Of course there is confusion, the Mokena Park District blindsided the Burro's Organization by taking away their field after 49 years a month before registration. The only fingers that should be pointed should be pointed at the Park District Board.

The Burros are the blind leading the blind....desperation causes miscommunication.

I don't think the "miscommunication" is the park districts fault. Sounds like the park district is willing to rent the field to the Burros if some people aren't in leadership. Sounds like the park district is trying to hold up standards. Nothing wrong with that at all.

Can anyone explain EXACTLY what are the demands of the Park District ?

I'd like to know the demands as well. According to "it's me" it sounds like the PD board has personal issues against the Burros, instead of fair and unbiased issues. If that is the case these appointed and elected officials should be removed. They are denying revenue from the Burro's and their concession sales to prove a point. It's a twisted version of taking their ball (and field) and going home.

I think the reporters from the Patch should be able to provide us with exact demands of the Park District.

I agree with Pat and Mad at Dad..I would like to know the demands as well. I would also like to know why the park district would deny young children from playing on the feild in the first place? Sounds like they care more about having the "power" and the upperhand instead of the children in this community.

For the record, I don't even have children that play football or cheer, I'm am asking as a citizen of Mokena. My children participate in other park district activities and all of this nonsense has made me very uneasy.

I don't think the Burros should have to be looking elsewhere for a field anyways. If they live in Mokena why wouldn't they be allowed to play on park district property that their parents' taxdollars pay for? Wrong wrong wrong...shame on you Mokena Park District!

Really Patch? The Mokena Burros not having a field makes front page news blaming the Burros? You are sniffing around the wrong tree, talk to Romanek, Bagdon and Richmond.

@Paul D., I am a parent of two Burros football players and one cheerleader. I was not able to attend the Park District meeting. You mentioned that several parents and Joe Lentz spoke. Could you please let me know what they said to the board?

The Park District continues to exercise control of who can and cannot use the facilities based on their policies. This recent activity started because a Burros coach crossed the line and became over aggressive with a player. This happened on Park District property and violates their rules. The player's parents objected and reported this to the Park District. The district enforced policy and denied the coach access to park property. Nothing wrong with that. It was the adolescent behavior of both sides afterwards that led to this standoff. Who is going to apologize, where will they apologize, when will it happen? That's pretty much where we're at. Commissioner Richmond, it's not fair that you have a foot in each doorway. If you want to run the JrGriffins then resign from the Park Board. If you want to be on the Park Board then don't be a JrGriffins board member. That impropriety is ridiculous. The Burros can never feel they are being treated fairly as long as that condition exists. No child of a Mokena Park District tax payer should be denied equal use of the fields, no matter which team they play on.

Pat you bring up valid points and got me curious. Checked out both teams websites. It is strange that the JrGriffins site has no mention of the team officials or governing board while the Burros clearly have a link to their list of board members. I did read that Metanias is a coach for the JrGriffins which shouldn't be a mark against him, until I read his JG coaching bio which included information about his position as village trustee. Its great that he is willing to give his time but what is the point of announcing his elected position? I would tend to think that his coaching experience is more than sufficient. Couldn't find anything tying Bagdon directly to either group but the grapevine has revealed he's looking for some apologies, not sure why or when.

Can someone please tell me how many kids played tackle and flag last year? I may be way off but I am going to just say 750 to make it sound nice. Those 750 children are now being affected by this weather they know it or not, no matter what league they decided to play in. All the parents pay their taxes and part of it goes to the park district why shouldn't our children ALL have a right to use the park district if we are paying for it? At this point I am sad to be involved with anything the park district is involved in. If Mokena village officials don't get involved in this soon (they may think it's petty but we do pay our taxes and this does involve all those children) I think I will start looking else where to have my children play ALL SPORTS FOR NOW ON! If this town can not help these children play a sport and be able to stay a town then I will go else where and teach my children what is right some where else because this park district and leaders of these 2 leagues are not what I want my children being led by! (They are not showing a TEAM... they are showing a division of town of politics or shall I say who has more power!)

