If you see an ankle monitor for sale at the secondhand sports store, I guess this explains why.
Earlier this week, Tulsa’s News On 6 filed a report about a Henryetta high school basketball team fielding an intimidating roster filled with armed robbers wearing the latest in ankle monitor fashion.
Yep, that’s right, conservatives! Push your transgender boogeyman to the side. You now have something to legitimately fear on the basketball court.
Via News On 6:
News On 6 has learned two players on the Wilson High School (Henryetta) basketball team were arrested earlier this month, accused of robbing a Jenks convenience store employee…
Sources have told News On 6 that two teenagers, armed with a gun and covering their faces, demanded money and cigarettes from a woman who was working at the time.
They were later arrested by Okmulgee Police. Sources said the FBI has taken over the investigation because of the boys’ tribal status…
Wilson Public Schools in Henryetta is allowing the students to keep playing basketball while wearing ankle monitors. This has raised concern from parents and other school districts.
Yikes! I guess you can’t blame parents for being concerned. I’ll admit I’m a bit older now, don’t follow the latest fashion and jewelry trends, and have never been charged with armed robbery, but if you’re wearing a court-issued ankle monitor, maybe, just maybe, you shouldn’t be suiting up for a high school basketball tournament.
This isn’t because allowing the teens to play fails to hold them accountable for their actions, damages the integrity of high school sports, and seems to infer that only winning matters. That’s fine. The problem is, damn, that thing looks like it can really hurt!
Seriously, is that an ankle monitor or a medieval war manacle?
I feel sorry for the ref, coach, or cheerleader who accidentally gets kicked with one of those mid-game—or worse, during a post-game robbery. If we’re letting players accessorize with court-ordered tracking devices, why not throw in some GoPros, Apple Watches, or Beats headphones while we’re at it?
“Whatever, Patrick. We live in America. Innocent until proven guilty.”
Sure, I get that. Maybe the FBI got it all wrong, and this whole thing was just some ill-conceived YouTube prank. But based on optics alone, you simply can’t let them play while rocking a felony-chic ankle monitor.
Well, unless they lead the team in scoring. Then they can continue, because winning is the only thing that matters anymore.
Stay with The Lost Ogle. We’ll keep you advised.
