From the Rose Law Group Growlery/By Phil Riske, managing editor
UPDATE: The Friday call that resulted in the ejection of Dysart High School senior football player Pedro “Peanut” Banda was overruled Tuesday morning by an appeals committee of the Arizona Interscholastic Association.
The player will be allowed to participate in the first round Division IV state playoff game against Snowflake Saturday. Below is the statement the AIA just released.
And you thought the NFL was harsh for disallowing DeAngelo Williams of the Pittsburg Steelers to wear something pink to honor his mother, who died after a battle with breast cancer.
Dysart school officials today might render a decision about Pedro Banda, 17, who was flagged for unsportsmanlike conduct and ejected from a game last week after he pointed his index finger to the sky following a touchdown. “I just thank God for all the power he’s given me to play the game,” Banda said. “And I just give the glory to Him.”
An official and opposing coach believe he might have been taunting opponents, and Banda could miss the school’s first playoff game in 25 years because his gesture to praise of God was deemed as “excessive celebration.”
Some people are offended by those who wear their religion on their sleeves, but Banda’s gesture was a totally innocent and sincere expression of his faith, and he says he will continue to do the gesture after scoring touchdowns.
Let’s hope he gets that chance.
The zebra with the whistle (and the NFL) should instead be celebrating free speech and also flagged for excessive reaction, lest we continue to penalize the First Amendment.
