Yeah, I just wrote that. And I mean it.
I base my claim on what has been written over the past month or so on the forums for the stories that we write. One - on the Santa Fe High's girls basketball program - was created by a reader (or someone who frequents our site, at the very least).
The conversations, while stimulating for many, are vitriolic for the most part. They turn into whines and moans about the shortcomings of coaches or the programs themselves (And for some reason, Española becomes a topic in just about every one of them. I can't figure it out).
In short, this is what the topics boil down to:
- St. Michael's head girls basketball coach Martin Romero should be fired. He's a bad coach.
- Española Valley head boys basketball coach Richard Martinez should be fired for stalling in the AAAA semifinal. He'll never win a state title while he's there.
- Capital head boys basketball coach Ben Gomez deserved to be fired. He was mean to players, cold to parents and prevented the Jaguars from reaching their full potential.
- St. Michael's head softball coach Ron Noedel should be fired. He can't coach his way out of paper bag with all the talent he's had. He should have won state titles the last three years.
So, who the community wants gone are:
A coach whose led his program to three straight Class AAA semifinal appearances in girls basketball and a title game in 2008. He also saved the program when parents forced out the previous coach and got a team seeded 12th (That's a 1 followed by a 2, not a 1 or a 2) just seconds away from a AAA title game. (This would be Romero).
A coach who has led a program to its most sustained success ... EVER! Two straight AAAA appearances and a top seed the last two years. This for a program that had enjoyed The Pit venue once before he took over (Mr. Martinez, for those scoring at home).
A coach who guided a program to a Class AAAA state title, two runner-up finishes and a trip to Albuquerque in March for the last five years until this year. (Ben Gomez).
A coach who has gotten his team to the AAA softball title game twice in the last three years and is consistently a contender in one of the toughest districts in the state. (That's how bad of a coach Ron Noedel is)
For those who want to complain and stir the pot, I have a suggestion for you: Go coach.
For five years.
Open yourself to questioning from the fans at least once a week, if not more.
Open your practices for everyone to see - parents, students, media, stray dogs, etc.
Then write what you have written over the past month again.
I guarantee you never will, because then you'll know how hard of a job coaching is.
Because if you ever had to deal with parents and fans who write - and act - like you, you'd hate them as much as what I see almost every morning in those forums after a story that appears in The New Mexican.
Because the biggest problem with those programs aren't the coaches.
It's you.
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nicely said ...
ReplyDeleteSo should Bill Dimas have stayed?
ReplyDeleteNO!
His teams were never so much as exposed to fundamentals.
Nothing but rainbow passes, no aiming shots, 95% of lay-up missed, no such thing as jumping for a rebound, totally out of shape.
As such, they couldn't beat anybody, 2AAA had their number.
Did I say he deserved to stay? I mentioned the thread because it shows the depths which some people will go to spew their venom. You want to criticize Dimas for his performance? It's warranted. His record reflected that. But what about Martin Romero? Richard Martinez? Ben Gomez? Ron Noedel? Heck, even parents wanted Lanse Carter gone last year and had a petition going to drive him out.
ReplyDeleteThe problem isn't with constructive criticism. It's when people come out of the woodworks and start bashing coaches not for what they've done, but for all the wrongs they've wrought. Or perceived to have wrought.
I think the people who are bashing the coaches are nuts.
ReplyDeleteBill was a good junior high boys coach. He was WAY OUT OF HIS LEAGUE at SFHS, especially trying to coach girls. Ms. G would have been the perfect choice. The Demonettes probably wouldn't have taken State, but they would have played in the Pit.
Martin, Richard, Ben, Ron and Lanse are real coaches, with proven records.
So PVHS wanted Lanse out, even after winning state? Well, this is from the parents and fans whose claim to fame is that they can yell REACHING, REACHING louder than any others in NM.
Allow me a moment to amend what I said earlier about Coach Carter. The incident I mentioned occurred last February, before the girls won their first title. At the time - if I recall - The Elkettes were 19-3 when this "petition" circulated.
ReplyDeleteWhy Espanola comes into these articles and comments..?! Well, the ignorants will try to bring down Espanola even more with that being said so will the Rio Grande sun, they have done a great job in doing that, how do you think the athletes feel?! Thats why I encourage the New Mexican to write more encouraging articles about Espanola because we are tired of getting bashed by our own paper.. and the New Mexican used to cover Espanola like it was a santa fe school.
