Lotief?

[Cannonball]

Bob, some of us personally know Coach Lotief and have had our children recruited by him. Some of us personally know players who played for him and who defend him. Some of us personally know others including MarkH who have worked countless camps with Coach Lotief and of whom has spent countless hours with him. Mark and I are very good friends as well. That is where my perspective in coming from.

I'll again delete the rest of this response I've typed several times but which include your statement that someone like me should not be coaching.

 

[riseball]

While it may look black and white the situation is not. How many of the players are/were on scholarship? The thought of losing that can keep some players quiet and endure things they would normally not outside of softball. We don't know about the players family financial situation. We hear stories all the time about victims speaking up only to incur the wrath of the school administration when they move into the circle-the-wagons mode. It's a lot of pressure for the players...

We all live with the choices we make. If the pros outweigh the cons and you stay that it is your choice. Be an adult an live with it. Don't whine after the fact when the situation is no longer to your benefit. If it is truly egregious then it is your duty to speak out, today! Otherwise all you do is enable the behavior. Bad coaches just don't go away, someone has to speak out.

 

[BobInMadison]

...................................

 

[dbronstein]

We all live with the choices we make. If the pros outweigh the cons and you stay that it is your choice. Be an adult an live with it. Don't whine after the fact when the situation is no longer to your benefit. If it is truly egregious then it is your duty to speak out, today! Otherwise all you do is enable the behavior. Bad coaches just don't go away, someone has to speak out.

When there is a large power imbalance, it can be very difficult for victims to speak out. Look at Harvey Weinstein, Kevin Spacey, etc. and how long it took for victims to come forward.

 

[riseball]

When there is a large power imbalance, it can be very difficult for victims to speak out. Look at Harvey Weinstein, Kevin Spacey, etc. and how long it took for victims to come forward.

Not all were victims. Most are speaking out now because there is no longer any benefit to the relationship and it has become politically correct to do so. For most, but not all it was a quid pro quo. He had a well known reputation yet they still agreed to go to his room. They made their choice.

 

[2br02b]

Not all were victims. Most are speaking out now because there is no longer any benefit to the relationship and it has become politically correct to do so. For most, but not all it was a quid pro quo. He had a well known reputation yet they still agreed to go to his room. They made their choice.

So how do you feel about the people ordered to the floor during a bank robbery, aren't they just doing it because there is a benefit to that relationship? Is it then "politically correct" to get up again when the heat is off?

 

[riseball]

So how do you feel about the people ordered to the floor during a bank robbery, aren't they just doing it because there is a benefit to that relationship? Is it then "politically correct" to get up again when the heat is off?

They would be considered victims.

 

[Easton33]

Not all were victims. Most are speaking out now because there is no longer any benefit to the relationship and it has become politically correct to do so. For most, but not all it was a quid pro quo. He had a well known reputation yet they still agreed to go to his room. They made their choice.

I get where you are coming from but the difference here is Lotief did not have that reputation when they signed to play. The public persona is much different than the actual person in this case. Assuming of course all allegations are true. Once a player signs or verbals that takes them off the market for everyone. So a kid that comes in and has buyers remorse is very limited in their options unless they have some good contacts. Stay and take it, leave and maybe never play again, or report the head coach that has a massive following and hope and gets better while simultaneously gambling there will be no retribution. I think it's easy to understand why some stayed.

Meeting a person or knowing them in some professional or personal capacity does not give you insights into who they really are. These allegations may all be false but just because a few of the DFP have met and somewhat know the guy doesn't mean they can't be true.

 

[dbronstein]

Not all were victims. Most are speaking out now because there is no longer any benefit to the relationship and it has become politically correct to do so. For most, but not all it was a quid pro quo. He had a well known reputation yet they still agreed to go to his room. They made their choice.

If the allegations are true, they didn't make their choice, they felt they didn't have a choice. There's a huge difference.

 

[riseball]

If the allegations are true, they didn't make their choice, they felt they didn't have a choice. There's a huge difference.

No. You always have a choice. You may not like your options but you always have a choice. It may be difficult or even painful but you always have a choice.