Litigious hockey dad hits new low

Terrific news from the world of youth sports:
The (Toronto) Globe & amp; Mail reported that a father in the Canadian province of New Brunswick is suing the provincial amateur hockey association, after his 16-year-old son failed to win the league's most valuable player award.
"Michael Croteau is seeking $300,000 in psychological and punitive damages from the association. He is also demanding that the MVP trophy be taken from the boy who won it and given to his son, Steven, as well as the league's playmaker award, which was awarded to a different boy. Croteau also wants Steven to be guaranteed a spot on the New Brunswick Canada Winter Games roster.
"In an interview newspaper, Croteau said Steven was so crushed after losing the New Brunswick Bantam AAA MVP award at a banquet in March that he lost his love for playing hockey. That, his father argues, resulted in Steven failing to pursue the Canada Games tryouts in which he had been excelling."
We've all heard the stories, maybe even witnessed one or a few, of out-of-control parents at youth sports events.
We remember the story of the father in Massachusetts who beat to death the coach of a youth hockey team, in full view of his son and the victim's.
We've seen footage of fights at Little League games, between parents and coaches, between parents and officials, between parents and parents.
A mockery
A few years ago, there was a skit on "Saturday Night Live" in which cast member Will Ferrell portrayed an outlandish parent at his son's baseball game.
Ferrell's ranting -- screaming at and threatening his unseen son in the field, using vulgarities and drinking beer -- drew some laughs, and more than a few of them were tinged with nervousness.
As in many of SNL's best skits, this one hit a little close to home.
What possesses a parent to lose control?
We're told by many experts that it's often a misplaced sense of accomplishment, or the lack of it, that incites parents to act out of control. In other words, they attempt to achieve a measure of success through their child. Oftentimes, it is a success they did not enjoy themselves as a youngster.
Many youth organizations have tried to stem the tide of unsportsmanlike behavior. A common example is a note parents must sign when they register their child. It details acceptable (and unacceptable) forms of behavior. A parent who crosses that line then forfeits the right to attend any further events.
Other leagues have taken the most extreme step -- permitting no parents or fans to attend games. They've even gone so far as to not keep score of the events.
Uncommon ground
The hockey father in New Brunswick, though, seems to have gone where no parent has trod.
It's inconceivable to me how one could justify filing a lawsuit because his child did not receive an award he thought was deserved.
The worst-case scenario -- that the case is heard and won by father and son -- would seemingly open up a Pandora's box of similar complaints.
More importantly, what kind of message does this send the young son? What happens the next time he feels slighted for an achievement, or job promotion?
And, what of the young men who were given the awards? Would they be forced to testify, to defend their achievements against those of Steven Croteau? Those other youngsters did nothing other than give their best effort, and were rewarded for it.
The best-case scenario -- in our opinion -- would be for the judge assigned to the case to dismiss it immediately, and levy a fine against the father for wasting the court's time.
And then we can wait for the next ludicrous story.
XRob Todor is sports editor of The Vindicator. Write to him at todor@vindy.com.