This week has already started out hot despite it being a little chilly outside. Never mind the tease on Sunday where temps reached the lower 70s around Chicago land. I am referring to several to a few items on my agenda. We will go in order of my mood. I will touch on Dajour Miles, Arcadia, and the IL scene report.
Editor's note: We have attempted to reach Waubonsie Valley several times for their side of the story]
Let's kick things off with the case of Dajour Miles. In case you haven't heard let me put you on real fast. Miles is the super talented freshman currently residing at Waubonsie Valley High School in Aurora. She is arguably the most anticipated track and field athlete since Alexandria Anderson of Chicago Morgan Park came on the scene as an 8th grader. "Cinnamon" as she is nicknamed had been bubbling on the track and field scene for several years now. Miles started training and competing with the esteemed coach Tom Boatright and the Aurora Flyers Track Club at the tender age of eight. Dajour finally exploded last summer and now the record holder of several state and national age group records. Cinnamon's obscene marks would have sent nearly all of the high school girls in Illinois running for cover. She clocked national marks in the 100, 200, 400. How does 11.90, 24.10, and 54.08 sound? These times would have put Miles in the top two or three last year up and up with the legendary Brittny Ellis (formerly of Warren Gurnee).
Now it appears as though Miles is grounded in the mean time and it is not certain if she will compete for Waubonsie Valley this season.
So what happened?
Apparently all was well with Miles and the track team and Head Coach Dave Gowing after she completed a long basketball season in mid-February. With minimal conditioning Cinnamon headed to the University of Kentucky High School Invitational to compete in several events. Miles ran 55.42 and 24.78- both marks finished the indoor season IL#1 and 2. There is very little doubt Cinnamon would have separated herself even more from the Illinois pack had she not got injured.
Injured?
Yes, according to Cinnamon's mother Joy Johnson, she sustained a leg injury lifting weights. Now, let's be fair here. It is customary for track athletes to lift weights, especially sprinters. Building strength and power is essential to becoming fast. Ms. Johnson and Coach Gowing had differences of opinion regarding the training of Cinnamon. Sometimes differences of opinion if not checked can lead to the blame game. Such assertions "why is my 14 year old daughter doing weights this early coming off of basketball" or "this is our training and no one has gotten hurt before. Has Dajour been training elsewhere and got hurt?" In my opinion there is some grey area because of a communication breakdown. I'm in the coaching game and I've dealt with kids, parents, critics, and administration on how to deal with what is best for the program and the athlete (s). It is hard to say who is wrong and right.
Ultimatums are not always the right solution-
Whenever there is a rift between parties a solution is usually dealt by a neutral party. Meetings with the AD, principal and head coach led to a contract being drafted. I saw the contract and the key items: show up, work hard, and be a positive teammate seems reasonable. I think all coaches have those same basic guidelines. However, what struck me as odd was seven other items that appeared to label Dajour as a problem kid. It looked like something I would write for a kid on juvenile probation when I worked in Cook County Juvenile Detention. "I have always enjoyed coaching Dajour while she was here at Fischer," said former middle-school coach Corey MacGregor. "[She] was always a hard worker and never disrespectful. The only trouble I ever had with her was being forgetful a few times and sometimes being too hard on herself if something didn't go her way."
And back to this contract... if this is a policy why isn't it for the entire team? It would have at least given the coach latitude to impose such policy.
The end result is unhappy parties on both sides and for the state of Illinois. Unfortunately if nothing positive gets resolved we as fans will not get to witness one of the most anticipated athletes in Illinois history compete in high school this season.
Hopefully the Dajour "Cinnamon" Miles situation can be resolved just like former Waubonsie Valley great Shakeia Pinnick and her parents who clashed with school coaches: http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/highschool/chi-090421-shakeia-pinnick-waubonsie-valley-story.html
