What Should Westlake Football Do With Prize Money?

Gina Redinger September 6, 2012 at 01:10 pm

I don't think building a turf field is anything "over the top." On the contrary it is a much-needed addition to the Westlake Athletic program that will benefit kids in Westlake Schools participating in band, football, lacrosse, etc. It will also be a valued addition for the community to utilize for events (Relay for Life), Westlake Junior All Star Football and other community based athletic programs. The conditions the teams have to practice and play on right now are sub-par and in some cases dangerous when the rainy weather prevails. Westlake High School educates for excellence and the academic programs reflect that. It's time the athletic programs reflect that as well and a Turf Field is long overdue. I don't think the numerous school districts who already have a Turf Field, including Bay Village, think it's over the top.

Karen Lackner September 6, 2012 at 01:56 pm

Over the top? Really? Our field is not only sub-par it is dangerous. We live in a community that prides itself on providing an excellent education - what is wrong with that being reflected in our athletic facilities? Many surrounding communities have turf fields and never have a sat in their bleachers and thought "Wow - this is so over the top".

Melissa Benko Grimes September 6, 2012 at 02:24 pm

I responded last night to the reader who made the comment of "over the top" in regards to our need for a turf field. I forgot to ask if his child contributed to the win last Friday? I feel that our kids fought hard and won that football game and they deserve to win the $4000. Why would we take that away from them??? If they want to use that money and donate it to the turf fund, they should be able too.

Melissa Benko Grimes September 6, 2012 at 02:32 pm

Here's another option - why not have Westlake choose who their "Sister School" will be and ask the Brown's to match their contribution and give it to the needy "Sister school"- rather than punishing the school who won it fair and square!

Laurel September 6, 2012 at 03:22 pm

Turf field all the way!

Chris M. September 8, 2012 at 04:22 pm

I wasn't really referring to the turf filed. The $4000 is a drop in the bucket when compared to the hundreds of thousands for a turf field (about $800K I believe). That said, I have no problem if some boosters want to chip in for a turf field. I think it's unnecessary. I've never heard football players complain they have to play on grass. If they are so worried that playing on grass is "dangerous," they probably shouldn't be playing football at all - it's a rough sport. You moms make them sound like a bunch of wimps that don't want to get their uniforms dirty of get some mud on their shoes.

Chris M. September 8, 2012 at 04:25 pm

My 2nd choice for the $4000 would be to change the team name to something less Satanic, although he probably laughs when he hears thousands of people cheering for demons.

IRB September 8, 2012 at 05:44 pm

Seriously? What would you like to rename the team. The Angels, the priests, or how about the nuns. Keep your religious beliefs out of something as pure as High School Football.

Chris M. September 8, 2012 at 11:24 pm

IRB, I want to keep football pure - play on grass - but I don't like a team name that signifies pure evil. I really do think a city with a new high school, an upgraded stadium with new fake turf deserves an upgraded, less Satanic name. Nuns are tough but boys can't be nuns so it doesn't quite fit. Maybe Patch will have a vote some day. Somebody in this town should be able to come up with a better team name.

AKM September 8, 2012 at 11:27 pm

Umm I agree with Chris. the Demons just sounds like a bad name. Personly i wouldnt like to name them anything like the priests and i know he wasnt talking about naming him anything like that. And some schools dont have a football program and they wouldnt care if they had to play in just plain mud. Grass fields are OK. And if u thinik its so dangerous then why dont you just not let your kid play on the team? Jeez.....

Karen Lackner September 8, 2012 at 11:57 pm

Why is this even up for discussion?The Browns donated the money to the team that won the game of the week.I do not recall seeing anywhere on the Browns website that once the boys won it would be up for public debate and critique.
Yes, football is a contact sport and there is a possibility you child will be injured when he plays. Duh! Our field is very uneven and the drainage is terrible-when they play on our field that possibility becomes a probablilty.It isn't about keeping their uniforms clean - it's about not breaking an ankle or getting hypothermia.Why would you say something like that?Do you have a kid playing football, lacrosse or marching in the band? Oh..by the way.There is a HUGE movement to replace the existing field with turf. There are many people working hard to make this a reality.We have raised a great deal of money and this "drop in the bucket" will be added to the many a "drops" already in the bucket. What is wrong with wanting our kids to have a nice and safe field to play on? Really? The Westlake Demon is a mascot - not a religious statement. When we cheer for the Demons we are cheering for our kids and their friends on the field, in the classroom and out in the community.We are not a bunch of satanic worshippers making a statement.Have you read about how the name came about? It is actually pretty interesting and historical.Do you think the people in Brecksville that are allergic to Bees have a problem with their team name?

Chris M. September 9, 2012 at 04:28 am

Karen - I didn't put it up for discussion, Patch did. Only about 15 people read Patch anyway. I know the team can spend the money as they choose. They don't even need to tell anyone how they spent it. But as long as the team doesn't have any urgent needs for $4000, it might be classy and charitable if they donate the money to a team that does have urgent needs.
I don't really care if Westlake boosters build a turf field. But let's be real. It's not all about safety. How much of a kid's actual weekly playing time will be on the turf field? Are all 3 football teams going to practice on the turf field? Will the practice fields be turf? What about the LBMS practice fields? Could it be that the fancy turf field is not so much about kids safety and more about Westlake adults showing off a little, flaunting its wealth and overindulging its kids? Westlake is hardly alone. If you've got it, flaunt it. Why not teach the kids to flaunt it too. Finally, you can't deny that the name Demons sounds a little Satanic. Demons are evil, not cute. Bees might be an annoyance sometime but they are hugely beneficial to man. Demons are not. So my 2nd choice for the $4000 is to help cover the cost of changing the team name and mascot. Just my opinion. You don't have to agree. Why didn't they just change the team's name when they changed the city's name. Anyway the point is probably mute. They already decided what to do with the money.