I read this at the park distrcit meeting on Tuesday and sent it to the Patch (which apparently didn't want to publish it).

I am here this evening to speak to this board as a parent, a community member and as a taxpaying citizen of Mokena.
I would like to address the fact that the Mokena Park District Board and the Executive Director MR. Romenak have elected to not sign a field usage agreement with the Mokena Burros.
In my opinion, as first and foremost a mother to a child that plays for the Burros and also as a taxpayer, a park district should be doing everything in its power to support the children of this community…All of the children. There is no reason that hundreds of children from Mokena should not be allowed to play and cheer on the main park district field. Because a few adults cannot get along is a ridiculous reason. The egos and the differences need to be set aside. This is not about you and it is not about any other adult, this is about our children.

By not signing this agreement you are not hurting the few people on the Burros Board whom you disagree with, you are hurting all of the kids who want play or cheer with the Mokena Burros. You need to take into consideration that the Mokena Burros Youth Organization is not just made up of a select few individuals. These boys and girls should be able to choose the team that they want to play for and know that they are just as important as a child who chooses to play for another organization. These children should not get the short end of the stick because a few adults can’t agree.
The children of Mokena have already had to endure their school district eliminating many programs due to budget cuts. They should not also have to worry about being slighted by the park district when the money and the space are available.
Instead of being the laughing stock of the surrounding communities why don’t we become the example and show our children that people can overcome differences and work out their problems in a civilized manner. At the end of the day we all need to be here for the children and do what best for them. The Mokena Park district and the Mokena Burros are two organizations that have a common goal…to provide programs for the youth in our community.

Until the park district signs the agreement they do not have the best interest of any child that wants to be a part of the Burros. I urge you to sign the agreement for the children in this Mokena community that want to become or remain a Mokena Burro.
Thank you for your time.

The mod offered the same contract to the Jr griffins as they did the burros,the difference is that the burros had to have the coaches who committed breaking the code of conduct rules to step down off the board and not being able to coach. That person or people tried to change that in the contract and sent it back crossed off. Mpd is trying to protect your children. So some people need to leave and the burros will get their field back.

@Pat The Park District had no response at all

If the burros board really want a season they should step down so the kids can play and they would get to play at main park. Sorry but if you spank your own kid it could be considered child abuse. If someone else grabs your kid throws him down to the ground and insults him that's ok?????? Wow I'm glad I'm going to the bulldogs

If a Burros coach violated park district policy then it should be dealt with in what ever fashion has been previously approved. It would be unusual for the park district to adopt such a policy with only one consequence. If the condition calls for this coach to be banned from district property its presumable that a time limit be included. Not sure that a perpetual sentence was imposed and the coach was banned for life. He should accept the punishment and step aside, if that is the sticking point, and let these kids have a place to play and practice. This shouldn't be about -"if he does it again". If he did it, he did it. No one is above the team or organization. Perhaps this individual will learn to keep his hands to himself. If he feels the need for rough physical contact there are plenty of cage match participants ready and waiting to indulge him.

Agreed.. But he is not stepping down off the board and he is still coaching. Shame on the burros board....shame on you.

All I keep reading is the kids should play were they want to play and the park district should be ashamed of themselves. Do the burros share any of this blame in this situation. To all of you people who are saying if the burros want a coach to coach than he should be allowed coach regardless of the rules he broke. Kid should be allowed to play were they want to play. It is time to step up and be a parent I don't care if my child got on his knees and begged me to play in an organization that allows a coach to assault a kid and then elect him to a board position .Would you send your child to a day care center were a child was assaulted just because it has been there for 49 years. Pull your heads out of your rear ends and worry about your child's saftey over your own social circle and start being a parent.

