Republican Youth Hockey Coach arrested for assaulting parent

[Ian David]

Youth hockey coach arrested after fight with parent

HARTFORD, Conn. -- The head coach of a Connecticut youth hockey team has been charged with assault after allegedly beating up the father of a player on an opposing team.

Frank Ruocco, 40, the head coach of the Connecticut Wolves peewee team, and the other man, Lawrence Smith, 39, of Greenfield Center, N.Y., were arrested after an off-duty police officer broke up the fight Sunday morning outside the Northford Ice Pavilion in North Branford.

<snip>

Ruocco told police that he retaliated after Smith pushed him and poked him in the eye. Smith suffered facial cuts and other injuries and was sent to Yale-New Haven hospital.

More:
http://www1.whdh.com/news/articles/local/BO41586/

See also:
http://www.opensecrets.org/indivs/search.asp?NumOfThou=0&txtName=Ruocco&txtState=CT&txtZip=&txtEmploy=&txtCand=&txt2006=Y&txt2004=Y&txt2002=Y&Order=N

[MrSlayer]

1. Sounds like a head up fight to me.

And it also sounds like Smith was the one who started it. What's the big deal?

[Parche]

2. hockey

Puckin Republicans!!!!

[sufrommich]

16. Hockey fans and players

span the political spectrum.If that wasn't so, all of Detroit and it's burbs would be as red as Mao's little book.

[snowbear]

26. Trust me..... DEMOCRATS PLAY HOCKEY !!!!!!!!!!!

And oh by the way ---- the Commissioner of the National Hockey League, Gary Bettman, has ONLY donated to DEMOCRATS.

Please do not relate my favorite sport with r-THUGS!!



~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

[walldude]

3. This kind of shit is why my kids take music, drama and art.

I've been flamed many times for my anti-sports stance here on DU but I could give less than a shit. The world is competitive enough without some kids armchair quarterback father berating my kid because he drops a fucking fly ball. Things like this and the wonderful sign the Bears fan showed the world just tell me I'm right.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

5. Um...

isn't that a little like writing off music because somebody shot Dime Bag Darrell?

[walldude]

7. No actually it's not.

It's like writing off sports because most of the people involved take it way to seriously. I live in Denver and when the Broncos won the superbowl the wonderful sports fans rioted downtown. Starting fires turning over cars, generally having what they consider fun. And I know we aren't the only town to enjoy that kind of superfan. So instead of teaching my kids that physical achievement is the pinnacle of human existance I teach them that the creation of something out of nothing is more fulfilling and magical than hitting a ball with a stick, running real fast, or shooting steroids so you can be bigger than the other guy on the line who wants to tear off your quarterbacks head. It's my personal opinion and I know many people disagree with it, such is life.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

8. You mean like how most people take music way to seriously?

because people throw riots at music concerts, setting vendors on fire and groping female concert goers, generally havin gwhat they consider fun?

[LisaM]

10. Don't forget the people who have been trampled to death

You made such an excellent point. I am going to remember that when peple hassle me about sports fans.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

11. And let's not forget drama.

Hello? Abraham Lincoln?

[walldude]

13. Really? Funny, I've been to thousands of concerts

and have heard of um.. 3 riots. And yes I mean thousands of shows, I'm a roadie. And usually they are started by someone doing something stupid. I have never seen anyone start a riot because they thought the concert was the best they had ever seen. Look you disagree.. fine. Enjoy the game, while you are watching me and my kids will be in the garage jamming, creating, living.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

14. Yeah, and I've been to hundreds of baseball games.

Never seen a riot.

:shrug:

[LisaM]

17. No one's ever come up and asked me if I wanted to f*** at a baseball game

or hockey game or football game for that matter! But I did have it happened to me at a concert once.

I also have never seen one person puke on another at a baseball, football, hockey, or basketball game either. But I saw it happen to my friend once at a concert. She was sitting right behind me and a guy barfed all over her.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

19. Well, that's what you've got to expect from music afficiandos.

A bunch of savages they are.

[Divernan]

29. Ah the thrill when the drunk Pirates fan in the row behind me took a leak in his beer cup

and put it down on the concrete in front of his seat, and then a few minutes later when he kicked it over! (An afternoon game - guess he got an early start on the Rolling Rock.) Never had that happen to me at a symphony, opera or ballet performance. Of course, they can't take drinks to their seats in Heinz Hall.

Seriously, I've seen some terrible parenting going on at kids' games - what's worse for a kid than his or her parent screaming hurtful insults at them in front of all their friends? It's like some parents have all their own self-worth invested in their kid's performance. As Seinfeld said about the sports fan screaming "We Won! We Won!", "No, YOU didn't win anything. The team won, and you sat on your ass and watched." In the long run, kids benefit from sports they can continue as adults, like tennis, or swimming. My brother is 59 and still plays soccer every week with a group of similarly old fogies - they have a great time. And my 41 year old son, who played varsity soccer for Yale, plays Ultimate frisbee - his team made it to national championships several years running. The great thing about Frisbee is that it's an honor sport - no refs. The players referee themselves.

