[RealJokersWild24]

Knox parents getting involved to that extent is way over the top. Playing the victim and being out for revenge is not the way to go. There is a problem in those high schools that needs to be addressed and the parents are doing a terrible job of addressing the issues.

Not an excuse for the kid at all. Just an observation that the parents need to step back and take a look in the mirror and ask themselves, "What did I do to contribute to this?" and "What can I do now to make this better?"

Purposely blowing this up to a national level to ruin this kids chances to play in college is the wrong choice. Sitting by and watching kids denegrate others with their words is the wrong choice. Getting in these kids heads with the truth about racism and hate and how it ruins lives and deteriorates the soul is how to handle it. Again, if the parents are unable or unwilling to help the kids in this manner, the administration has to get involoved and start knocking some heads before it gets any worse.

I don't think that is what it's about at all.

I think that it's taking responsibility for actions.

I think that it's that, given Corbin's history and that earlier this year, that school administration determined that a photo of a dark-skinned child with a noose around their neck in a school yearbook was "in poor taste but not racially motivated" or their inaction to numerous other blatantly vile and racist acts has left everyone feeling that they have absolutely no credibility when it comes to "handling the situation internally".

It's about making sure future generations there know that the type of behavior is unacceptable. I think it is safe to say that there are kids who watch their basketball star and idolize him.

It's about making sure other athletes feel safe and are not harrassed while representing their schools and communities in character-building activities at and against Corbin High School.

It's about telling someone of color in other parts of the State where you are from and having them look at you and politely ask, "is that near Corbin" when each of you probably know the town's history and reputation all too well.

Corbin has eroded every inkling of credibility that they might have had when dealing with these issues, but Furman has a chance to correct actions and behaviors in ways that may be more forceful than a poorly worded "sorry I got caught, but...", tone-deaf apology and actually break the cycle. Whether that happens or not, I don't know.

But no, Corbin High School, Corbin administration, the city of Corbin, they've all had their chances to step up and do the right thing, but we are still having these debates, so excuse me if I think that those pointing these things in ways that go past Corbin are doing so because they have no faith that the Corbin communities are going to "self-police" appropriately.