my god that should be in the criminal code…
Oh, the humanity! Won’t someone think of the children? :rolleyes:
Why do I always miss these threads in the early stages?
Harborwolf’s post bears repeating, but I need to add something to this:
Dear Mr. Croteau (if that actually is you who posted earlier),
You are your son’s moral compass. He looks to you for guidance, wisdom and support…and by going to the legal system, YOU LET HIM DOWN. When your son did not win the MVP award and he became distraught…YOU SHOULD HAVE BUILT HIM UP mentally and spiritually, not tear everything else around you down! How will this young man ever know how to overcome obstacles or setbacks if you try to force a league to be compliant to one person’s needs or desires which become hollow when/if they acquiesce? If your action is successful, it just tarnishes the actual MVP title to as a popularity contest. If you knew better, your son is more deserving than that. Let it go.
Again, YOU MUST BUILD HIM UP, not tear everything around him down.
There are many paths to an ultimate goal or milestone. Being MVP is minor goal in my opinion, because there are many players deserving of this, yet only one can be chosen. Just be glad he was at least considered for the award. Why did you fail to make this unfortunate event a catalyst for your son to try harder, and when I say try harder, I don’t mean more goals…I mean better all-around play…better teamwork, passing, defense, communication, leadership, team spirit, exempalary conduct…that is what a real MVP is all about. And especially…ESPECIALLY…admit defeat gracefully, even when it has to do with a ballot box. You dropped the puck on that one, Dad.
Sure you may bitch about a conspiracy to make sure that your son didn’t become MVP, real or perceived, but the way your handling this exposes you for who you are, a short-sighted, obsessive father who (at the high expense of his own kid) is trying to live vicariously through his son. I bet you’ve already heard that before, huh? You know why? Because virtually every father has done that with their son’s to a certain degree…some more than others, and others to the shear detriment of their kid…you are associated with this latter group by way of your actions, and even setting precedents for future obsessive fathers to ruin their kids, precedents that really shouldn’t become anyone’s reality.
I too have coached/managed for my son’s hockey team. I’ve met many parents from all kinds of background and character. I really felt sorry for the kids whose parents were always critical, derisive, accusational of anything that the team/coach/manager/league/rink did or didn’t do. The kids became pariahs by association of their parent(s). That probably happened to your son, quite unfortunate for him, and enraging you to new heights by trying to right earlier wrongs (that were probably started by you to begin with) with ever more threats and force to give your son what you didn’t have, but wanted. Ever try bailing a boat with a small bucket and never catch up? That’s what happened to your son’s love for the game when your overzealousness punched repeated gaping holes in his boat. Stop punching, and start patching, before he despises you.
My son never had the natural talent to master the sport, but he certainly had my support to play his best without my outside influence, even when it didn’t match up to the best player with the worst dad. He still felt good about himself after the game…and that’s what matters in life. May your son feel the same way someday. BUILD HIM UP. My prayers go to him and you for success earned the hard way. That is what makes it worthwhile.
YR