My kids all played high school soccer - and two of them played on college teams. I loved to watch them - and cheer their successes, and empathize with their losses. It is valuable for kids to learn that when we lose, it's not the end of the world, and there are always other opportunities. You can always find something GOOD to say to a kid, even after a loss.

In conclusion. . .good for you walldude - teaching your kids to play instruments and to appreciate and make music is a gift that will stay with them forever, as well as something you can actively share with them.

[walldude]

18. Don't go to a lot of little league do you...

Just kidding, don't get all bent out of shape. Look, I just don't see any value in sitting around watching others play sports. That's just me, I'm sure people get something out of it, I'm not here to tell anyone what to do. I posted my opinion, that's all. We could do this all day but no one will ever convince me that watching sports is more fun than jamming with your kids.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

20. Look, if you don't like sports, that's fine.

Just don't pretend the basis of your opinion has something to do with violence.

[LisaM]

21. I don't think competitive parent syndrome is limited to sports

The parents of child actors come to mind. I think it happens to phenoms in all artistic, sporting, and entertainment ventures.

The number of DUers who don't like sports and then come and brag about it on sports threads does, however, seem to be unlimited!!!!!!

But we all still love each other, right?

[walldude]

24. Unlimited? I seem to be the only one. n/t

[LisaM]

25. On this thread, maybe, but believe me, it happens all the time

I think you'll have to forgive people if they get a little defensive. Well, you don't HAVE to, but take me word for it, it happens a lot.

I am a huge sports fan, but I like all things achieved at their highest levels, particularly when it involves something created by or performed by the human body - ballet, music, painting, writing, and SPORTS!!!!

[walldude]

27. Hehe.. I don't go into sports threads much...

So I don't see it. I have many friends into sports including my wife, I have nothing against sports fans, I'm just not one of them. So on Sunday you'll enjoy the game and I'll enjoy rocking out and on Monday we can come here and continue to try to drop the hammer on the Bush administration. Together. :toast:

[LisaM]

28. Yes we will but first I have to go home and listen to Dark Side of the Moon

and Wish You Were Here!!! Two of my faves.

[walldude]

23. I'm not pretending... it does. It's not the only thing, that bothers me

but it is a factor. Are you saying Football, and Hockey aren't violent sports?(BTW my wife is a huge hockey fan)

[LisaM]

9. Actually, marching bands have gotten really competitive too

My friend's daughter is in a competitive marching band that played in the Macy's Day parade and in Paris! Not all the kids could afford to go. So the band went without them. What does that teach?

The band at my high school, supported by the school and community band boosters, puts together exactly one show a year, and practices it each week for a competition. We used to do a different show every game to entertain the crowd. We also appeared at multiple community events, including the Hallowe'en parades at the elementary schools. As far as I can tell, bands now do not feel the same obligations to the community that we did.

I like sports, and I like music and art too. I think competition has gotten out of hand everywhere.

[devilgrrl]

4. Where does it mention his political affiliation?

???

[Cabcere]

6. The second link in the OP

has a list of his campaign contributions. Apparently, he's donated to Republican organizations and Joe Lieberman...but yeah, I'm thinking this is a bit of a stretch maybe? :shrug:

[Sailor for Warner]

12. How do you know hes a

Republican

[blonndee]

15. Here...

http://www.opensecrets.org/indivs/search.asp?NumOfThou=0&txtName=Ruocco&txtState=CT&txtZip=&txtEmploy=&txtCand=&txt2006=Y&txt2004=Y&txt2002=Y&Order=N

[blonndee]

22. I wonder if it's the same Frank Ruocco as in this article

http://www.nhregister.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=17210679


States pays $7.7M to questionable contractors
Gregory B. Hladky, Capitol Bureau Chief
09/18/2006

-HARTFORD — The state has paid more than $7.7 million in the past two years to contracting companies that were identified back in 2004 as being involved in various state government corruption scandals.

Two of the companies linked to state scandals, Earth Technologies Inc. and Earth Technologies II, LLC, are based in North Haven and are owned by Frank Ruocco.

Together, Ruocco’s environmental and construction cleanup firms are continuing to work for several state agencies and have received more than $3.35 million in taxpayer dollars since their involvement in corruption scandals were first cited in state reports.

<snip>

Blumenthal’s office issued an "interim report" on its civil corruption probe in October 2004 stating that "DEP employees received special favors and sweetheart deals at their homes" from Ruocco’s companies.

(more at link)


Ruocco, Jr. (here) is listed as owner of Earth Tech, Inc.: http://www.newsmeat.com/fec/bystate_detail.php?st=&zip=06410&last=Ruocco&first=Frank

[Ian David]

30. Ooh! Very good catch! n/t