T-Ball pays player to assault boy with autism

Long Term Care Columnist / Guide · Jul 18, 2005

Just when you thought you had heard everything, indeed:
http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/05197/539043.stm
Arranged attack to sideline autistic player, police say
Saturday, July 16, 2005
By Moustafa Ayad, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
A Fayette County tee-ball coach was arraigned on felony charges yesterday that he bribed a 7-year-old player to throw a baseball at a mentally disabled teammate's face to keep the boy out of a game.
State police said Mark Downs Jr., 27, of Dunbar, offered his star player $25 on June 27 to hit an 8-year-old autistic child with a baseball because he wanted to win the game.
"Just when you thought you had seen everything," said state Trooper Thomas B. Broadwater.
Downs' lawyer, Thomas Shaffer, said his client denies the charges.

All I can add here is, MEAN PEOPLE SUCK. :angryfire

allnurses Guide · Jul 18, 2005

Oh for God's sakes T-ball is no where near a competitive sport . . .this is the time kids learn to hit a ball off a T and most of the time the kids in the infield and outfield are not paying enough attention to even field a ball.

Sheesh . . .. it never ends. I went to an American Legion game last Friday (19 year old men) and two coaches on one team where thrown out for arguing with the ump . . .doing a fair imitation of the major league guys who go chest to chest . .. completely ridiculous.

I think it is up to the parents to police this stuff .. . . when we have a parent in the stands who starts to get mouthy, we take care of it.

This is one case where I think litigation might just be a good idea.

steph

grace90, LPN, LVN · Oct 10, 2005

In this day and age of teaching children tolerance and diversity, why is aggression, bullying, teasing, and rejection of developmentally disabled children tolerated and not discouraged??? :angryfire :crying2:

My girls will grow up understanding and accepting individuals with developmental disabilities thanks to the many lessons taught to them by their 7 year old autistic brother who can't say a word. :) :heartbeat

prmenrs, RN · Oct 10, 2005

If that had been my son (who is "developmentally delayed", but not autistic), that coach would be mourning the loss of a couple of testosterone producing endocrine glands.