Thank God cooler heads and reason finally prevailed here. Yeah, it sucks for the kid (well, now adult) who now has a bum ankle, but that's sports.

This was a seven year ordeal for this coach. Ridiculous.

New Jersey high school baseball coach cleared after being sued by player he told to slide
By Shanna McCarristonNov 13, 2019 • 1 min read

Former New Jersey baseball player Jake Mesar's high school career ended before it even began in 2012. He permanently injured his ankle sliding into third base during the second inning of his first junior varsity game in his freshman year and never played again.

But Mesar claimed the injury was avoidable and believed he should've never been told to slide. So he sued his coach, John Suk, according to NJ.com. The Bound Brook High School baseball player, who is now 22, argued that his former coach called him to slide when he was too close to the bag, and it resulted in his playing career coming to an end. He was seeking seven figures in damages, but the jury sided with the coach. 

Suk argued that being found guilty would have negatively impacted his coaching career and high school sports in the state as a whole. He told NJ.com that, "The coaching profession would be under heavy scrutiny for everything that happens."

From NJ.com:

"Coaches are going to have to have insurance like doctors have for malpractice. School districts are not going to want to take the risk of having sports."

Mesar was a 15-year-old freshman playing in his first ever junior varsity game when the injury occurred. After hearing what he calls a "pop" in his ankle, Mesar had to have three surgeries. He is no longer able to participate in any sports. 

In the trial he said, "I felt bad for my parents. They would never be able to see me play again," NJ.com reported. He added that doctors have advised him not to even jog.

"He will never recover fully," doctors told Mesar, according to NJ.com

Ultimately, a majority of jurors believed there was no ill intent to the coach's call. 

"I don't think the coach had any intention of hurting the kid when he told him to slide," juror Lauren Palladino told NJ.com. "It just… happened. How was the coach reckless? That's how you play the game."

https://www.cbssports.com/mlb/...er-he-told-to-slide/

Another blaming someone else for your injury/accident. That is insane that it went that far.

Reminds me of something that brings a smile to my face when I think of it.

When Tony Gwynn was 40 years old (and fat), he could still execute a perfect pop-up slide into second base. That’s the right way to do it. If the defense had mishandled the ball he could see it, and be poised to possibly take third. But many of the younger players slid into second on their belly.

This case seems clearly coach-side. I have unfortunately seen HS players, with serious potential to at least play college baseball, have their arms "blown up" with overuse. Rules are much better for that than they used to be.

Assuming the kid played baseball previous to his first JV game he surely was taught how to slide. I remember sliding lessons when I was 8. I stole a lot of bases so they ended up being important. Even if the coach signaled late as the kid approached the base it’s on the kid to do it correctly. Sounds like bad luck instead of negligence by the coach. Sucks it’s a lifelong injury and all but the parents need to get a grip. Glad the jury did the right thing.

The fact this case was ever allowed to proceed should remind everyone we're on the wrong path today.

quote:

Originally posted by bigdeal:
The fact this case was ever allowed to proceed should remind everyone we're on the wrong path today.

Couldn’t agree more. As an aside, I’m sure his attorney told them up front they had almost ZERO chance of winning, right?

IMO the kid shouldn't have sued his coach, he should have sued the doctors who butchered the repair. A 15 year old heals quickly and regrown bones at that age typically end up stronger than before the injury. As a result someone this age needs a doctor who can get the job done correctly the FIRST time. Because if that first repair is a hack job all of the subsequent repairs are coping with regrown bone and end up being a patchwork job.Sound to me like that kid was taken to a local Hicktown hospital and the "surgery" was done by a local GP who wasn't up to the task.

I wouldn't want that kid on my team after that.

Team? I don't want him on this planet.

Kinda funny, but this occurred to me today. I coached my son's 10 year old PONY baseball team. Late in a game on a Friday night half way through the season, I sent my son on home from third on a single to right field. When he slid into home, the catcher receiving the relay throw came down on his extended right leg with both knees breaking both his tibia and fibula. That injury ended his season. Guess I should thank my lucky stars my son didn't sue me for not holding him up at third.

quote:

Originally posted by Pipe Smoker:
Reminds me of something that brings a smile to my face when I think of it.

When Tony Gwynn was 40 years old (and fat), he could still execute a perfect pop-up slide into second base. That’s the right way to do it. If the defense had mishandled the ball he could see it, and be poised to possibly take third. But many of the younger players slid into second on their belly.

I liked Gwynn. Yet someone athletically gifted as Vick couldn't slide in an NFL game. I think people like Chase Utley tried to work with him and he still couldn't get it. Boggles the mind.

quote:

Originally posted by parabellum:
Team? I don't want him on this planet.

Amen boss!