I'm thinking that the contract with the MPD has nothing to do with the coach as there was not a formal complaint and I'm sure that the MPD lawyer has the contract so it applys to all of the organized sports that use the field. It just was not signed. And since we have a new Administrator, he feels there MUST be a contract in place. There is a lot of he said she said and we all know what comes from that. I'm
hoping the contract will be signed or negotiated so the children can continue their program. And legally the Burros or the MPD have no recourse to the coach as there was not a complaint filed that required legal action. That was the parents decision. It would be interesting to see what is the big delay in this contract. It is a contract that is on file(or should be).

God bless the Mokena Burros...........they need it.

Every one keeps saying it is not about the burros it is about the children and it is all on the park district. Every other team that plays on park district property has signed the agreement the burros decided to redline the agreement to protect there board members and coaches . That were in violation of the agreement. The only reason they are not play at main park is their fault and their fault alone. From their no one is going to tell us what to do attitude . They lie to you about a field and you still blindly follow these people it is truly unbelievable.

I have a child in football but have not signed for either team. They both stink to high heaven including the Park District. Yes, we know Burros has a coach who was abusive. However there has been no mention of the individual Jr. Grif has individual running a division who was verbally abusive to the kids last year. The egos and self-importance of the people in charge of these the leagues is disgusting. All these troubled coaches should have been removed or quietly resigned when the incidents happened!! Now look at the mess it has created. Very disappointing

I think Mr Abuser should just resign. If you don't, it just proves you are there for yourself. You can save the program by just resigning.

If everyone that signed up a child for any sports program was an active part of the program there would be less problems. I have seen issues in the basketball program that are not the greatest either. Maybe that is what the Administrator is striving for.
That is his position and he takes that for a reason. Moms & Dads if you don't want your child to play football,say so. Don't give some lame excuse because as anyone in sports knows there is always coaching issues. I'm not saying there should be abuse at all but you have all been on the baseball field . Do they yell ? Yes they do! When little Johnny misses the game winning line drive because he is kicking an ant...are you telling me the coach says "better luck next time". No, he yells "keep your eye on the ball!" You dads and moms that don't like the coaches get out there and do it yourself. Or at least get yourself outside enough to just toss the ball to the child. This attitude of "I don't like the coaches but no, I won't do it myself" is very damaging to your child. They see right through you!! Oh, and by the way how often do YOU yell at your child? If you don't...maybe you should. Don't sign your child up for sports unless you sign yourself up also!! There are a lot less complaints when you see things first hand and don't let others do what you should be helping with.

Or just leave and go to tinley park

@carole. My god are you wrong. In football the boy was roughly thrown down to the ground by his facemask and not just yelled at,it was how and calling that boy a pussy was way out of text. I don't believe that is a excusable act by that coach and board member.

this is all garbage....first you have a bunch of parents living their lives through their kids..like big friggin deal if they have no place to play...if they really want to play go to field and play...and for the parents you people take yourselves to serious WITH these sports....BELIEVE ME YOUR KIDS ARE NOT GOING TO BE PROS!!...so keep taking them to speed camps, personalized batting practices,football camps etc...but lets not teach them how to make thing workout and have some class when doing something...so keep making fools of youselves....and another thing....this is also a great example why park district boards and taxes are worthless and unfair in their taxing manner....NOW YOU GOT ME STARTED....my kid plays on the burros or falcons...whow he gained 100 yards and made a lot tackels big friggin DEAL....LET THE KIDS PLAY AND PARENTS SHUT UP!!!! STAY TUNED FOR MORE COMMENTS!!! DR. KNOWIT ALL!!!!

Well, Carole, parents who step up and help still have to hold jobs, maintain homes and religious commitments and deal with childrens "issues". This issue can't be easily summed up as "get in there and help". When you sign up for an activity you have to but a bit of faith in the people running it. Well both of the teams have people in charge with their own agenda. Believe me, I know these coaches are not perfect and I don't expect them to be but this level of corruption in a children's sport league is just disgusting. The abuse was not just about a kid "looking at ants". Even if the kid was, does that mean he should be called a MFer or another foul name or pushed around. How would you like to be humilated for your small mistakes or distractions!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Carole you sound like an ass my child was on that team and he saw what happened and heard what was said so stop defending your husband. The fact still remains this forum is about how the burros lied to the parents about the field that they secured for the up coming season. Stop trying to change the subject. Stop bringing up the park district the jr griffins these people did not force the burros to lie to the parents. The burros need to take responsibility for their own actions period.

