Boys’ basketball: A player’s father sets an example

This article was originally on a blog post platform and may be missing photos, graphics or links. See About archive blog posts.

In the locker room at Cal State Fullerton Saturday afternoon, 6-foot-10 Anthony Stover of L.A. Windward had an ice pack on his jaw. He should thank his father, Craig, that he’ll have a chance to play in Friday’s state Division V final in Sacramento because it was his father who went onto the court at the conclusion of Windward’s 52-40 win over Pacific Hills and made a firm judgment that he didn’t care why his son had suddenly lost his cool, only that he needed to calm down immediately.

The UCLA-bound Stover said he got punched by several Pacific Hills players in the face moments after the final buzzer sounded. He was preparing to retaliate but got pulled away and restrained by a Windward official. He was still trying to break away while being moved to the opposing basket when his father grabbed him in an embrace. Stover appeared to protest to him, as any son would, but his father was hearing nothing about it. He wanted his son to stop, knowing if he didn’t, the consequences would be far worse.

I’ve seen parents go onto the court and try to punch players who had gone after their children, not realizing that it was a basketball game and that the person who threw the punches would be disciplined later. Thankfully, this father showed everyone that maintaining self-control is more important than making a retaliatory move.

Craig Stover gets my vote for Father of the Day.

-- Eric Sondheimer