Coach suspended for ripping team in newspaper

Don't know if this is a D_B or if it should be in journalism topics, but here it is:

http://www.newsradio880.com/pages/193449.php?contentType=4&contentId=298949

Coach Suspended Over Comments to Newspaper

PUTNAM, CT (AP) -- The longtime boys' basketball coach at Putnam High School has been suspended for two games for published comments he made about the team after a loss.

Tony Falzarano, who has won 533 games in his 33 seasons at Putnam, criticized his team after Saturday's loss to rival Tourtellotte Memorial High.

``You can't make chicken salad out of chicken you-know-what,'' he told the Norwich Bulletin. ``And right now, we are chicken-you-know what.''

Principal Bill Barry said he saw the comment in the newspaper and decided action was warranted.

``He's been a coach for a long time, I have a lot of respect for him,'' Barry said. ``But his quotes in the paper were not acceptable.''

Falzarano disagrees, saying his free-speech rights have been violated. He has hired a lawyer.

He said he met with the team Tuesday and discussed the situation.

``I told them that if I offended anyone, my team, the parents, the community, then I'm sorry for that,'' Falzarano said. ``But my integrity is being questioned.''

 

Paging Starman ...

 

The Turtles can bring out the worst in a coach.

 

I've printed worse than that. I guess Putnam is a sensitive area.

 

What a chicken you know what decision.

 

When asked about the low Iowa Basic Skills scores of her third graders, Ms. Susie said "You can't make chicken salad out of chicken you-know-what. Right now, we're chicken you-know-what."

 

On another thought, why did the writer put the hyphens in different places on the chicken you-know-what?

 

There was a soccer coach in Georgia last year or the year before who was fired for less than that. Forget suspension. He questioned their effort and was shown the door without any lovely parting gifts. I think this place probably got it right. Coaches shouldn't talk that way about high school kids.

 

I think remarks like that are a little harsh to make about high school kids' play. But I also don't think the coach should be suspended; especially after apologizing to his players.

 

that's weak sauce

 

Could not disagree more. I've heard and printed far worse from a coach. This guy didn't call any specific players out, didn't use any sort of epithets, and wasn't specific about anything. All he said was that his team played like shit. If his team played like shit, then he should be able to say his team played like shit. Hell, he even censored himself, which is better than I've seen from some coaches. Candor should not be punished.