An assault on coach shows cracks in Eagle Rock
This story comes from our friends over at the L.A. Daily News. So this is why there recently was a big shakeup over at Eagle Rock and why most of its coaches left for Glendale, hence the revamped Nitros coaching staff. Here's hoping I won't have to write a story like this on this side of town...
By Vincent Bonsignore
Staff Writer
The call arrived at 8 a.m. Friday morning, the male voice on the other end saying: "You're not going to believe what happened with the Eagle Rock football team."
The caller then proceeded to explain how a former Eagle Rock player allegedly assaulted first-year coach Johnny Lopez at practice Thursday by attacking him from behind while wearing a helmet, apparently sending Lopez to the hospital and forcing the cancellation of the Eagles' game at Belmont on Friday.
With just one game remaining, it wouldn't be a surprise if they just canceled the rest of the season.
Reportedly, the player was egged on - perhaps even paid - by current players on the team to carry out the cowardly act.
It was a shocking story, but the saddest part is that I wasn't surprised it happened.
If you've paid any attention to what has happened at Eagle Rock over the past year or so - and the Daily News has reported on it every step of the way - you understand a terrible disservice has been done to the kids on the football team by most of the adult figures in their lives.
It goes back to Eagle Rock principal Salvador Velasco's decision to get rid of coach Jerry Chou after last season. Chou had submitted a letter of resignation during the season in protest of Velasco's handling of some coaching matters at Eagle Rock. But Chou was under the impression his differences with the principal were resolved when he reached an accord with Velasco and coached the final few games of 2007.
Chou was shocked when Velasco informed him he'd have to re-apply for his job if he wished to coach the football team again.
Insulted, Chou declined to re-apply and ultimately moved to Glendale High as an assistant while remaining at Eagle Rock as a teacher.
The parents and players were enraged, pleading with Velasco to reconsider through protests, phone calls, letters and meetings.
Velasco held firm.
In came Lopez, the innocent victim in all this, blindly walking into an impossible situation. The players, out of loyalty to Chou, never gave Lopez a fair chance, disliking him for the sole reason he was replacing the coach they adored.
Whether Lopez is a good coach or not - some around the program argue he's in over his head - is irrelevant. He's the coach. Period. And the players and parents at Eagle Rock should respect that.
The players' initial disappointment is understandable, but that it was allowed to fester shows they didn't receive the proper guidance, which would have allowed them to move on and accept the new coach as their leader.
When that disappointment turned into unchecked hate, an event like the one that happened Thursday became possible.
Neither Chou nor Velasco is above blame for their original disagreement, and we'd like to think both would handle certain things differently if given the chance.
But what happened happened. Life goes on.
The real damage is what transpired in the aftermath of Chou's dismissal and the chaos that has ensued since Lopez was hired to replace him.
It's an injustice so truculent it has created a poisonous culture in which high school football players actually think it's OK to express themselves through physical intimidation. All because of a lack of perspective and guidance - by adults.
The line of guilt is long and clear.
There is Velasco, the principal who completely misread the situation, then bungled any chance of reconciliation out of arrogance. All Velasco had to do was understand where Chou was coming from when he first submitted his resignation, then tear it up after the two reached an accord.
Instead, he embarrassed the popular coach by making him beg for his job. In the process, he turned his back on the people he's paid to serve - the parents and students at Eagle Rock - by disregarding their support for a coach they loved.
This was a successful coach who guided the Eagles to four straight league titles and two consecutive City Invitational championships.
Chou deserved better, but when players and parents tried to convince Velasco he was making a grave mistake by getting rid of him, Velasco turned a deaf ear.
But Velasco isn't the only one to blame.
Chou, the ex-coach, is apparently too proud to sit his former players down and explain the importance of getting over their disappointment and moving forward in a positive direction, rather than linger on in rage.
I'd like to think Chou pulled his former players aside and told them he appreciates their support and devotion, but it's time to move on and fully support the new coach.
I'd like to believe that, but in light of what happened Thursday, how can anyone be sure?
If he has, clearly he wasn't forceful enough. Chou is probably the one person who can quell the discontent, but the fact the outrage continues tells plenty.
And let's not forget some of the parents, so emotionally tied to the program and former coach that they either stoke the flames of outrage or do nothing to extinguish it.
Either way, they've allowed a fury within their sons to burn so intense that at least some players appear to believe physically assaulting the new coach is acceptable behavior.
Is there anyone at Eagle Rock capable of teaching these kids right from wrong? Is there anyone willing to step up and tell the players life doesn't always work out in your favor, but you can't resort to breaking the law as an outlet for your disappointment?
The kids deserve blame, too. No doubt they were hurt by Velasco's decision to let Chou go, but after expressing their displeasure and voicing their feelings, Velasco stuck to his decision.
It might not seem fair, but that's the way life is sometimes, and it's high time the players at Eagle Rock understand that. You can either accept it and support the new coach or move on. But to resort to physical violence is unacceptable.
An innocent man was assaulted on a football field Thursday, and his only transgression was replacing a popular high school football coach.
It should never have happened. But the actions of the adults at Eagle Rock High allowed it to.
They should be ashamed of themselves.
Vincent Bonsignore is an assistant sports editor in charge of local content at the Daily News.
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Melendez worked as a correspondent for the San Gabriel Valley Tribune for three years and later landed a job as a freelance writer at the Los Angeles Times before accepting an offer at The Orange County Register covering high schools. Melendez covered Major League Soccer at The Register for three years before being promoted to report on the Lakers, Angels and Dodgers for the Web. Melendez also worked for the Daytona Beach News-Journal, Fresno Bee, Oakland Tribune and The Boston Globe. E-mail opinions, suggestions and tips to miguel.melendez@sgvn.com. |
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Evryone always forgets the purpose of sports. It's not just about winning on the field but off as well. The kids lose when we all forget this premise. Two egos left a vibrant program in shambles and taught the kids a lesson that violence is the answer. SAD! Let's hope cooler heads will prevail and this can be resolved in a manner that is beneficial to all.
You can't blame chou.....he did go to keppel :p
There are a lot of people to blame in this. Administrators, former coaches, players and parents. I put a large part of the blame on the former HC Chou. He could have put an end to this a long time ago. There were some earlier stories where the current players were acting like defiant towards the current HC and a former assistant coach who is a current teacher was siding with all the players. Bad situation and a terrible reflection on Chou as a man.
Shocking.