A toddler got kicked out of a soccer game because … he played soccer better than everyone else.
That’s the gist of the bizarre story about a three-year-old Florida soccer phenom named Nevada Pierre. Last Saturday, Nevada was playing a soccer match in Winter Park, Florida. (This is appropriate given that the name Nevada means “snowy” or “snow-capped”.) Apparently, little Nevada has been dominating the youth soccer league that is known as i9 Sports.
In fact, Nevada has played so well that his opponents’ parents, and even those of his teammates, have been getting upset. Some parents were so upset about his dominance that one of the league’s directors called the police to have the tyke and his parents, Don Pierre and Martasia Griffin, removed from the match.
Yes, you read that correctly. Someone who claims to be an adult called the police because other alleged adults were upset that a tiny tot excelled at a sport. Nevada’s father put it succinctly: “They called the police on a three-year-old because he’s too good.”
As is the case across the nation, Florida can be a dangerous place. One must legitimately be concerned about robbery, carjacking, assault, a diminutive governor in white boots, and … virtuoso soccer performances. By a toddler. No wonder that law enforcement needed to be called in to restore order. The decline of Western civilization is at hand!
When the police arrived, an i9 official named Thomas Hayes told them about an incident that he said happened a few weeks ago. Hayes said that Nevada’s parents objected to him (i.e., Hayes) telling referees not to allow him (i.e., Nevada) to push the other kids. Hayes said further that Nevada’s parents argued with other parents and that they “created a big scene.” That phrasing is fitting given that there was an abundance of drama queens. For their part, Nevada’s parents dispute both accusations.
Far from arguing with other parents, CBS News reports that Griffin said that she and Pierre “always stand on the opposite side” of the field to avoid any such conflicts. Clearly, this is not the first time that other parents have expressed their displeasure at Nevada’s prowess.
As far as pushing is concerned, I mentioned above that Nevada is a three-year-old. He must have been bullying babes in Huggies, right? Nope. His teammates and opponents are four- and five-year-olds. Further, evidence suggests that the pushing was the other way around (i.e., the other kids lashed out because of Nevada’s dominance).
The Winter Park police provided clarity in a statement: “The incident was a civil matter between those parties, and not criminal. No one was arrested, trespassed, or forced to leave the park.” (Apparently, the match had ended around the time that the police arrived.) I had been concerned about the safety of Nevada and his parents given the reputation of the police in Florida. Fortunately, as the old aphorism goes, all’s well that ends well.
I am concerned about what some parents are teaching their children about the nature of competition and the fact that some people are just better at sports than others. For example, in my opinion, Michael Phelps is the greatest Olympian (next to Zeus). It’s as though his body was created to make him the closest mortal to Aquaman. Should he have been punished for being naturally, if not supernaturally, gifted?
The same question goes for Jesse Owens, Simone Biles, and Jim Thorpe. Pelé? Messi? And, considering non-athletes, let’s throw in Isaac Newton and Terence Tao. Tolstoy? Baldwin? Morrison?
To be abundantly clear, I’m not attempting to place any pressure on young Nevada by comparing him to all-time greats. I’m merely suggesting that genius, on or off the soccer pitch, should be nurtured, fostered and recognized. It certainly shouldn’t be shunned or punished.
As for coddling our children? Let’s kick the habit.
Contact community leader Larry Smith at larry@leaf-llc.com.
