Because termination is not the only measure for an inexcusable act. I disagree that he would be fired from any other workplace. Your third sentence doesn't apply - I never suggested it isn't a workplace.
There are quite a few cases of a person throwing one punch or one hard slap causing the other person to fall and hit their head. The fall causes the head injury and death. Just one slap or punch that caused the other individual to lose balance, but manslaughter just the same. Have to be careful when throwing a punch. Just happened at a 49er/Ram game. One punch. Saw this same thing happen in South Florida in traffic where a man threw one punch at a man in his 60 that fell, hit head and died. Really be careful in any type of escalation or reaction now. If you beep your horn now in South Florida, you could potentially be shot. Crazy times.
Your exact words, "Inexcusable, sure. But this isn't "any workplace" either. I'm in the "shouldn't be fired" camp at the moment."
Sports have all kinds of exceptions. Hockey, boxing and MMA (fights at weigh-in outside the ring), NFL guys throw punches. Sports are not the same as my 9ffice.
This didn't happen during the heat of the game. It was after the game, during the postgame handshake where good sportsmanship is expected. Would the punch been acceptable during the game had it been a player punching another player? I mean, where do you draw the line?
I understand that, but we're not talking about players. This was a coach. A coach with a prior history. A coach representing a very fine institution that is supposed to be setting an example for the young men he's leading. I don't think comparing this to boxers or hockey players getting in a brawl is apples to apples.
I agree, but the assertion was that a workplace is a workplace, and I am just pointing out we make exceptions in competitive sports all the time already.
What is the law in Wisc on assault? I thought that punching someone in most states was considered battery, a crime.
This!! Look- I'm the first one to argue for athletes to receive grace after a mistake in the heat of a game. But a COACH in a HANDSHAKE line with a prior incident. No, no, no. They are the adults in the room. They need to act like it. Michigan needs to fire him.
Not at all. Saying college basketball is t ANY (as in typical) workplace is nowhere near saying it isnt a workplace. D-1 hoops at that level isnt in the same stratosphere as where you and I work everyday. Like it or not, a lot of passes are granted and heads are turned that would not happen at my workplace.
I understand what you are saying, and I generally agree with just about all of your posts, but your justification that basketball isn't "Any" workplace isn't valid. Would it apply to a high school coach? Losing your temper and striking someone, even in the heat of the moment, although I've felt the same as he did at times, isn't justifiable. It's called self control and what he did is egregious, especially since this isn't the first time it's happened.
The biggest issue I have is that he didn't immediately recognize it as the wrong course of action. At this point, any apology may come off as coerced and disingenuous. Go GATORS! ,WESGATORS
He should be fired. These are the facts that led me to that conclusion: 1. It’s his 2nd offense 2. He hit a coach. He didn’t hit Gard. He hit a totally different assistant coach that didn’t touch him. You can’t claim “self defense you can’t touch me” by hitting someone totally different. 3. He initiated it with his comment to Gard. He was already hot. Clearly Gard had no bad intention when he touched him to explain himself. Howard dramatically escalated it If it was his first offense, if Gard initiated the confrontation, and if the slap was on Gard… then I’d be on board with the suspension. But the facts are far worse and he should be fired
