During the month of October, the NFL commemorated Breast Cancer Awareness Month with its largest on-field presence. They did everything from game balls with pink ribbon decals used for every down, players wearing pink cleats, wristbands, gloves, chin straps, sideline caps, helmet decals, eye shield decals, captains' patches, sideline towels and quarterback towels and pink coins used for the coin toss. It was quite the display of support. Everybody applauded the effort.
Too bad the applause couldn't be carried on for one High Schooler's attempt to show some support. Mendenhall, Mississippi High School football coach Chris Peterson kicked 17-year-old placekicker Coy Sheppard off the team for attempting to wear pink cleats. The player was also ridiculed for his choice of footwear (Yahoo.com). The cleats were a gift from Sheppard's 82 year old grandmother, a breast cancer survivor.
The coach claims that he wasn't kicked off for the pink, but for failing to follow his coaches' instructions. If the instructions were do not wear girly, pink cleats, then the coach is right. The kicker has filed suit to clear his name and to be able to graduate on time.
Sounds a lot like homophobia. Probably worth more than 15 yards.
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