Phillip Johnson, the manager of the 2011 Warner Robins American Little League team, led his youngsters on a memorable run in Williamsport at the Little League World Series in 2011. Unfortunately, he will not be able to do the same in 2012 because of a lapse in judgment. According to the Telegraph in Georgia, Johnson has been banned from the 2012 tournament for having alcohol at the Williamsport complex during the 2011 tournament.
Assuming he is being truthful, the toughest part about the situation is that Johnson never consumed nor opened any of the alcohol. In fact, he says a parent gave it to him as a gift and he threw it away.
“Little League found out, and obviously I made a bad decision,” Johnson said Tuesday. “I admitted it, and I regret it.”
Rules are rules, and alcohol is not allowed on the Williamsport grounds during the LLWS for obvious reasons. If the story is true, I can imagine the parent who gave Johnson the alcohol feels worse than anyone. He or she was trying to make a nice gesture and the results were unfortunate.
If it were me and I received a year-long suspension despite never having even taken a sip of the alcohol I was given, I’d be rummaging through the trash to get it back. Assuming it was something Johnson likes, he could at least save it and enjoy it from his couch at home during the 2012 LLWS.
Thanks to Prep Rally for passing the story along
Photo credit: Chris Gardner-US PRESSWIRE