ReplyDeleteSome want a title in Espanola and thats fine. Some dont even understand thats not what the program is about, So what if we dont win state, I dont see any reason people should bash our school by losing in the Semi-finals. Those kids are so close with each other and they have so much fun doing it.. and of course they all grew up together and most have followed each other since earlier than the 6th grade.
Yes some parents and adults act immature on the blogs.. but thats only making them look bad. We stand behind our kids, coaches and staff!
But very great point Mr. Barron.
Pojoaque parents and fans dont know what they want..
ReplyDeleteThey send out a petition to get rid of the coach.. then they win not 1 but 2 titles..
The problem we have here is 60% of the students that attend Pojoaque are from Espanola. Sadly.
So the talent is from Espanola, but it is not being played there.
Com'on Espanola be proud of where your from!
Espanola should be getting the Possitive attention! These blogs are outrageous people act like kids pointing fingers and bashing the teachers, parents and coaches.. That has to stop!
ReplyDeleteEspanola has had a great 4 seasons with Martinez,
14-16 in 2006
23-8 in 2007
26-2 in 2008
26-5 in 2009
89 Wins, 31 Loses
The best record under a Espanola coach!
Lets be proud Espanola. Three district championships and some damn good athletes! ALL FROM THE VALLEY!
We have TRUE TALENT! Thats what these newspapers dont understand.. They get upset because "their" Santa Fe schools never fill up or sell out like Espanola does.
We are all close as a community, We are getting closer! SO what if we dont win State, Its just a fake wood blue metal piece of junk. You are the REAL champions. We will always be by your side SUNDEVILS!
There is one coach now at SFHS, Tom, the boys JV basketball coach, who would make a fine girls basketball coach. He knows how to teach the fundamentals.
ReplyDeleteAlas, he doesn't have the three years of head coaching experience that Skip is requiring.
I guess that Skip doesn't want home grown assistant coaches moving up when it's their time.
Well Espanola Fans just incase you didnt hear,
ReplyDeleteThe Espanola Varsity Boys baseball team crushed Taos in a double header 9-1, and 12-4.
The Espanola Varsity Softball team killed Taos as well in a double header 23-0 and 19-0 and they beat capital for the second time 8-6.
I totally agree, parents are the problem but so are superintendents (parent) with a grudge. Another parent who formed opinions without being active, asking questions but reacting.
ReplyDeleteThe Santa Fe Superintendent relative played for Coach Gomez - parent scorned gets her revenge. Of all people she should know the pressures and implications brought on by parents.
The Super also folded when it came to making the decision about webb, they should have kept him.
ReplyDeleteThe above poster is EXACTLY RIGHT! Only, Bobbie's son played for CHS when Armendariz was the head coach. The superintendent has no clue how to run a district, is only there to set up her retirement and does not care about the success of any of the schools in this district. The decision to fire this coach and Webb at SFHS are examples of Gutierrez's inability to seperate business from personal. Can't wait to see karma in action.
ReplyDeleteI have to agree with Barron on this. The parents in this town don't care if their kids go to school or how they are doing, but they will be the first ones to tell a coach how to coach a team. Unless you've been a real coach in ANY sport, Keep Your Trap Shut! Everytime you kid doesn't start a game or even play in a game it may be because you can't let the coach do his/ her job! There's a right way and a wrong way to support your kids in sports and calling up the coach to rip him a new one isn't the right way! Starting a petition just because you don't like the fact that he "yelled" at little Johnny isn't the right way either. For all of you "so-called" parents who think you can do better, why don't you apply for the job and see how far you get! Kids who are serious about sports understand that when the coach yells at them for making a stupid play, it's for their own good & makes them a better player. Anyone who's lived outside of Santa Fe -- let alone outside of this state-- knows that! I feel sorry for the kids who are embarrassed at a game because their parents can't control themselves! Stop trying to live your lives through your kids!
ReplyDeleteStick together, the problem isn't that the Valley doesnt have any talent, the problem is that the smart talent is leaving for Pojoaque to win state titles, particularly in boys basketball. Espanola valley should have gone further in the state playoffs then it has and until you get a competent coach who can do you, The Valley will have to settle with another 20-win season, district title and early state tournament exit. And that is a disservice to the players who work hard to win a state title. It's time for EV to find a coach who isnt afraid of coaching in games in late Feb or early March.
ReplyDeleteJames Barron is stupid. He does not know what he is talking about.
ReplyDelete