From: Marie Dion Gevisser
Sent:
Saturday, January 08, 2005 1:02 PM PT
To: JBSTE@aol.com; jbstewartmd@aol.com
Cc: GHurst@hurst-hurst.com; Del Mar Little League; gsg@sellnext.com
Subject: FW: Poor role model...Baseball is more than a game.

 

John Ben,

 

Since we have now spoken with John P. who confirms what JoNathan told us this past Thursday when he came home from school that you really didn’t have any problem to speak of with M H other than perhaps he was a “little rough around the edges” but not enough for you to want to remove our now 12 year old boy from under his “command and control” take another look at what I wrote M H back on August 30th of last year who during this deafening silent period saw fit to maintain contact with you,

 

“...I will not watch quietly as my son who you keep calling John makes a detour to avoid your reprimand clearly intimidated by your remark, ‘I have nothing to say to you!’ and maybe dreading what was coming next JoNathan decided to continue wearing his baseball helmet through your post game speech so as to protect his head from your blows...”

 

Mr. P. wanted to know whether I would pull out our JoNathan should you be one of the assistant coaches and I said I would leave it up to the league to exercise good judgment, perhaps though, you could help them make the right decision by clarifying your position in writing why you are so wishy washy, our JoNathan not as confused as u would prefer him to be, agree?

 

Marie Dion Gevisser

 

 

-----Original Message-----
From: MDG
Sent:
Thursday, January 06, 2005 7:40 PM
To: TS
Cc: JBSTE@aol.com;
jbstewartmd@aol.com; Ghurst (ghurst@hurst-hurst.com); Del Mar Little League
Subject: RE: Poor role model...Baseball is more than a game.

 

Mr. S.,

 

In this age of The Internet and quick communication why such a delay in getting me the basic information especially after getting Mr. P.’s reassuring email back on August 31st, “have not forgotten about you” and then dead silence?

 

From what I gather M. H. and his son are not going to be part of the DMLL unless he changes his mind. Therefore to address any future concern of mine I would expect in the event he changes his mind and chooses to play-coach the season he would choose a different team than my son’s team. I wouldn’t want to have move Jonathan because of M H.

 

Thank you,

 

Marie Dion Gevisser

 

Ps – I would be interested to know who the coaches are for the As.

 

 

-----Original Message-----
From: TS
Sent:
Thursday, January 06, 2005 6:06 PM
To: John P; MDG
Subject: RE: Poor role model - How come we were not informed.

 

Marie,

 

I am T. S, the major’s coordinator for DMLL.  I have been working your request to separate Jonathan from A’s due to your concerns about M H.  At present, M H has resigned his position as manager of the A’s since his son has decided not to play this season.  As such, your concerns are moot and we are expecting Jonathan to return to A’s and his teammates.  Therefore, there is no need for Jonathan to attend the major’s tryout.  I hope this answers your questions.  Please feel free to contact me with any questions or concerns by replying to this e-mail or by calling me at 858-XXX-XXXX.

 

T S  

 


From: John P 
Sent:
Thursday, January 06, 2005 3:39 PM
To: MDG
Cc: T S
Subject: Re: Poor role model - How come we were not informed.

 

i just spoke with TS

and he will be following up with you today with a complete explanation

thanks, John P

dmll player agent

 

 

----- Original Message -----

From: MDG

To: John P

Cc: gsg@sellnext.com ; JBSTE@aol.com ; jbstewartmd@aol.com ; Ghurst

Sent: Thursday, January 06, 2005 3:14 PM

Subject: RE: Poor role model - How come we were not informed.

 

We just found out there are tryouts this weekend. I need to know the specifics.

 

How come we were not informed?

