Letter: Black child ignored when Columbine won football title

Thursday, Dec. 9, 1999 | 9:46 a.m.

When the crazed boys did their unforgivable deed at the high school, among the 12 students they murdered was a young man who happened to be black. He had overcome some early childhood infirmities by dint of courage, determination and the loving support of his family. I recall the early press accounts, which emphasized that he had improved his strength by a dedication to lifting weights and other physical development activities. He was identified as the "quarterback of the football team." Obviously, he was undersized for that sport.

On Dec. 4 Columbine played for and won the state football championship. To the team's credit, it dedicated its effort to a teammate who was among the victims of the deranged murderers. I am so sorry for the Columbine community, which produces children/athletes who demonstrate deplorable insensitivity by ignoring the murder of another of their teammates. The school principal and the football coaches are failures in this instance.

I broached this matter with a Las Vegas sports editor, who suggested that the black youngster was the (editor thought) the quarterback of the "junior varsity" team. Does that really make any difference? High school football teams scrimmage and practice together and are united in the pursuit of common team goals. It is reprehensible that this black child, who contributed to the achievement of the team goals, should be ignored.

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