Rational Basketball Coach “Accidentally” Runs Over an Angry Parent.
By WFSB Staff
Published: Jan. 13, 2025 at 2:21 PM EST|Updated: 4 hours ago
COLUMBIA, CT (WFSB) - A girls basketball coach was arrested for a number of charges after state police said he drove into a man. State police identified the suspect as 29-year-old Bryan Baez-Rivera of Willimantic.
A tale as old as time with an unusual ending.
Sports tends to bring the worst out of most people as personified by this incident in Columbia CT that sent one parent to the ER and one to jail.
Let's watch the game film:

The article lacks details about the day, but let me fill them in based on my experience.
Like most hard working 29 y/o dads, Bryan Beaz-Rivera (Coach Bryan) probably had a few beverages Saturday night to destress from the hell that is living in Willimantic CT. 7:30 AM tip time comes quick as Coach Bryan sluggishly throws his daughter and a bag of balls into the backseat of his Honda. A crew of hungover parents cram inside a freezing cold elementary school gym to watch a group of clueless 7 year olds act like that old vibrating football game from the 90’s as they scratch out a 8-8 tie.
Little Jenny who spent most of the game guarding the wrong team and wiping snot on her jersey gets subbed out. You know the rest, Dad approaches coach after the game to discuss and thing escalate resulting in
“Baez-Rivera reported that this individual walked in front of his path of travel and that he was not able to avoid a collision,” state police said. “Baez-Rivera reported that multiple people then began to chase after his vehicle, and he left the property out of concern for his own safety as well as his passengers, which included minor children.”
It's common practice for parents to be instructed to wait 24 hours after a game to address concerns with coaches. Unless Coach Bryan Grabbed Little Jenny by the ponytail and dragged her to the bench, then her dad needs to shut up, pretend Jenny played great, and go home. But he couldn’t help himself and the video supports it. Just like the Gen-Xers that chain themselves to the freeway in protest of Climate Change, Dad decided to protest an issue at the wrong place at the wrong time. Who hasn’t felt satisfaction after watching a tik tok of a Ford F150 gently pushing them to the side.
I’m not saying that I would react the way Coach Bryan did. I have confidence that my driving ability would allow me to avoid that man in my path of travel, but not many are as elite behind the wheel as I. Might want to check coaches CarFax next time you ask about playing time.
Comments