He Came, He Yelled, He Slugged It Out

 

From a reader:

I would like to make a few observations regarding the latest incident involving MSHS baseball coach Blake Beck and the Parks and Rec Director Rusty Wheeles (and by extension, his wife).

There are several things that have become apparent in the months since Coach Beck took over the MSHS baseball program. Firstly, from an outside observer's perspective, he appears to be a good baseball coach (which is something MSHS hasn't had in some time). He is attempting to change the culture around that program, which takes time. By all accounts, he runs efficient practices. He has high expectations. All of these things are admirable and certainly things one would look for in a leader of a baseball program. That's the good. 

Now, for the bad. It is abundantly clear that Coach Beck has an issue controlling his temper. This is now the second incident of aggressive encounters with the Park and Rec director, this time escalating to alleged physical contact. Coach Beck appears to believe that the city owned field at Gattman Park is his personal domain, where he is free to do as he pleases, with little to no regard for anyone or anything else. And, when the Coach doesn't get his way related to the baseball field, his response seems to be to lash out at others in an aggressive and threatening manner. He has had these fits of rage in front of city employees as well as citizens, children, and most importantly students (both MS baseball and softball players).

The videos you have posted here cast a negative light on all parties involved, although I commend Mr Wheeles for attempting to defuse the situation by removing his wife from the area.

The real victims in this situation are the students of MSCS and the players in the baseball program. The slogan on the home dugout at Gattman Park reads "Class. Character. Excellence." I would ask anyone to defend any of the coach's actions here as being classy, or showing character (at least the type of character you would want demonstrated in front of your children). The lessons of team sports include conflict resolution and dealing with adversity. What are these students learning about those things when the adults in charge behave in such a manner?

It is obvious that the administration, athletic department, and ELECTED school board in Muscle Shoals have an important decision before them. The current situation does not appear to have an amicable resolution. Will the BOE do the job they were elected to do, and protect the interests of the students and athletes in the MS City School System?? Will the mantra of "Class. Character. Excellence." actually mean something in Muscle Shoals, or are they simply hollow words on a dugout sign? Time will tell. Citizens and parents in Muscle Shoals, pay careful attention to what your elected representatives do here.

Muscle Shoals Coach Blake Beck Slugs City Employee

 

You knew that it was coming, judging by past behavior of this five year-old boy trapped in the body of a grown man who should know better. This was our blog from February:

Muscle Shoals Coach Blake Beck Again Attacks City Parks & Rec Department

We received three accounts of this uncalled for incident from May 4th; we're going to first publish the account with the most complete info:

Park and Rec director met new baseball coach in January at Gattman park, park and rec director told him it’s city fields and would like to have good working relationship, at the first meeting baseball coach started complaining about everything and wanted tons of stuff done. Wasn’t a good first meeting, wasn’t a good work environment after that first incident. 

The first altercation has already been mentioned and it was totally true. The incident on May 4th, park and Rec had games schedules on big field at Gattman. At 2:30 park and rec was informed the baseball coach had destroyed field that was set up for games that night, giving lessons for kids which 25% should go to recreation for using fields that he does not pay, same as tennis and golf lessons that a percentage is paid to rec. 

Park and Rec employee asked mayor to come to Gattman because nobody was present, park and rec employee asked coach Beck if he was going to fix field back and he said no, if he was such a “smart coach” he should know not to get on a field that was already Freshly drug and lined for games. Mayor was present and park and rec employee told mayor everything was fine.

Approximately 30 minutes later coach Beck approached park and rec director and talked to him very rudely, talking down to him. Complaints were sunflower seeds were on field and there was a small patch of weeds on baseball field, plus numerous others. They went onto ballfield and he kept complaining, park and Rec director told Beck he would see him in February when his next game was and said he was done with the conversation.

Director walked off and was talking to an individual with his young son and baseball coach jumped between them and started screaming at director. Director apologized to individual and walked off. Baseball coach followed director and started hollering at his wife who decided to press record on her phone; he put his hands on her and another park and Rec employee tried to break everything up between wife and coach along with director. 

At that time baseball coach shoved director (for the first time) trying to step up to the woman, director was trying to separate them and baseball coach punched director in the arm (Beck's second physical action) and stated bring it on, and that the director didn’t “want none of this” from him in an aggressive manner. 

Somehow, even in the heat of the moment, the director, maintained his composure. Softball team saw everything and it’s on video. Park and rec director met with mayor next morning with a park board member present, Director said he was going to ask for a lifetime ban of high school baseball coach from all city property at park board meeting Monday night. Mayor was all in favor of it. 

