Young Football Player Not Allowed to Wear Pink Gloves For Breast Cancer

Outline
Protest message claims that 12 year old football player Julian Connerton wished to wear pink gloves in honour of his mother who has breast cancer but was told by his coach that he was not allowed to play while wearing the gloves.

Brief Analysis
The claims in the message are true. Young Julian was indeed told by his Atlantic County Junior Football League coach that he was not allowed to wear the gloves during a recent game. The coach reportedly claimed that the incident was a result of an "honest mistake" on his part because he did not realize at the time why the boy wanted to wear the gloves. At the time of writing, the Atlantic County Junior Football League was conducting further discussions about the incident and was intending to issue an apology to the boy and his family.

Detailed analysis and references below example.

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Last updated: September 11, 2012
First published: September 11, 2012
Article written by Brett M. Christensen
Research by David White, Brett Christensen
About Brett Christensen and Hoax-Slayer

Example

I'm writing about a young boy named JUlian Connerton who plays football for Egg Harbor City Crusaders. On Saturday night playing against Ocean City he wore pink gloves to honor his mother who has breast cancer. He was told by his coach that he could not wear the gloves. If he chose to he would not be able to play. He decided that his mother meant more then football. So he went off the field and handed his uniform in. I feel this was ignorant and heartless of the coach. We are rallying for him and his family!! This word needs to get out about this incident! Go JC!!!

Detailed Analysis
This message, which is circulating via social media posts and email, describes an incident in which a 12 year old football player was stopped from participating in a game because he wished to wear pink gloves in honour of his mother who has breast cancer. According to the message, young Julian Connerton, who plays for Egg Harbor City Crusaders was told by his coach that he was not allowed to play while wearing the pink gloves.

The message describes a real incident that took place at a Saturday afternoon Atlantic County Junior Football League in Egg Harbor City. An NBC 40 news report about the incident notes:

A 12-year-old Egg Harbor City boy is speaking out after his coach made him take off pink gloves he wanted to wear during a football game last weekend in Ocean City to show support for his mothers battle against breast cancer.

"I Love my mom... and just because... I love her so much," Julian Connerton said.

Julian Connerton has two loves in his life: football and family. And since his mother was diagnosed with breast cancer two months ago, juggling the two has been pretty tough. However, Julian says he is tougher, and on Saturday Afternoon Julian went to his football game with pink gloves on to show support for his mother. However, when he got there his coach quickly shot him down, telling him to take the gloves off.

According to the NBC 40 report, the coach was "very upset" by the incident and claims that it was an honest mistake on his part because he forgot that Julian wanted to wear the gloves for his mother. A pressof Atlantic City article about the case notes:

While Julian — who is a quiet boy — said he did not ask the coach if he could wear the gloves, Julian’s mother Mayra Cruz-Connerton said Burgan should have understood. Everyone was informed of her diagnosis.'

But, the report also quotes Crusaders Youth Athletic League Association’s board of directors member Louis Barrios as explaining:

"It was strictly a uniform situation," he said. "No one knew that there was a personal reason why the kid wanted to wear the gloves … The game was ready to begin in minutes, and it was a communication issue. There was a storm. It was chaotic."

Julian has left the team in protest, but may decide to return if a sincere apology is received. At the time of writing, the Atlantic County Junior Football League was intending to issue an apology to the family after further meetings about the incident had been conducted.

References
Coach tells 12-year-old he can't wear pink gloves in support of breast cancer
Egg Harbor City football player quits after being told he can't wear pink gloves to support his mother, a breast cancer survivor

Last updated: September 11, 2012
First published: September 11, 2012
Article written by Brett M. Christensen
Research by David White, Brett Christensen
About Brett Christensen and Hoax-Slayer