The unofficial online home for fans of the Western Michigan University Broncos. Part of Collegiate Sports Nation (CSN).

http://espn.go.com/video/clip?id=espn:13327679

I hesitated in sharing this but it is public and close to home. I stumbled on it and immediately recognized the WMU connection.

Apparently, Rick Butler, is a very powerful man in junior girls volleyball in the USA through the AAU.

By this article he is accused, once again, by WMU HOF inductee Sarah Powers-Barnhard.

This hits home not only because of WMU but Sarah grew up in the community I did. Her older brother Dan was a wrestler 1-2 years behind me in HS. I did not know Sarah. In fact, I don't believe I ever met her. I taught at our alma mater the year after she graduated. She missed playing on a state championship by 1 year. I googled Rick Butler and went to his LinkedIn site and sure enough I recognized the name of his AAU volleyball program.

I share this because as a grandparent I am sensitive to this situation. I'm not naïve. This has been going on for time immemorial. But that could be a convenient excuse. If I didn't know of my personal connection I could have sloughed it off as someone over there. A nameless , faceless entity that has no importance in my personal life. And even then it would make this situation no less sickening. But because of the connection it makes me and should make you more aware. It isn't a complete stranger. It isn't some "loser" or any other label that might be applied to diminish the situation allowing you to move on and not pay attention. I'm guilty of that all the time. This has given me pause.

http://espn.go.com/video/clip?id=espn:13327679

I hate video clips. What, exactly, is going on?

Just watch it, only 6 minutes. I don't want to get sued for spreading "rumors" from the video.

Yikes, got it.