Parents have the right to remain silent

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February 14, 2012

Anonymous Daily Star The Daily Star Tue Feb 14, 2012, 02:30 AM EST

I think something happens to people once they become parents.

For example:

A couple of weeks back, the mother of an area high school basketball player called The Daily Star sports department during our off-peak hours, which is basically any time you can see daylight.

Since she called before 4 p.m., which is the time we've been coming into work for the past 12-plus years, nobody was physically here to field her phone call (we were here in spirit, however).

So when I finally got around to strolling into the office that day, my fire-truck red voicemail light is blinking, blinking, blinking. The spider senses are tingling.

Anyway, mom of said area athlete was upset because we ran a picture of her son that was 2 years old. He's also wearing a baseball cap in the photo and _ in case we didn't know it _ this is basketball season.

I actually ducked at that point because I thought somebody was going to slap me upside the head.

Mom went on to say we're the meanest people in the world, we hate all children, we kick all puppies and our sole purpose as a newspaper is to make everyone except ourselves look bad ... or something like that.

The best part, though, was how Mom didn't bother to offer up a new photo and hung up without leaving any contact information.

So, now we're in quite the pickle. Do we run the old photo and risk the Wrath of Mom again or do we just stop running it all together?

It's a no-win situation for everyone, which brings us to the point:

Parents love to complain.

I guarantee the person who commented on our website version of the Feb. 8 boys basketball roundup is a parent.

"Just wondering....." writes: Sooooo.....Unatego Varsity Boys Clinch the MAC..undefeated in league play....yes UNDEFEATED....and they don't garner the attention of the Daily Star !! Shame on you !!!!!

A side note to "Just wondering....." and our other website guests: Even though Mom didn't provide us with a way to contact her, at least she had the courage to identify herself. Anonymous attacks are pretty weak, in other words.

Now for the direct note: The Unatego game in question _ a 53-37 victory over Walton _ was part of the Feb. 8 roundup, albeit at the bottom of it.

The same roundup led with Oneonta High's loss to Chenango Valley in (please underline, bold and capitalize the next two words) quadruple overtime.

Hey, can I get in on this?

You want to know why McDonald's has a toy-sized version of French fries in its Happy Meal now?

I'm positive a parent _ or rather several parents _ complained to McDonald's about how unhealthy French fries are (and how its employees are the ones shoving them down the throat of your rotund bundle of joy).

So, for some reason (wink, wink), McDonald's replaced the 230-calorie small fries with a 100-calorie version that comes in a 2x3.5-inch container. Apple slices, which used to be called Apple Dippers, are in there, too _ minus the side of gooey caramel.

So I'm sitting here scratching my head now, wondering how Sidney wrestling coach Tim Stafford can possibly be a parent?

I'm sure Stafford was sitting in the corner of a Section Four Division II champion named Stafford this past Saturday at the Broome County Arena, but could it be?

"I've been Scott's only coach since age 6," said Tim Stafford, who folded his arms, sat up straight and talked Sidney senior Scott Stafford _ his son _ through the 120-pound D-II title match Saturday. "I've seen a lot of father-and-son coaching and some of us win and some of us lose. I've been a winner when it comes to Scott.

"He listens and it's been easy," he continued. "I think it's because I grew up wrestling and I know the dos and don'ts. And there are times when fathers don't know when to keep their mouths shut, but I know."

Baffled by all of this _ especially the part about a parent knowing when to shut it _ I asked Scott Stafford why he's the only kid in the world who listens to his parents. And as Wesley Snipes told Woody Harrelson in the movie "White Men Can't Jump," there's a huge difference between listening and hearing.

"I've always listened to him," said Scott Stafford, who pretty much executed whatever move came out of Pop's mouth Saturday for an 8-2 title victory over Unatego freshman Austin Ryan. "I know he's good and I know he's a good coach, so I've never had a problem listening to him.

"It's like that with everything," he continued. "I try to behave ... most of the time."

Maybe that's why Scott jumped into the arms of his father/coach, who slapped a bear hug on his son/student and carried him a few steps off the mat, after Sidney earned its first sectional title since 2002.

"I'm sure it's just as special for him as it is for me," Scott Stafford said, still beaming a half-hour after his victory. "We're both just ecstatic."

Now, I'm not saying the same kind of parent-child relationship is impossible for those who complain all the time about everything little thing ...

Or am I?

Dean Russin is the sports editor of The Daily Star. Email him at drussin@thedailystar.com.