Thorpe, Money, and Basketball

#1 posting 4.3.2006
From Liberty, MO

There is a lot of links today, plus the bonus of Coach Thorpe on the soap box. He also delivers some other stories, but his topic on the box is compensation.

MICHIGAN AAU STATE CHAMPIONS d2
16U: Michigan Belles Jordan
15U: NE Cats
14U: Flint Lady Warriors
More details can be found with the article in the Midland Daily News http://www.ourmidland.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=16417945&BRD=2289&PAG=461&dept_id=472541&rfi=6

ALL STAR GAMES
MN
The Holdingford, BBE, HLWW, Kimball team won the Central MN conference all star game on Saturday 51-49. Samantha Painschab of Howard Lake-Waverly-Winsted led all scorers with 19. Here is the account from the Brainerd Dispatch http://brainerddispatch.com/stories/040306/spo_20060403004.shtml

NUMBER 1
HAWAII
Iolani stays at number one with a 12-0 record. More details such as top scorers are found at the Honolulu Star Bulletin http://starbulletin.com/2006/04/03/sports/story05.html

TRANSFERS
MICH
The college transfer season is going on full swing. Tiffanie Shives is leaving Michigan State after one year. Here is the Michigan State University News. This article was sent to me by Coach Thorpe.
http://www.statenews.com/article.phtml?pk=35585
MN
Minnesota is considering changing the open enrollment rule. Here is an article from the Hibbing Daily Tribune discussing the merits of the issue. http://www.hibbingmn.com/dailytribune/index.php?sect_rank=2&story_id=208556

TOPS IN COLLEGE ATTENDANCE
This article again was spotted by Coach Thorpe. It talks about the 2005-06 attendance. Minnesota came in at 5, Iowa State at 6, Michigan State 10, Wisconsin 16, Iowa 25. These schools are in my coverage area. To see the whole top 50 list check out the Middle Tennessee Blue Raider story. http://www.goblueraiders.com/?go=story&doc=5061

THORPE ON A SOAP BOX: $ Edition

How many professionals work for nothing? I guess I can’t think of many.

Why do so many basketball coaches agree to work extra days or months for no compensation?? Lets face it--If you agree to coach high school basketball it is probably not because of the big salary. However, let’s have enough pride in our profession to ask for fair and honest compensation.

When a coach at Osseo goes to the region semis, finals or State they are paid more than if they loses the first game of regions. Does this mean you are being paid as a high school coach for winning. Absolutely not. You are being paid what is fair. You are coaching longer. If you get to the State you are often putting in almost a month more work than if you lost your first game. If you get to the region finals you are working 2 or 3 weeks more. Our basketball contract added a certain % if the season was extended.

I know that the excitement of State or Region finals is why you coach. However, I think teachers and coaches should seek fair compensation for time they give to a school district. If you work 4 weeks longer you should be paid. If school board members disagree ask them how many put in a month extra at their jobs with no pay. Just because we chose teaching or coaching as a profession doesn’t mean we have to be social slaves and be satisfied with a pat on the head by administration after a long season. If your district doesn’t compensate for extended season get a copy of Osseo’s extra curricular contract and show it to your union.

Dave Thorpe

Next up tomorrow from the home place