George Karahalios Comments on Banning Basketball Practice at P.E.

Moderator's Note: the following is posted with Mr. Karahalios' permission.

I coach the sixth grade GOYA basketball team. I had a very difficult time filling a team of five players, but through a great deal of perseverance I was able to get 6 to play on our team.



I wanted my son to play on a GOYA team because I did not want him to go and play on a team with kids outside our youth group. I assured him we would fill a team and he would play for GOYA. This, I was able to do.



Our team was set and our practice time was 7:30 to 9:00 p.m. on Tuesday nights. I thought the practices were going to be at our newer and state-of-the-art facility built for basketball at Prophet Elias. However I was informed that somebody called Metropolitan Isaiah and complained that there were not enough youth activities at Holy Trinity. Then I was informed that instead of thinking through a plan to split activities up and have some at Holy Trinity and some at Prophet Elias, the decision was made on a whim to hold all practices for basketball at Holy Trinity.



Because I have to carpool a few kids and the late night practice for 11 year olds, I was told by several parents that their kids would not play if that was the case. So in order to keep our youth playing with our own kids, I had to find an alternate practice facility. I asked my neighbor, an LDS bishop, if it would be ok to practice at his wardhouse gym, and lo and behold it was not only OK, but he moved his young women's and young mens group out of their gym and has allowed us to use their gym as we wish and welcomed us with open arms.

PATHETIC, that we can't use our own beautiful gym to keep our youth playing at their own church, but rather we are forced to use facilities at other churches. 


I am very upset that our President (Jim Mylonakis) made this ridiculous and blind decision, so I tried to contact him with no response. I sent an email so he would not think I was attacking but rather trying to understand the logic behind this. I got zero response.



I then called the Metropolis in Denver and asked to speak to his Eminence. Again no response. I then called Denver again and asked to speak with the Fr. Luke. I left phone numbers day and night where I could be reached and again no response.

I guess when one sends John Johns to give us a lecture and to tell us we can call anytime and talk to anyone at the Metropolis, he should check with the individuals involved if they are willing to talk.



I am very frustrated at the lack of leadership we have as a community. We need elections so we can elect competent people that know how to run a community and know how and when to react in certain situations. WE DON'T NEED ANY MORE APPOINTED INDIVIDUALS THAT ARE COWARDS AND DON'T RESPOND TO THE NEEDS OF THE PEOPLE!!!



The only way we will practice again at our facility is if this incredible and pathetic decision to send all basketball practices to HT is reversed, so we can then go back and play at the gym that was built to play basketball during basketball season.

George Karahalios