It is because of a billboard outside of St. Rose's Church that has prompted me to write to the paper about something that is just simply wrong. (The sign said, "You have to stand for something, or you will fall for anything.")

Community sports were first established (and here's the funny part) for children, not for coaches, not for organizations, and certainly not wholly for winning! I think the idea was to give children something to do, while having fun, learning and being part of a team, a structured environment in which to grow and develop. Many of the children will never play school sports, college ball or become a "pro" and this is supposed to be their one "shot" at playing a sport they love.

The Massapequa Mustang Football organization has been part of this community for 40 years and it has been a great part of this community! However, its main emphasis, of late, seems to be solely on winning no matter what the cost. The organization has been open to include children from other towns, which is wonderful, but not at the cost of a Massapequa child. The organization is established in the Town of Massapequa, relies on its residents for continued support (bumper stickers), plays their games in John Burns Park, and solicits donations from Massapequa businesses. Its first concern should be that the children of Massapequa are able to play and then offer open slots to outside towns. That would be fair.

This year a local child was accepted onto a team, was made to go to the Mustangs (mandatory) Camp, has practiced since the beginning of August, but when he showed up to have his picture taken with his team, he was refused and told that his acceptance on the team was an error and that he was off the team. This team has many players from outside the Massapequa community, but a Massapequa child was the one they let go, a child who made it through all the "cuts" (for the first time!) and was so proud of that accomplishment. (If he had not made it through the "cuts" he would have been put on a town team before practices started and wouldn't have been required to go to camp!) Now the big question, why? The answer, this child (who gives 150 percent of himself), happens to be smaller than the other players. There is a question as to the age of some of the players and the quota of older children allowed on the team (which cannot be exceeded), so the coach let this one child go. (It's not clear why a bigger boy couldn't be "moved up.") When the mother asked how come it had to be her son instead of one of the other five, she was told because the others were bigger and they were "starters"! (Not all Massapequa residents, however!) She had the heartbreaking job of having to take her son from the field (not being able to be photographed with the team he has been a part of his life for the last six weeks) and after a lifetime of teaching him that "size doesn't matter," she had to be the one to tell him that size was the reason he was "kicked off the team"!

Is this how we want to bring up our youth in Massapequa? To show them that community sports are not about community at all, or about teaching our youth true sportsmanship, but solely about stacking a team with the biggest, best kids, in order to make the coaches look good?

My own children have been part of the Massapequa Mustangs for more than 10 years and there are truly wonderful coaches in this organization! Shame on the ones who think this is their time to shine at the expense of a child. Shame on those who want only winners and don't care who they scar in the process! Not only does a child lose, but the whole community loses!

I've seen a lot that I don't agree with over the years and have stayed quiet, now I'm taking a stand and speaking out because it's the right thing to do! Remaining silent would be wrong.

Thank you for providing an outlet where people are able to voice their opinions.

AnnMarie Ingenito