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Parents are undefeated when it comes to ruining youth sports.
But we have first ballot hall of shamers in the parents of 3-year-old soccer player Nevada Pierre.
As the viral story went, the Florida tot — who is black — was so darn good at soccer that people on the sidelines called the police on the wunderkind.
Ah, yes, America — where our budding elite athletes are sent to gulags and their playing time managed by the po-po. I recall LeBron James’ many stories about being detained for dominating his middle school AAU games.
If you believed that cockamamie tale circulating all over social media the last few days, it’s time to look yourself in the mirror and give that gullible mug staring back at you a few well-deserved slaps.
And if you believed it because you heard it from Miss Rachel, who has never led anyone astray on complicated news stories, give yourself two more slaps.
Thinking she could spin it as an example of racial injustice, the kiddie-focused YouTuber took to Instagram, calling the incident “racist, sick, traumatizing, and disgusting.”
The “black boy,” she wrote, was “kicked out of the league . . . because he’s too good.” Miss Rachel, whose real name is Rachel Griffin Accurso, then stated the obvious: she doesn’t know much about sports. “But the World Cup and all famous soccer players need to show up for this amazing 3 year old and shower him with love and an awesome experience.”
Miss Rachel needs to be showered with a damn clue.
The real reason poor Nevada is no longer in the league is pretty simple. His parents reportedly acted like entitled jerks during a i9 league game in Winter Park on Saturday.
The league director, Thomas Hayes, who is also black, said he took their son out to give other kids some minutes.
Hayes also said Nevada was pushing other players, so he asked the referee to correct him.
This is early youth sports 101: all the kids get to play and coaches and refs try to correct bad behaviors before they become bad habits. It’s a learning experience, not a college showcase.
Hayes said he called the police to de-escalate the situation as the parents became disruptive, following him around and appearing to film for social media. In the bodycam footage, Hayes said he planned to give them a refund on their league fees.
The mother Martasia Griffin told cops that “they’re literally kicking him out of this place because he’s good at soccer. They don’t have no side.”
She then used the situation that she caused to set up a GoFundMe for her son.
“Nevada went through an experience no child his age should have to endure,” she wrote, adding, “We need this support as soon as possible so Nevada can move forward and keep doing what he loves.”
Nevada is adorable and obviously has an advanced skill set for his age. But he is 3. There is absolutely no urgency to fund his development.
They cited travel fees, uniforms and equipment — costs that don’t exist for kids his age.
But emotional manipulation works very well, apparently. It’s reached over $60,000 and counting.
If you gave money, you are not only a sucker but you are aiding and abetting our epidemic of horrible parental behavior on the sidelines. Give yourself another slap.
She claims it was “distressing” for him and “deeply painful for our family to witness.”
By reinforcing some imagined trauma, she has turned her son into a national story. And it will do him no favors in the future.
Nevada may be the next Lionel Messi, but it will be a messy soccer journey for him and anyone in his orbit if his parents continue to act like fools.