Just damn.
If you want on the list, FReepmail me. This IS a high-volume PING list...
Posted on 10/13/2005 8:04:14 AM PDT by reagandemo
By ERIC ZAGER / WHAS11 News
“It’s kinda crazy for somebody so young to die so early.”
One of their own, a newcomer to Western High School, Francisco Valle-Victorino was a goalie on Western’s undefeated soccer team. On Tuesday, he died from injuries he received in a big district game against Pleasure Ridge park.
“He was a good kid,” says student Calvin Miles.
Valle-Victorino is so new at Western, they don’t have his picture. The school flew the Mexican flag Tuesday in his honor, as well as the American flag at half-staff.
Principal Louis Hughley was worn out after spending the night at the hospital. “This has been the toughest day of my career. I’ve been in this business for 30 years.”
It’s still not clear what killed Valle-Victorino, but an opposing player trying to score kicked the ball, striking him in the neck.
“Everybody loved him. He was a lovely guy on the team. I know a lot of his peers loved him, loved to be around him,” says Western Soccer Coach Montrelle Irvin.
Despite having a significant language barrier, Valle-Victorino was an instant hit with classmates on and off the field.
“He was nice, friendly. He spoke nicely. He didn’t really cuss around me or nothing like that. He was a nice guy,” says classmate Laessence Buckner.
Officials won’t know exactly what caused his death until an autopsy is performed.
A memorial fund has been established for Valle-Victorino. Donations can be made at any Fifth Third Bank branch.
Web story produced by Jay Ditzer.
What if the kid's a foreign exchange student? He still doesn't belong on the team?
I like the shirt, but that sure looks like a volleyball.
Really? My high school soccer team had Brazillian citizens, Colombian citizens, and even an Irish citizen. They won the state championship and made it to the finals every year I was there.
As hard as it may be for you to believe, there are no laws against non-citizens attending schools whether private (like mine) or public.
Just damn.
If you want on the list, FReepmail me. This IS a high-volume PING list...
BTW: Do you have a problem with displays of the confederate flag? I don't.
LOL, no it didn't...
hahaha... good catch...
Just most of them.
"If he was a Mexican citizen, there was no reason for him to be on an American school soccer team.
If he was an American citizen, there's no reason to fly a Mexican flag."
Now what the hell in that statement is racist? NOTHING! He is absoloutely correct. Ghetto schools? What the hell was that about? People like you come on here and make crap up just to get the chance to call somebody "racist". Last I heard Mexican wasn't even a race, it's a freakin' nationality.
Grow up and take your stupid name calling somewhere else.
My son's high school soccer team had exchange students on every year...from various contries all over the world. We have a very large Mexican population (legal and I'm sure illegal) here. But whether or not this boy was legal or illegal, this is a small gesture by the school which the members of his team would appreciate as well.
Cindie
So it is right that a Mexican student has to go to school, but he shall be banned from playing with his classmates soccer after school in the HS team? I can´t believe how someone can be so antisocial. I´m glad the principal didn´t think like you, and obviously the deads classmates either.
Izzy Dunne, you seem to have a problem with foreigners attending public schools in the US. In your opinion, they should be send to ghetto schools or even better, send home, right? Foreigners out, is that what you want Izzy?
And if foreign students are allowed to visit schools, they shall be banned from after-school sports. No US tax money for non-US kids. US kids shall play with US kids only, what? Izzy, I recommend you to do the "am I antisocial"-test... I really cannot believe your attitude.
Yeah, you're right. I guess I'm guilty of the assumption game. Mea culpa.
Since this question has not yet been asked properly, I'll ask it - Was Francisco Valle-Victorino here legally? I'll even throw in the follow-up in the event that the answer is negative - If he was here illegally, what was he doing on the soccer team?
And, legal or not, he was probably on the team because (a) he liked to play, (b) he played well, and (c) the team wanted to win.
He's probably been playing soccer longer than most Americans on the team.
Now, he might be illegal. But I'm not sure how the school would know about that. It's not really part of their their purview to check for legal residency status.
Don't get me wrong. I think SOMEBODY should be checking for legality, but I don't know if it should be the schools. They have a tough enough time just teaching effectively.
I think legal residence status should be verified by every employer, but that's a separate thread...
In Germany, we have the state authorities checking the legal status of those who live here. I´m all for sending illegals back - be it here or in the US. But it´s certainly not right to punish the kids for the faults of their parents. As long as they live in the US, they shall be allowed to play in the school teams. Plus, there is no indication that this kid was an illegal alien. It is beyond me to call for a "US only"-policy for sports teams on HS, and especially on such a sad thread.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.