A U-8 soccer coach who blasted political correctness and encouraged competition is now out of a job.

Michael Kinahan of Scituate, Mass., wrote in an email to parents of his new team:

… Some say soccer at this age is about fun and I completely agree. However, I believe winning is fun and losing is for losers. Ergo, we will strive for the “W” in each game.

… I argue that competition is good and is important to the evolution of our species and our survival in what has become an increasingly competitive global economy and dangerous world. Second place trophies are nothing to be proud of as they serve only as a reminder that you missed your goal; their only useful purpose is as an inspiration to do that next set of reps. Do you go to a job interview and not care about winning?

… But it is imperative that we all fight the good fight, get involved now and resist the urge to become sweat-xedo-wearing yuppies who sit on the sidelines in their LL Bean chairs sipping mocha-latte-half-caf-chinos while discussing reality TV and home decorating with other feeble-minded folks. I want to hear cheering, I want to hear encouragement, I want to get the team pumped up at each and every game and know they are playing for something.

And from first hand experience, how many youth sports coaches have ever wanted to say to the parents “Unless there is an issue concerning the health of my players or inside info on the opposition, you probably don’t need to talk to me?”

I admire the guy.

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It sounds like the real reason he was fired was that he yelled at youth refs, which is not cool. But a talking to would have sufficed.

This entry was posted on Wednesday, April 1st, 2009 at 11:56 am by A Senior Administration Official and is filed under Politically Correct ... and stupid. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.