Rumor has it, later in day mayor talked to park and rec director and told him that baseball coach can come to practice and games. Director told him no, it’s out of his hands and park board will handle it. Things would not have escalated to this point had the mayor acted appropriately and responsibly after the first incident a month ago. 

What park and rec does for the school: Basketball practices at their gyms, tennis plays on their courts, volleyball uses gym for tournaments, golf teams use Cypress, baseball and softball use facilities for practices and games. All at no cost!! That doesn’t even include the $200k a year city pays for football field and workout facility, luckily that will end in a few years. Park and Rec doesn’t need school, school needs park and rec and we are tired of spoon feeding the school. 

If money would go to education and safety of kids we are all for it, not for just athletics. This does not include the schools use of fields for field day, splash pad, school functions at rec and sport banquets at cypress, which again is all free and we pay employees to work. 

Also, rumored was high school had game at new NWSCC turf field and that Beck was told what he could and couldn’t do and that he was asked not to return to their baseball fields from NWSCC baseball coach because he did something that he was not suppose to do.

There is absolutely never any reason for a coach or anyone else to push a woman or take a slug at a city department head or anyone else. Parents and all Muscle Shoals citizens, is this what you want teaching your children?

A Tale of Two Ballgames: 1968 v. 2023

 

Today we bring you a tale of two youth ball games - 55 years apart. First we have the Village One Packers versus the Rivermont Jets in 1968. It must have been one heckuva game judging from the news clipping above.

It looks like Doug Handley was one great player. We bet all the girls were after him and Jess Joyner. It also appears that no coaches tried to knock anyone into the next county. They probably even shook hands when the game was done.

Moving forward to 2023, things sure have changed. Did a Muscle Shoals Coach slug an innocent city worker at a baseball game this week? Did he even go as far as to push an innocent female? We hear that's the case. We'll have more about the bobcat killer tomorrow. Until then, here's a short video depicting (or halfway depicting - we welcome a better video from our readers) the idiot, er, irritated coach taking a slug at his innocent victim:

New Civil Lawsuit against Sheffield

 

An Atlanta attorney has announced plans to sue the City of Sheffield, the Sheffield Police Department, Chief Ricky Terry, and the three officers involved in a June 2021 arrest. Of the three officers, Sgt. Nick Risner is deceased, while Max Dotson and Brett Evans remain with the department.

Whether the suit is legitimate or not, the City will have to defend itself in the courts over police brutality. The very decrepit town doesn't need any more expense added to its budget.

What if Marvin Eugene Long wins his suit? Those who have seen the video taken by the officers' body cams find it very disturbing:

Sheffield: Utility Bills to Increase $48.00/Year?

 

If you live in Sheffield, your utility bills will probably be going up $48.00 a year. That's 24 bucks for a general increase, effective October 1st. In addition there will be a 24 buck increase for wastewater if things go as planned. The wastewater increase is still pending.

The head of Sheffield Utilities stated during the last council meeting that the utilities company has lost as average of 112K over the past three years.

We have to ask: Just how much is Inspiration Landing losing each month? Wouldn't the money paid each month to John Elkington cover what the Sheffield Utilities is losing? Or go a long way to fix pothole filled streets?

Why does a pie-in-the sky project...now nine years old...come before the citizens of Sheffield?

The UNA Rape Problem

 

We're sure there are as many opinions of the University of North Alabama as there are students. Here's a current essay from the Flor-Ala:

I'm Transferring

While the article is extremely interesting in itself, it's one of the comments that's especially telling. Over and over, we read of rape victims being treated this way.

Note that it's not some lower class goon who's telling the victim it's her fault. It's a part of the administration who should be supportive of the university's students.

The rape victims aren't getting even lip service. What is wrong with a large part of society, especially our university?

Sheffield to Get Even Trashier?

 

Colbert County and its cities will now be using a Morgan County landfill until the Cherokee facility is again usable. Costs will only increase $2.00 per ton to $27.00; however, the drive time will also increase. Read: Less time each day for actual pickups.

J. Redmon has been urban exploring again and reports that 21st Street in Sheffield looks like a post-apocalyptic war zone. He was too gobsmacked to get any photos, but advises to drive in that area at your own risk. He also commented that the Sheffield street department seemed not to be aware of that neighborhood's existence. We welcome photos from any Sheffield residents who wish to share. 

In the interim since we last visited John Elkington, he's managed to get the old recycling buildings at the entrance to Inspiration Landing town down. Perhaps the citizens of Sheffield should be grateful for any progress?

If you're counting, the City of Sheffield has now made five payments on the two USDA loans. If any further progress has been made on the IL project, we're unaware of it.

We hear there's always plenty of seating at the Sheffield City Council meetings...