 

Marie Dion Gevisser

 

 

-----Original Message-----
From: John P
Sent:
Thursday, January 06, 2005 3:01 PM
To: MDG
Cc: T S
Subject: Re: Poor role model

 

thanks for your email

i have been working with troy sears, the dmll major league coordinator to make sure your concerns were addressed

he has been in touch with all the parties and has been managing it

i will be meeting with TS this evening and will ask him to update you on the status of jonathan for the spring 2005 season in a follow up email--

thanks, John P.

dmll player agent

 

 

----- Original Message -----

From:  MDG

To: John P

Cc: gsg@sellnext.com

Sent: Thursday, January 06, 2005 10:50 AM

Subject: RE: Poor role model

 

You have yet to respond to my email [see below]?

 

I want to know what team Jonathan is going to be playing on.

 

Marie Dion Gevisser

 

 

-----Original Message-----
From: John P
Sent:
Tuesday, August 31, 2004 4:03 PM
To: MDG
Subject: Re: Poor role model

 

have not forgotten about you

am waiting for a call back from a former board member to help me with this

 

 

----- Original Message -----

From:  MDG

To: John P

Cc: John Ben Stewart - JBSTE@aol.com ; gsg@sellnext.com

Sent: Sunday, August 29, 2004 4:38 PM

Subject: Poor role model

 

Attention: John P, Player Agent – Del Mar Little League

 

 

Mr. P;

 

Below is the email I sent coach M H during the last baseball season.

 

Wan recommended that I send a letter to the league regarding this coach’s ongoing bad behavior.

 

Coach H continued to lose his temper not just with the children but with the empires on and off the field of play.

 

Please do not come back to me with, “We have talked to him about his behavior, blah blah” since my understanding is that this has already been tried and failed.

 

Furthermore, seeing the coach being sexist calling the boys by girls names despite the boys thinking it funny perhaps even initiating this “play acting” it is in my view degrading to women and should have been discouraged.

 

This is a conditioning that has been going on for far too long to be treated with a simple slap on the wrist.

 

Both my children now age 12 and 15 (girl) have been in team sports since age 5 and this is by far the worst coaching I have witnessed.

 

I won’t let my son be influenced by such a poor role model and want Jonathan to be placed on a different team

 

Sincerely,

 

Marie Dion [Gevisser]

 

 

 

From: Marie Dion [Gevisser]
Sent:
Friday, April 30, 2004 9:29 AM
To: M H – M
anager of the A Baseball Team

Cc: John Ben Stewart - Coach
Subject: My son Jonathan

 

Attention: Mr. Mark Holmes - Manager of A Team

 

Dear Mr. Holmes,

 

In my view coaching is all about empowering the kids to think on their own two feet, giving them enough knowledge to make the right decisions.

A successful team needs to be united and kept united all the way through the weakest link. It should be the coaching staff’s job to help build that solid base.

Dismissing the mistakes of the stronger members of the team while pointing a finger at weaker members only serves to break that unity and the team’s fighting spirit.

 

Additionally, we shouldn’t sit idly by as someone so trusted puts down a youngster going through “growing pains” learning the skills of life.

 

I will not watch quietly as my son who you keep calling John makes a detour to avoid your reprimand clearly intimidated by your remark, “I have nothing to say to you!” and maybe dreading what was coming next JoNathan decided to continue wearing his baseball helmet through your post game speech so as to protect his head from your blows.

Teamwork should be fun and empowering and although this is recreational and neither you nor the assistant coaches are being paid for your services, good judgment should be exercised in words and actions.

 

This is not the first time I notice overreaction on your part or hear comments that I consider inappropriate for an eleven year old such as “Coming in second place is like kissing your sister and you don’t want to do that!” 

 

Good communication skills are needed in order to get a positive response when pointing out the negatives. Even more emotional maturity required when dealing with a young audience.

 

Losing one’s temper only shows a lack of emotional control that interferes with the task of coaching.

 

Kids are impressionable, credibility is key to winning the hearts, minds and souls of our youth who are all our futures.

 

I will encourage JoNathan to see out the remainder of the season but my goal is to find him another team to play on next year.

 

Good coaches like good teachers like good parents will imprint you for life.

 

 

Marie Dion [Gevisser]