AKM September 9, 2012 at 05:35 am

Not trying to offend anyone but the name demons sounds. Bad and the mascot is just creepy

Karen Lackner September 9, 2012 at 02:12 pm

I realize you did not put this up for discussion Chris but you chose to respond in an aggressive manner. Partaking in a discussion in a civilized manner is way different than making crappy insinuations and putting people on the defensive for wanting something better for their kids and their community . This isn't about flaunting anything or overindulging anyone, its about progress. Check out the website http://www.westlakeadf.org. I don't go to Rocky River, Avon Lake, Bay Village, Brecksville, Brunswick, or Lakewood and watch events on their turf field and judge them. Would you?

Melissa Benko Grimes September 9, 2012 at 02:31 pm

Regardless the turf WILL go through, the Demon name will represent a school and everyone will move on! Unfortunatly for u Chris M u have gotten under the skin of some very proud and defensive Westlake mothers. We would do anything to make things better for our kids just as most parents. But you are clGouding the issue that they are winners and regardless of what kind of field they play on it is our responsibility to support them. It has been said before how many different groups would benefit from the turf so I am not going to repeat myself. If u have more to say go to one of their meetings, which are open to the public. I have two sons who love to play sports for the Demons and they are very proud to support their school. My question to u is "do u have any children in the district?". If not u have no business even commenting!

Karen Lackner September 9, 2012 at 02:44 pm

Regarding the team name....are you offended when the Rocky River Pirates or the North Ridgeville Raiders cheer for their fans? Pirates and Raiders continue to rape and pillage all over the world today. How about the Avon Lake Shoremen? Some people believe that cargo ships and the pollution associated with them are ruining our oceans, lakes and rivers. Do you cheer for the Cleveland Indians? How do you think Native Americans relegated to reservations feel about that? Or worse how do you think they feel when people cheer for the Dallas Cowboys? I am not Catholic and yet I am not offended when the New Orleans Saints take the field. I sure hope cheering for the Milwaukee Brewers isn't promoting the use, or worse the abuse of alcohol. Are all Cincinnati Reds fans communists? Let's not even ask who would be offended by the Green Bay Packers. It's just a name people. In this case a name that evolved over time to become what it now is. Get over it!

Chris M. September 9, 2012 at 10:16 pm

Sorry I unleashed such a fury by disagreeing with you all. I suppose you accuse most men who honestly disagree with you of being very aggressive and being uncivilized. And you probably never let them have the last word. So I'm wasting my time. We'll have to agree to disagree on this one. Somebody has obviously convinced you that if you really loved your kids you wouldn't force them to play on a grass field like all the mean parents do but buy them an awesome new turf field like the cool parents. I understand its way more cool (and more expensive) than any of the other turf fields the other kids play on in this area. I suppose the turf marketers will visit their cities next and make those parents feel inadequate because their fake fields are outdated and nowhere near as nice as the Westlake fake field. Westlake has a field that actually protects kids against hypothermia, which is a huge problem you just can't ignore. And so it goes. Another parental arms race, more overindulged kids and marketers of kids products laughing all the way to the bank. Best of luck.

Chris M. September 9, 2012 at 10:25 pm

Anybody can comment on Patch. It's a free country. But since your interested, yes I have 3 kids in Westlake schools for a combined 20+ years. I've lived in Westlake since 1988 so I'm quite familiar with the city and the schools. Am I allowed to comment on Patch? How long have you lived here? How many kids do you have in school?

Melissa Benko Grimes September 9, 2012 at 11:18 pm

Of course it's a free country and anyone can respond. But you have to agree that my asking u if u have kids in the schools is pertinent to this discussion. I have been in westlake since 1998 and I have 3 children in three different schools in westlake - Parkside, Burneson and high school. My kids are totally affected by current decisions.

Karen Lackner September 9, 2012 at 11:34 pm

This is making more sense to me now - first you accuse "moms" on not wanting their kids uniforms to get dirty and now you think I "accuse most MEN who honestly disagree with me of being very aggressive" and not letting them have the last word - hey Chris - I had no idea whether you were a man or a woman - I just knew you were a jerk. Now I know you are a jerk that has a problem with women who speak their mind. Respond if you would like but as far as I am concerned we are done here.
PS - my kids don't even play football.....

Chris M. September 10, 2012 at 02:41 am

Melissa, I doubt Patch ever had so many comments on one of their articles. My kids are affected too. In addition to your 3 schools, I had/have kids in Hilliard and Bassett. I like the schools and couldn't be more thrilled the taxpayers voted to upgrade the schools. I'm quite concerned about all the cuts Kasich has made to education funding and Romney/Ryan are proposing to make. When finances are so tight and so uncertain, spending big bucks on a new turf field seems like a bridge too far. Even though no taxpayer funds are being used (right?), it doesn't make the schools look very frugal to have so much new stuff all at once. If you want to raise funds, why not raise them for field trips, supplies, high school busing or something educational? I have absolutely no concerns about letting my kids play on the grass field. Any drainage problems should be addressed, of course.

Valerie Paul November 27, 2012 at 06:20 pm

You all need jobs

Valerie Paul November 27, 2012 at 06:20 pm

as a matter of fact; let me get back to mine