Bottom line. The roughneck coach needs to step down, at least for one season. What he did was plain wrong. Imagine if the park district had no such policy to deal with such a horrendous attack. And that's what is was, an attack. This wild man would have gone on unscathed. Mr. Tough guy who likes to throws kids around be an adult at least for now. Back off and help these kids to secure the facilities they need. Are you really so selfish? Even if it's to late to rescue the situation by resigning it is still the right thing to do.

The report that I received acknowledged the parent of the molested player filed a complaint with the park district. Mr. Roughneck coach be a man, don't act like the names you called the player that you manhandled, step down and get the conversation opened back up. Give the Burros their best chance to succeed.

If you go back to the stories in the Patch the alleged abuse was never an issue. It was that the contract wasn't signed. As they said it was like all of the other sports teams that did sign. It is like a game of gossip. The abuse gets worse.The namecalling is several different names observed by several different people but no one pulled their child out and according to the Patch a formal complaint was never issued to the Burros. Interesting to me that this did not happen now...it happened last year but no action from the parents that are so fired now. We still haven't heard from the Administrator that that is why the contract isn't signed...have we?

I love the blind passion of Burros defenders. But, the truth is the Burros completely screwed up everything. A couple of years ago Matt Hunniford (Burros Coach) forged George Mentanias' name on an insurance document at East. That incident ruined the Burros relationship with East. As a result, East severed it's relationship with the Burros. In addition, Matt Hunniford two years ago threatened to take his team away from the Burros if Jim Stewart (then AD) did not fire George Mentanias as the Varisty Head Coach. Last year, the Burros had two physical altercations. 1. Matt Hunniford pushed a child to the ground and yelled profanity at him. 2. Chip "the choker" Grabski President of the Burros grabbed and choked a child during the Burros Homecoming. Matt Hunniford never apologized and was never reprimanded. Chip "The Choker" Grabski was only suspended for 1 day. This year Mrs. Della Fave; Sal Della Fave (AD, Coach); Mrs Mary Pat Stewart; Jim Stewart (Board Member and former AD) all had shouting matched with several Park District officials in plain sight of children at the Oaks. The Burros have had various opportunities to play Main Park. All they had to do was to sign the original contract. They responded by submitting a redlined copy striking all references to removing Matt Hunniford as a Coach. The MPD then told the Burros to apologize for the recent actions of their Board. Too no avail.

Then the MPD told the Burros to remove their current Board and start over fresh. Instead of putting the children of the organization first they put their egos first. Many of the Parents on this site have vilified the MPD. To the Parents that cry about their taxes giving them carte blanche with the MPD. You're wrong. As a tax payer you have the right to use the parks anytime you chose. But, not a private organization that you happen to be involved with. In addition, there is no way that the Burros will be allowed to play in Mokena at least for this year. All of the time slots for the Mokena Parks have been filled in by other teams and sports. The Burros had their chance(s). They even lied to reporters in order to fill up their rosters. I believe that many folks signed up their kids based on the fact that the Burros stated they had a field. Joe Lenz (Burros President) stated that he read the so called misquotes but never corrected them. Why? I think that all this amounts to fraud. People should be entited to refunds.

There is no justification for pushing, grabbing or physically handling any player. None at all. If X Burros Guy is accurate in his statements then those coaches have to go. It's like yelling fire in a movie theater. If you're not capable of dealing with these young players then you are not qualified to coach them. The rest is academic. This is where the problem started and dealing with it correctly is the only way to heal this wound. Coaches, YOU CAN NOT MANHANDLE THESE KIDS. You blew it, no one else. I'm willing to wager a healthy amount that dealing with these two incidents will go a long way in repairing the damage between the Burros and park district. Until then it just doesn't make any sense to beat on the park district. The ball is still in the Burros hands. If they do the right thing then the community will rally behind them. It's hard to accept that these coaches refuse to take the right steps in support of these kids. Go ahead and ask any of the players why they want to play football. Not any single one of them will answer "because I want to win". The same can't be said of the adults involved.

