WPCNR VIEW FROM THE UPPER DECK. By Fast Johnny. February 28, 2007: The sanctimonious Masterminds of THE prestigious  Section 1 Executive Board have spoken! Those 40 kids who were denied a chance to run at the Section 1 State Qualifier last weekend because meet officials would not let them for failure of their coaches?

Well, they are not gonna run, jump, or compete in the states.

White Plains K.K. Gilmartin-Donohue (# 471) running in the New York City Marathon Invitational in November 2004 Photo WPCNR Sports Archive.

Will the administrators of the State Championships step in and invite the West Point 40 to run, jump and compete? It is the West Point 40's only chance. Somebody has to use their heart and their head here.

Well, they still can’t run. Do you believe that?

The Section 1 Executive Board in their infinite wisdom refused to give the West Point 40 a pass to the State Championships this weekend, even though their failure to register for the Qualifier was no fault of their own.

Incredibly, stupidly, cruelly with pomposity and hubris beyond belief, the Section 1 Masterminds said the Boys and Girls Coordinators “made the right decision not to let the West Point 40 participate in the Qualifier.”

Made the right decision?

Are you kidding me?

These coordinators were so on top of their game that they reminded coaches only one day before the meet that they had to register.

These coordinators were so on top of their meet, that they could not figure out how to weave the 40 athletes (of hundreds) into their proper qualifying events – that would have taken a little work and thinking.

I have been to the West Point meet. A lot of standing around. No communication. Total inept chaos is how it is managed.

These coordinators saw that it was easier to follow the rules than follow their hearts and do the right thing. That’s assuming they have hearts. But they didn’t last weekend.

They took the easy way out. Rather than bust heads and butts to make things right on the scene and get those kids into the events because it was the right thing to do.

How come they could not let them run last weekend? How hard was it to make those adjustments?

You just add 1 or 2 to each heat. Don’t tell me you could not do that?  It’s races. No big deal. Screw the technology. Use eyes not bar codes to do the times.

 They said the kids could not run.

Yet, high school sports is supposed to be all about the kids.

And the kids are always, always being browbeaten to step up to the plate, sacrifice for the team, gut it out and the dozens of exhortations coaches love to say.

However, when it came time last weekend and yesterday morning for these coaches and athletic mentors and mahatmas who administrate the Section to "step up" -- THEY STEPPED DOWN.

They let the children down to make their POWER apparent. Truly an ego decision.

Ladies and gentlemen of the Section 1 Executive Board, you have compounded the West Point felony by denying Lawrence Campbell of Peekskill, the fastest man in his event, Tewado Latty of White Plains expected to qualify and Brittany Brown of Pelham in the girls high jump, and of course, the Tigers Kaylin Gilmartin-Donahue in the 1,500, and of course the other 36 kids you screwed.

You had it within your power yesterday to turn over a bad decision and make a good decision.

Well, you made the wrong decision.

So easy to wash your hands of this isn't it?

You could have at least given the Coordinators who failed to coordinate the boot.

And next year, you should put in new Boys and Girls Track Coordinators. Did you do that? No.  Of course not, you laud them: “They made the right decision.”

Good job Brownie.

Is the Section 1 Board made up of former FEMA employees? Seems like it.

Now, the youngsters they denied states to – well a good state showing by these kids might have figured into them winning a scholarship.

Well not now.

No college coach is going to want to hear “I didn’t qualify for the states in 2007 because my coach failed to register me.”  How stupid does the kid feel saying that to the coach.

So next year kids – make sure you give your coaches some backup…remind them: “Coach, am I registered for the states?”

They won’t believe it.

I can’t believe it either, can you?

Now you cannot sue unless you can prove damages, but if Mr. Campbell, Ms. Brown Ms. Gilmartin-Donohue and Lawrence Campbell fail to get scholarships, they might have a multi-million dollar lawsuit against the Section and the school systems that let them down in about a year or so.

That the Section on the five school districts will understand.

Circling the wagons.

Why is it that the grownups who run things always circle the wagons and protect incompetence among their own instead of stepping in and saying, ‘Brownie, you did a lousy job here, and the coordinators should have let you run.”

If the Section Executive Board is fearful of the state meet – they could explain the situation – and ask the state to allow the West Point 40 in.

But, sheesh….this is the right decision??????

Wake up and see the elephant with muddy feet walking across the playing field here.

The Section is being run more like major league baseball every day – no reason, no justice, no intelligence. And this does not even touch the disgrace of how hockey violence is being handled.

We now know once and for all high school sports is not for the kids, it’s for the grownups, and whatever stipends and prestige they pitifully cling to in managing the section and high school sports so ineptly for their own amusement and egos.

There is nothing wrong with the rule you have to register.

But when incompetence on the part of the administrators in the section and on the coaching level  is clearly demonstrated, the rule has to be waived.

Still time brother

Now the folks who run the State Championships have three days to make these things right and extend invitations to the West Point 40.

Step up States where Section 1 did not.

Extend invitations to the West Point 40 to run.

Personally -- but not through the coordinators or the coaches -- they might forget to tell the kids.