It is one of those stories you read and think about all the self-important athletes that the sports world is filled with; athletes think that they are entitled to everything and that everyone should do as they wish.

And in this case, it is a parent who is at the heart of the problem.

A New Jersey father has filed a federal lawsuit against just about everyone - coach, principal, superintendend and school board - involved in his son's track career to the tune of $40 million.

Why? Becuase his son was kicked off the track team for missed practices.

Mawusimensah Mears' father says that the absences were legitimate (an injury, a death in the family) and that his son's dismissal was the result of being "bullied and harassed during his time on the [Camden County (N.J.) Sterling Regional High varsity track] squad."

As reported by Pep Rally sports blog:

The bulk of the harassment that the family cites in its lawsuit is in the form of the Sterling Regional coach’s refusal to run Mawusimensah in varsity races … while he was still a freshman. Ervin Mears insisted that his son was persecuted against because the coach decided to run seniors in those races instead of Mawusimensah, even though the younger Mears was often the faster competitor.

The problem is, as one track coach put it, "Sometimes you're not going to make anybody happy."

What this father - Ervin Mears Jr. - fails to realize is that he is telling his son that he is 'entitled' to be on the team, that all that matters is what he wants and needs and if he doesn't get it then it is everyone else's fault.

Was Mawusimensah the fastest athelete on the team? We don't know since the school and its principals won't comment and we can only take the father's word that he was the best. Which base on the father's obviously biased opinion you can take that for what it's worth (apparently $40 million).

Let's face it, they are not going to win the lawsuit. First of all, participating in extra-curricular activities is a privilege, not a right.

I have played enough youth sports to know that just because you (or your parents) think you are the best doesn't mean you are, and you aren't always going to make the team. And as was the case personally, just because one coach doesn't think you are right for his team, doesn't mean another isn't thrilled you are available for his. It is a judgement call made by the people picking the players. You might not like that decision, but you live with it and strive to make yourself better or look for a better situation.

Sadly, what will happen is that Mawusimensah will go on thinking that he is entitled to be on the team (and run every race apparently) and that it is someone else's fault that he isn't.

What happens when he loses a race because someone is actually faster? Will he sue the other runner because he didn't run slower, the other runner's mother because she gave birth to him, the track maker because his lane wasn't paved smoother, the guy who fired the starter pistol because... well, you get the picture.

Mawusimensah won't strive to get better or find a situation that works better for him, he will just look to blame other people.

Because, as it is with so many self-important athletes, it is always somebody else's fault.

What do you think - does the family have a case?

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