We were talking yesterday about public coaching meltdowns as exemplified by New York Giants coach Tom Coughlin.
The following story is true, but to protect those involved, we’ve changed most of the names.
On June 20th, 1974, Huron Park Public School played their arch rivals, Regent Public, for the Midland Elementary Softball Championship.
Make no mistake, this was a BIG game.
A very big game for the 13 year old ball players involved, and equally important for the two schools that were separated by a mere two blocks in the town, schools who perpetually battled for bragging rights at everything, especially softball.
Fred Wallace was the shortstop for Huron Park, and as you can imagine, he was not the most responsible or grown up 13 year old you’ve ever met.
Our third baseman was Doug Vernon, and it was very obvious early in that game that Doug was having a tough day.
Gounders skipped through his legs, pop ups were dropped and his throws to first base were wild and clanged off the graveyard fence.
Late in the game, after Doug’s fourth or 5th error, the Huron Park coach, the Grade 8 teacher, the adult in the group, Gerry Prince, came storming onto the field, directly towards me at short, pointed at Doug and ranted, ‘ Fred, what are we going to do about Vernon ? He’s killing us ! ‘
Now keep in mind, the Championship Game was on the second last day of our Grade 8 year, and our centerfielder, Mike Abramson, academically was the most gifted in that class.
Before I could respond to Mr Prince, from deep center, Mike, who was smart enough to know he had nothing to lose screamed, ‘ give the guy a [CLIP] break. Get off his back. “
The silence that followed the outburst was deafening, personally, I was terrified, and moments later the quiet was shattered by the leftfielder, Tim Hendrickson, who proclaimed, ” He heard you, Abramson. “
It was a classic moment from childhood, and one that I’d almost forgotten until I saw Tom Coughlin of the NFL Giants lose it in public at his kicker.
I wonder if any of the New York Giants backed Matt Dodge the way Mike Abramson and the Huron Park Hornets supported Doug Vernon that day.
I’m Fred Wallace