Unfortunately Pat, once again you're not clearly informed. After every discussion pertaining to the field usage contract, the Burros we're given time to discuss and sign. The time slots were never allocated prior to the explusion of the Burros. Check for yourself. You also stated that the Burros organization should not be punished for the acts of a few bad apples. The very organization that YOU defend has rallied around those BAD apples instead of removing them. Using you're own argument, knowing that the Burros are facing such dire straights (not having a home after 49 years) how do you not chose the organization over some very bad repeated adult behavior. In addition, what message are you sending the children of the Burros??? Only that very bad behavior should be rewarded amd defended. I applaud the MPD for defending the liabilty of the community.

I've witnessed coaches at all of the local youth football programs. I've seem many coaches get out of control and act in a similiar manner to what the coach on the Burros did yet, it's as if it never happened. In fact, the Falcons allowed a coach to come back after he engaged in much worse behavior...repeatedly. So don't believe that MPD is denying fields to the Burros out of a concern for kids. These kids are just political pawns in a grown up game of "power grab".

Carole or is that your real name? You state your name and I'll state mine. Btw, do you live in Mokena? Are you aware that the vey organization that you defend has been directed by people that have abandoned their fiduciary responsibilites. How and why did the Burros a couple of years ago spend $40,000 plus on field improvements at Main Park without a contract? That was one of the biggest bone head moves I have ever seen. How did the treasurer "Carole" not ask to have some protections in place for the organization? That "Carole" should be FIRED! Why did the Burros spend over $20,000 on cheer outfits before spending money on OLD football equipment? Yes, we all know that some of that money was raised through donations. But, how you in God's name do you not provide state of the art equipment to the boys that could be potentially diaabled from using old and mismatched football equipment??? BTW Carole, I didn't hear you complain when those very same Mjr Griff guys were on you're Board. Don't be hypocrite.

Oh I just forgot to answer another of "Carole's" issues pertaining to East. Anybody interested in what actually happened with Matt Hunniford and the FORGING incident.... just call Coach "Z" at East and he'll tell you exactly what happened. Also didn't coach Matt Hunniford and AD Sal Della Fave have another physical and verbal altercation with a Frankfort SQ Wildcats Coach last year in the parking lot. Please stop trying to defend the undefendable!

I guess I expect more from my elected officials. Believe me there are other issues than football. I was pointing out that some of your facts do not ring true,therefore many of your statements are inaccurate and should be taken as that. I feel that it has nothing to do with who did what(so you say) but that the MPD should not be entering into this. It doesn't look good for them. It makes them look desperate for the Jr G. The two gentlemen that started the JrG just did that this year and if they made special allowances for the Burros then no they shouldn't have. We do have a lot of all talk and no action,he said she said.and finger pointing. If you don't want your child to play then don't. There are many other choices. You as a parent make a decision what is best for your child. You don't need to make empty accusations and justify your decision...just move on. But now"X Burros Guy" this is football not "tee ball".

I'm not defending anybody. If fields were taken away from every football youth program for incidents such as the Burros incident...football would not exist. So stop using that incident as an excuse to take the fields away. People that think an incident such as this has never happened in the 49 years that Burros have been around....I've got some swamp land for sale.

At least one similiar incident happened on (Falcons) this past year. Why do the Falcons still have a field?

Fraud! The Burros Lied!

Stop the comments and Happy Easter to all.

I was a coach and board member for 10 years, and all I can say is that this is disgusting. Why don't you people leave Mokena, and let it return to the decent, friendly town it used to be? You all make me sick.