SalemNews.com, Salem, MA

Opinion

Discussion

The Salem News has a real-name policy for commenting. Users may sign in using the Facebook Connect tool above the comments field. Once your first comment is posted by a moderator, all future comments will post automatically. If you prefer not to use Facebook, send an e-mail with your comments user name (which must be the same as your real name), city or town, street address and daytime phone number to comments@salemnews.com. A staff member will contact you directly to confirm your identity. It may take a day or two before you can post comments. Only your user name will be public. All users are required to follow our rules for commenting, which can be found here.

comments powered by Disqus
February 1, 2012

Letter: Bad call by Elks

To the editor:

On Jan. 15, my son competed in and finished second in the Elks National Free Throw Contest in Beverly as an 11-year-old. As a high-scoring runner-up, he was invited by the Elks to take the place of a contestant from Gloucester in the regional championship in Woburn on Jan. 21.

My son competed and won his age group, making him eligible to compete in the state championship Feb. 4 in Maynard.

But the boy who finished second complained directly to the national director that my son should be declared ineligible since he was not from Gloucester. The national director, with no input from local officials, ruled that my son competed in two qualifying events based on incorrect information provided him by the losing boy's family.

The practice of using runners-up to fill spots in the tournaments has been done for many years and is not prohibited by the rules of the contest. I think the proper determination would have been that my son was legitimately invited to compete by Elks officials and won a fair competition.

It is sad that some people can't accept losing gracefully, but even sadder that an international organization like the Elks cannot honor an invitation they made to an 11-year-old boy.

John Derrane

Beverly

Text Only | Photo Reprints
Opinion

Nelson Benton Twitter Updates
Follow me on Twitter
Salem News Opinion Poll
AP Video
FAMU Bandmates: Victim Volunteered to Be Hazed Raw Video: Bride Who Faked Cancer Released Raw Video: Tornado Appears During Wedding HP to Cut 27,000 Jobs, Save Up to $3.5B Inquiry Hears Wider Secret Service Misbehavior Md. 911 Dispatcher Caught Sleeping on Job Raw Video: Toddler Trapped in Washing Machine Iowa Man With Zebra, Parrot in Truck Gets DUI Egyptians Pick New President in Free Election Giant Bull Head Draws Drivers to South Dakota Astrodome Fades As Houston Decides Fate Franciscan Files Tell Stories of Priest Abuse Wildfire Destroys 2 Homes Flight Diverted After Suspicious Note Joplin Remembers Deadly Tornado, 1 Year Later Panel Recommends Against Routine Prostate Test Fired Lingerie Employee Claims Discrimination Facebook Shares Continue Negative Slide Cuba Waiting for Cyber Age to Come 8 Hurt in Oklahoma Shooting After NBA Playoff
Comments Tracker
Roll Call
Helium debate
Helium