Coach Michael Crawley

If you have kids and they've participated in sports, you might know that coaching can be a thankless job, especially when its on a volunteer basis.

Parents whine about everything -- playing time for their kids, coaching techniques, game strategy.

Of course, these same know-it-all moms and dads aren't willing to volunteer their time to serve as coaches. They just have time to bitch and moan.

But I digress.

Parents of kids playing in the Bulldog Football Program have reason to be concerned about an assistant coach, Michael Crawley.

From CudahyNow:

A Cudahy Middle School assistant football coach was suspended from attending games or practices for allegedly assaulting a 12-year-old player Oct. 24. Police are investigating the incident.

According to a police report, Michael Crawley, 39, grabbed the boy by his facemask and threw him to the ground, yelling profanities and threatening to kill him, after the boy performed a two-person block during practice, knocking over Crawley's son, who plays on the team. Crawley told police, he "lost his cool," and that the boy performed an illegal chop block, which injured his son.

"I'll (expletive) kill you, you son of a (expletive)," Crawley said, according to the report.

Brain Molar, a CMS assistant coach, witnessed the incident, and told authorities it was the most frightening experience he has encountered, the report said.

Molar then described the assault as a "WWF body slam," and that he heard Crawley swear numerous times to the boy.

Jack Littman, director of the Bulldog Football Program, also witnessed the assault, and said Crawley should be charged with a crime, the report said.

"Our coach went nuts, he picked up the kid and threw him to the ground and said 'I'll (expletive) kill you, you son of a (expletive),'" he said to police.

Crawley's son was taken to St. Luke's South Shore Hospital and was treated for a deep thigh bruise, and was scheduled for a magnetic resonance imaging exam at a later date.

The other boy's shoulder was bruised and was put in a sling.

No, it's not good for a coach to grab a kid by his facemask, body slam him, and threaten to kill him.

That's definitely not good. That's more than losing one's cool.

I understand that Crawley would be upset about a player doing an illegal chop block on his son.

That boy should have been reprimanded, or suspended, or even thrown off the team, depending on what the team's rules are.

It goes without saying that physical violence and death threats by the coach are an appropriate reprimand.

Crawley will no doubt apologize for the incident at some point, at least he should.

In this case, however, I don't think that he should be welcomed back as a coach anywhere.

(NOTE: Although the team practices at the Cudahy Middle School field, it is not connected with the Cudahy School District.)

There's more to a sport than just the activity itself. Participation teaches lessons in discipline, integrity, and respect.

Clearly, Crawley fails on all counts.

His behavior was so out of line that this should be a "ONE strike and you're out" matter.

I've seen middle school coaches lose control, but I've never witnessed anything like this.

I agree that Crawley should be charged for the assault.

And to all those whiny parents with kids in sports--

Thank the coach.

For all your complaining, you should be thankful that your child wasn't coached by Crawley.