Published: January 24, 2008 02:06 pm      

Is anyone surprised by LCA’s violations?

Somerset — The Kentucky High School Athletic Association has fined Lexington Christian Academy, saying school officials gave athletes improper financial assistance.

Does this really shock anyone?

I, for one, was not at all surprised by this revelation.

How dare Lexington Christian try to out-recruit Lexington Catholic. After all, you knew the ‘poop’ was going to hit the fan when Lexington Christian downed Lexington Catholic in last year’s girls’ 11th Region championship game en route to Lexington Christian’s KHSAA State Championship run.

Before falling to Lexington Christian in the 11th Region championship game, the Lexington Catholic Lady Knights had won seven of the last eight region titles and two straight state titles.

I don’t know this for a fact, but I would gander a guess that Lexington Catholic had a little to do with blowing the whistle on their fellow private school.

Or maybe there is a secret code, or hand shake, among private schools that they don’t reveal other private school’s secrets or dirty laundry.

So, yes, the KHSAA commissioner now looks like she is doing something about the private schools’ open recruiting policy and she is going to level the playing field between public and private schools.

Not!

First off, Lexington Christian was fined $13,982 and put on probation for one year for their offenses.

Let’s see, Lexington Christian won a girls’ basketball state title last year and a baseball state title in 2005 and all it cost them is $13,982. I am sure any public school in Kentucky would gladly come up with $13,982 for just one state championship title.

As far as the one-year probation... give me a break.

It was a mere light pat on the wrist. Lexington Christian Academy won’t be asked to forfeit any games, they won’t be excluded from any KHSAA state tournament events and they won’t be asked to give back their two state championship trophies.

So explain to me how Lexington Christian is being punished.

Lexington Christian Academy’s lawyer, Gregg Thornton, stated the school has already paid the $13,982 fine and won’t appeal the ruling.

Duh!

Of course they won’t appeal the ruling, because if they were to appeal, the matter would have to go before the KHSAA Board of Controls. And I don’t think they want to go that route. After all, why would they risk actually getting punished!

Oh yeah, in the press release the attorney stated, “The cost of appealing isn’t a good use of school resources.”

But I guess $13,982 for two state championships is a dandy use of school resources.