Nice post. A few comments. A basketball court is a safe environment, or it should be. What happened was an assault. I hope he learns from it too. There's no place for it, no matter the history, or how it was called, how it unfolded during the course of the game. There are sports that require throwing hands, this isn't one of them. With all due respect, how do you let them "resolve it"? And it needs to be talked about so that type junk doesn't happen again.

Nice post. A few comments. A basketball court is a safe environment, or it should be. What happened was an assault. I hope he learns from it too. There's no place for it, no matter the history, or how it was called, how it unfolded during the course of the game. There are sports that require throwing hands, this isn't one of them. With all due respect, how do you let them "resolve it"? And it needs to be talked about so that type junk doesn't happen again.

 

Your correct a basketball court is a safe place to be. I was talking about in the event that these two teams meet in the region. I've already heard many people saying that if something is not done to the Cordia player then there's "gonna be trouble". I was trying to encourage everyone not to fuel to the fire so that every redneck from BOTH sides doesn't come to the game looking to fight. If the stands are filled with people ready to fight, THEN it becomes a dangerous environment.

 

I also agree that throwing hands is not part of the game but neither is elbows. Anytime someone strikes another person it is an assault whether it be a punch, a kick, an elbow, or even a push! Assaulting someone is always serious no matter how it was done or why it was done. That's why there are rules against it and punishments for it. The fact of the matter is, is that this is not the first and unfortunately will not be the last. You can talk till your blue in the face, put it on every news station in the world, and throw Chapman in prison and it will not stop it. I was hoping that people would see that if we keep showing the video and keep talking about it, then it only makes people more angry. So if the stands are filled with angry people and the players come in angry, guess what's gonna happen on the first little bump!! And when I say "talking about it", I mean saying how "enraged" they are and how he should never be allowed to play again, etc. If talking about it helps prevent it, then do it in a responsible way. Such as informing students/players about how to control their anger, or about how this action is going to follow Chapman for a long time. The way I've heard most people talking about it is NOT gonna prevent it, its only making people more angry!!

How do you let them resolve it? A fight till the death!!!!!! Just kidding. Let them figure it out. Its not anyone's place to be telling either of them what they should do or how they should feel. If they can talk and Johnson can forgive, great! If they decide that Johnson gets a swing at Chapman, great! If Johnson doesn't want to forgive, great! At least they are in control of the outcome! People need to stop saying this needs to be done, that needs to be done!!! We are not Chapman and we are not Johnson. I do believe however that Johnson is a good person and has the capacity to eventually forgive. It may not be right now but eventually. That is, if people will let him!