Updated: The district has removed Jason Popp from his head coaching position. He will keep his teaching job, however. (WOIO)
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Players on the Richmond Heights varsity basketball team and their parents are livid over (white) head coach Jason Popp’s alleged racist language and verbal abuse. The team is 15-0 at the moment, but seven players are threatening to boycott tonight’s game if Popp is not removed from his position.
The concerns were addressed in a letter to the Superintendent of the school district and in a board meeting. No decision has been made by the district.
This article appears in Feb 9-15, 2011.
This is a joke. False allegations by benchwarmers who can’t get a varsity spot at a division 5 school..When its all said and down Popp is going to get a huge check from these parents for defamation of character.
Racism is part of our American heritage. How we go about changing it is a matter of discourse. The previous comment reflects an attitude that is all too typical in my native Northeast Ohio. We all have the right to our own opinions, but not to our own facts.
I also go to richmond heights and the school does suck the Superintendent doesnt do anything but go to africa and walk around the school and she only comes once a mouth if where lucky. The school has no finaces and its sucks coach popp is a good guy and all the kids are racist so what the hell
I go to Richmond as well. I was laughing hysterically when I read these “accusations”… how is the coach rascist if the whole varsity team is black? I herd… from the actual source – the source being a basketball player- the grandmother accusation. Coach Popp didn’t say it. A BASKETBALL PLAYER DID. Everytime I ask guys on the team, their story changes. Following up on this, I am in Spanish class with 2 players. All they do is ditch class, swear, cheat and lie to the teacher.
team popp 🙂
I go to richmond and I know coach popp he is most def. Not racist and he didn’t say that about the kids grandmother another player did really all this is doing is giving this suckie school attenision for some made up problem, ppl need to focus on how the school gets no mponey from the mall and airport which it is basically on top of, this money is being spent on other schools when anyone with eyes that steps one foot into richmond can see it needs it….. Its falling apart literally
So help richmond and popp is not a racist
ahh my self esteem got hurt, blame whitey for my problems since I am too stupid to be self motivated and learn something besides being on some sort of social help…oops did i say that..i have to say thanks whitey because if it wasnt for you i would be homeless and hungry
I’m wondering what any of the students are learning. Certainly not how to spell or how to use punctuation in sentences!
For all you bigoted racist jerks the students are learning that when you stand up for what is right, sometimes you can empower yourself to make positive changes in your environment. You don’t have to give in to ignorant authority and you should always stand up for your dignity. Now maybe they can enjoy the rest of their winning season on and off the court. that’s what they’re learning. How would you like it if some coach said to your children, “You all are just a bunch of ignorant, stupid little crackers who think you are better than others and have a false sense of superiority. But in reality the only thing you are superior of is being hateful, lying, stealing and cheating, like your people have done to everybody on the earth.” No student should be subjected to that type of abuse and ignorance so why don’t all you bigots stop defending this fool in his errors. The youth are to be commended for standing up for what’s right. All racist should stop doing that dumb stuff. People aren’t gonna take it anymore.
Great comment “Kwekuart”. I agree. I am an alum of RHHS. Loved it and truly root for them. I remember Coach Popp; he was an assistant under Schmook when I was there. Both of my brothers played b-ball and I played for the girls, so I’m familiar with the coaches. I never saw anything this bad from Coach Popp, but he also wasn’t very charismatic. Maybe, the guys just don’t mesh with his personality. And it’s also not at all unbelievable that he would say something hateful and disgusting like this. So, either way, if the players come together to make a bold statement, we must at least hear them out. I hope the total truth comes out, but like Barkley says, I doubt it.