The State of Iowa has a rule that says that kids who flunk classes are ineligible to participate in interscholastic athletics for six weeks.
Craig Richman, a 16-year-old sophmore wrestler at Roosevelt High School in Des Moines was declared ineligible after flunking an advanced math class last Spring. He feels the "no pass, no play" rule is unfair and wrote a lengthy e-mail to the School Board last week expressing his thoughts.
One of the School Board members, Jonathan Narcisse, responded with a lenghy e-mail of his own. The gist of the response was that "playing sports is a privilege and not a right" and that Richman shgould "suck it up" and focus on exceling in the classroom.
Fine.
What's created the controversy though is another paragraph that Narcisse wrote. That paragraph reads: "I remember this great athlete in high school named Randy. The adults let him slide by. Last time I saw him was at the Git N GO gas station on Keo asking customers for money for wine and offering [oral sex] for money. It was very said because he had world class athletic talent. So much that no one told him what I'm telling you now."
In his e-mail, Narcisse did not use the phrase "oral sex". Rather he used a two word term commonly used to refer to the act.
Richman's parents are outraged that Narcisse sent her son a letter which contains a slang reference to a sex act. Other Board members are appalled at Narcisse's actions and have referred the matter to the local District Attorney.
For his part, Narcisse says that he's standing by his comments and refusing to apologize!
Later today, we'll discuss whether Jonathan Narcisse crossed the line - or whether he was simply trying to scare this particular kid straight?
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