I have had it with the Kietzman vs KC Star virtual fight. What was Frank Martin's sin? He had kids playing basketball that were not really within the defined high school boundary. OH MY GAWD!
I grew up in a Catholic school system in the midwest. Catholic/private schools have been "recruiting" for years. Hell, in Chicago they have two leagues, the catholic and public. And guess what, the catholic schools kick the public schools ass in every sport year in and year out. And look at the make up of the team. With names like Jayron, Dalonte, and Aschante, what saint were they named after? Or as my dear departed father in law used to say when watching Notre Dame play. "My goodness, there sure are lot of sun burned Irishmen playing football these days". But you get my point.
2ndly, right here in Manhattan we have one high school, MHS, a very good school that all 4 of my children attended but thanks to the high school rule which now allows parents to request their child go to a different school, many parents indeed do opt to have their kids go to Riley High, Rock Creek or Blue Valley even though they live in Manhattan. Damn..call the KC Star! Riley High School actually goes to the 8th graders at Manhattan Catholic Schools to convince them to go there. Bob and Mary Cosh, that's right Coach Cosh was so impressed with Riley High School coachs (which gave us McGraw and Nelson) that they sent their boys there. They lived in Manhattan.
And, I bet you would like to send your kid to Notre Dame Prep Academy where many future Basketball stars like Michael Beasley play. Oh wait, it costs $20,000 per year to send your kid to a place like that! Dang! Beasley's folks must be well off financially.
So, I am a single parent working two jobs who's son has shown basketball skills. I watch as Coach Martin's high school teams consistently win and kids who are at his school get noticed and get scholarships to college but I live 2 miles outside of the high school boundaries. There are not many "big time" sports Catholic high schools in Miami and they all have waiting lists. Well, under a Florida statute, if a minor is domiciled in a home for more than 10 days and you are not an illegal alien, the adult in that house becomes the defacto guardian thus it is legal under Florida law. One of the parents at the high school will let my son live with them for his junior and senior year so he now has a chance to get coached by Coach Martin and maybe get noticed by Division 1 college coaches. (this statute is why no charges were brought against Coach Martin)
That's it? That's what went down here? No money given under the table, no cars, no coaches taking tests, no drugs, no jail time? That's it? Kids came from outside the high school boundaries to play for Frank Martin?!
Wait, did I read that Coach Martin won back to back to back 6A State titles in all of freaking Florida? He had better teams than in Orlando, Tampa, Jacksonville, Ft. Lauderdale? There are over 60 6A schools in Miami alone and he was pounding them so bad he was wishing for better competition? So not only can he coach but kids want to play for him so much so that their parents are willing to do what ever it takes to get their son within his high school's boundaries to play?
You know, as a K-State fan I am excited about the fact that he can coach and he can recruit. I know Coach Martin personally and he is hurt by all this media crap. I am all in with Frank, Dalonte, Brad and Scott.
It's also time for baseball and spring football so that is where you will find me.
