a letter Tuesday to the Dayton school district that reaffirms Martin's eligibility, according to a report.
Martin's story has drawn national attention. He has been encouraging others to live life to the fullest.
"Just go for it," Martin said. "Try new things in life, that's what life's all about. Don't look at me as having no legs, just look at me standing six feet tall,"
Martin is also on the school's wrestling team and is running for homecoming king.
Not so quick. I would think the kid might just have a little advantage. Correct me if I'm wrong. Not only must he be one strong cookie, he has an advantage on the filed, a kind of stealth one. Runners don't look down normally when you are running, they are looking ahead for a path, and if he's below eye level, whamo!
Nobody else is willing to say it, so I am risking getting band or zotted.
Somebody please post a video of this. I really want to see him play. It seems to me he would just get run over and stomped on.
So the deeper question becomes, 'does a kid with no head have to wear a helmut'?
Doesn't exist when "zero tolerance" comes into play.
Now I am not say that the kid with no legs couldn't tackle, I still believe that the kick returner would get an earful from his friends and teammates for "tripping" over the legless player. It would be like losing to a girl or something.
Yes, exactly, common sense is what is needed...especially to those who scoff at the notion of the "spirit" of a rule or law, as opposed to the "letter" of the law.
Oh, I see what you're saying. Well, if I was the kid that got the earful, I'd use my argument in my defense... LOL....
A society which attempts to have rules and procedures in place for every possible outcome and eventuality soon kills common sense off.
And when common sense goes, freedom goes right along with it.
When I was coaching varsity basketball, I knew some of the officials from highschool. They were the ones that were on the teams and NEVER played, well, except senior night and when there were really big leads. Now they get off on the authority of being an official. It goes without saying that they sucked as officials as much as they sucked when when they played in highschool. The official in question was probably jealous he was a bench warmer and this kid with no legs was playing in the game.
Okay, let's define common sense. Say the kid can play at the same level as his players? I say let him play. However, is anything changed by the game because of his participation (i.e. time to get on field, plays, etc)? If so, should the rest of the team be forced to accept and accomodate his handicaps all for inclusion?
I want to see more short, fat white guys in the NBA. We need to make sure there are plenty of Namibian players in the NHL. More women rugby players. Totally integrated boxing including children against adults, the blind fighting the deaf and more nuclear physicists in there too.
Yes it does! (Member Norhtern Ca Officials Assoc.)
Yes it does! (Member Norhtern Ca Officials Assoc.)
Bobby Martin is more of man than I'll ever be. God Bless him! What courage! What inspiration!
Yes it does! (Member Northern Ca Officials Assoc.) Spell check is your friend
"They did not want to see him get hurt."
Now I love this statement. You mean without shoes, someone might step on his foot?
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