North Mecklenburg coach Marc Calderone and Mount Pleasant coach David Durham provided a contrast in how to handle defeat after losses in the N.C. High School Athletic Association boys soccer championships on Saturday.

Durham blamed the officials for Mount Pleasant's 6-3 loss to Cardinal Gibbons in the 2-A final.

"The three officials, the three men in yellow cost us the game," he said in comments reported by several newspapers. "They were completely terrible in this game.

"That team is not three goals better than us. We were in this game, and [the officials] just blew it for us. That's all I want to say."

That was enough said to earn the school a $400 fine for criticizing game officials to the media.

Sportsmanship is important to the NCHSAA, and blaming a loss on the officials is not an acceptable reaction after a game.

Criticizing officials is not simply "sticking up for the kids." It is childish, selfish, egotistical and unacceptable.

But it is also human.

When I speak in anger and from disappointment, I make the best, most emotional speeches that I nearly always regret.

Durham was not at school Tuesday and he did not return telephone calls, but I imagine he wishes today that he had handled the situation differently.

Perhaps the way that North Mecklenburg's Calderone responded after the Vikings lost in the final for the second straight year. On Saturday, Broughton beat them on penalty kicks.

The only two games the Vikings have lost in the past two years came in the state final.

"It [a championship win] was there, and it just didn't fall our way again," Calderone said. "You'd think it was destiny at this point."

But Calderone didn't stop there. When he got home, he noticed what he thought were some negative comments at the Web site www.nc-soccer.net, a North Carolina online soccer forum.

"That wasn't right," he said Tuesday afternoon. "I never post anything on those sites, but I didn't want someone who doesn't really understand what high school athletics is about to create a negative feeling."

He posted the following at www.nc-soccer.net/forum:

"I just registered after my drive back from the state finals to post something for both teams. I felt it was important that both teams hear a side that normally they would not hear.

"It was a difficult bus ride for my assistant coach and me. We reflected on one of the most incredible state finals to be played in North Carolina history.

"Of course, to be on a losing end of this game is hard to swallow. I could not of been happier for a good friend of mine Izzy [Hernandez, Broughton head coach] and Steve [Castro, Broughton assistant coach].

"They both deserved the win and did a [heck] of a job with their team. They won with class and were very respectful of my team, and that says a lot of their program and fans.

"I do want to comment on my team. I spent a weekend in Raleigh with a group of boys that were focused on winning the state title. I could never be more proud to be associated with a team. ...

"They will cherish the memories for the rest of their lives. And to me, that is the most important thing.

"It is unfortunate after this game there had to be a winner and loser. But that is why we play the game.

"To Izzy and Steve at Broughton, I congratulate you.

"To my boys at North you have earned incredible respect not only in the state but nationally. Thank you. Coach Calderone."

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