Rhino’s Ramblings - Junior Girls Basketball

By Robert Thomas - Opinion/Commentary

This week we had a request from a parent that we remove a child’s picture from our junior girls basketball coverage.

Usually we don’t take down photos unless there is something seriously wrong with them. But in this case we immediately obliged.

You see in this case someone was using photos of a player to harass and bully that individual.

Bullying that had gotten to the point they had gone to the Moose Jaw Police Service (MJPS).

Sadly there is nothing the MJPS can do about it.

We had another parent come to us with the same story earlier this season although they did not go to the police.

Given how difficult it is for these players it leaves me with a major decision to make. What to do about all of this?

So far - although it is moot given Monday’s teacher’s strike and exam break - we suspended all photo coverage of the team in question.

But the real question is what do we do afterwards?

Do we continue with a coverage ban of a single team? How fair is it?

We carried junior girls basketball as a means to hopefully grow interest in the sport and it was a place where the other local media put little, if any, interest.

Our goal was to encourage participation and get more people out into the stands but if it’s doing the opposite for even one child perhaps it’s time to step back.

To be honest I don’t know what to do in this situation.

My own personal thoughts are to simply discontinue coverage of junior girls basketball and perhaps more. Should we simply dispense with junior girls coverage altogether in all sports?

No we are not being bullied far from it.

But when you see others going through it it is perhaps time to step back.

We welcome your input at moosejawnews@gmail.com