Simeon lost a game in which they blew a 14-0 2nd quarter lead. They should sue the OC for running a dive in the final 20 seconds when they had no timeouts.

Simeon alumni, parents sue IHSA over 'blatant cheating' in loss to Nazareth
Michael O'Brien

The Simeon Alumni Association and parents of players on the Simeon football team filed a lawsuit against the Illinois High School Association in Cook County Circuit Court on Friday.

The complaint alleges that Richard Mercado, an IHSA football official and the parent of a Nazareth football player, influenced officials at the state playoff game between Simeon and Nazareth on Nov. 10.

The Roadrunners won 34-27. There were several controversial calls in the game and a confusing sequence at the very end. Simeon was deep in Nazareth territory trying to line up for one last play, but a Nazareth player and an official fumbled the ball around as time expired.

According to the suit Mercado was standing on the sideline dressed as an official and spoke to the game officials before and during the game.

“Mercado was on the Nazareth sideline talking to referees during the game and telling them what calls to make,” Shay Allen, an attorney for the Simeon Alumni Association and parents, said. “The calls cost Simeon the game. After the game Mercado was trolling the Simeon players on social media, making comments saying ‘I did that to you.’”


Allen says that Simeon filed a complaint with the IHSA but that nothing was done.

“It was blatant cheating,” Allen said.

The suit requests that the IHSA vacate Nazareth’s win and that the IHSA permanently refrains from employing Mecardo and the crew that worked the game.

Nazareth beat Batavia this past weekend in the Class 7A state semifinals. The Roadrunners will face St. Charles North in the state championship game at 4 p.m. on Saturday in Champaign.

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If Mercado was on the sidelines playing dress up and talking with officials, he should be fired and barred from IHSA employment.

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There are only two examples of infinity: The universe and human stupidity and I'm not sure about the universe.

I would agree with that part.

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That's bizarre as hell. And he bragged on social media too?

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"Play until it hurts, then play until it hurts to not play."
http://soundcloud.com/darkside124 HOF 2013, MM Champion 2014

Naz fans are interesting bunch to deal with.

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Any person that has this level of obsession with youth sports probably has a mental condition.

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He did. It's been shared a million times.

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Be well

GO BEARS!!!

I mean something fishy happened, but I don’t think these suits ever go anywhere.

How does the Alumni Association have standing?

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"When people want their version of the truth, they go find it, no matter how baseless their beliefs." -- Ken Rosenthal

I actually was wondering the same thing at first, but I'm sure there's at least one parent in the association who clearly would.

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There are only two examples of infinity: The universe and human stupidity and I'm not sure about the universe.

The only cheating Simeon will accept is on their players ACT’s!

Like it's unusual for any school.

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There are only two examples of infinity: The universe and human stupidity and I'm not sure about the universe.

His name translates to Dick Market, FYI.

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-- source

Can somebody interview Sonny Cox? He was always good for a ref controversy.

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"When people want their version of the truth, they go find it, no matter how baseless their beliefs." -- Ken Rosenthal

This could cost that crew a state final if they've been assigned one. You NEVER let someone dressed as an official near where you are working so you can avoid this situation. Even if nothing occurred you've opened yourself up to this. Mercardo? First, in all clinics we are pushed and prodded to be professional. Secondly, just looking at him I'd be surprised if he was on a varsity crew (yes I know there are MANY unhealthy looking officials)...not that I have anything against lower level officials. He should lose his IHSA License for all sports he does. While we are paid by the IHSA for the post season we are independent contractors licensed by the IHSA and hired by assignors for regular season games. Ratings and other criteria are used by the IHSA when they assign officials in the playoffs. Again, whether or not this crew cheated to me is immaterial...never put yourself in a situation where it appears impropriety has occurred.

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An unjust law is no law at all--St. Augustine of Hippo

Cause tried and true
I see the light in you
Oh, can you dig in my soul?
Could you smell my whole...
life?--Gener and Deaner

Why didn't Naz kick him off their sidelines? I don't think we have "conflict of interest" any longer in America.

If he did this,looks like he did. Then Naz should forfeit and the guy barred from reffing ever again.
Then the IHSA should do a thorough address check of all the basketball players on Simeon

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When I am stuck and need to figure something out I always remember the Immortal words of Socrates when he said:"I just drank what?"

Simeon is an open enrollment school. Try again.

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There are only two examples of infinity: The universe and human stupidity and I'm not sure about the universe.

Simeon has the top Freshmen basketball player in the area. He went to Junior High in Tinley Park.

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If you're great at basketball you want to play for a program that will enhance your skills and ability to make a living in the future. I doubt there is enough money floating around Simeon to entice parents to send their kids there. Outside of sports and trades it's not a great school.

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Be well

GO BEARS!!!

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When they say "dressed as an official" do they mean the guy had on the full zebra uniform? I figured he maybe had an IHSA pin on or something and was throwing his weight around on the sidelines. If he was actually dressed as a ref that's completely outrageous.

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Anybody here seen my old friend Bobby?
Can you tell me where he's gone?
I thought I saw him walkin' up to The Hill
With Elon, Tulsi, and Don

At least they have a school now. Not some old factory.

Hey now, there's a Walmart right down the street!

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I thought they would try to change the type of students they accept with their new multi million dollar school. To my surprise it's gotten worse.

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Be well

GO BEARS!!!

Edgy Tim's site has a little more info. Allegedly he had been officiating a kids game and showed up at the field with a black pre-game jacket over his uni. The greater issue would be the trolling he did online. The link below is Deadspin. If that is indeed the official in question, he has some 'splainin to do. *Edit* Sports Illustrated as well. Additionally I mistook another official in a picture as being the one in question...he was just another non-working official on the sideline. Mercardo is wearing a black pre-game jacket...

https://deadspin.com/lawsuit-accuses-ba ... 1830551164

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An unjust law is no law at all--St. Augustine of Hippo

Cause tried and true
I see the light in you
Oh, can you dig in my soul?
Could you smell my whole...
life?--Gener and Deaner

When I first started teaching I had a student that was obsessed with Derrick Rose and Simeon basketball. Her parents were against her going there and wanted her at Brooks or Morgan Park. They finally relented and let her shadow a day at Simeon. After that experience she was fine with going to Brooks.

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I went to Reavis for 5th grade, which was a bunch of Hyde Park and Kenwood kids. For 6th and 7th grade, I went to Carnegie which was mostly Woodlawn kids. A few bad apples, but NOTHING prepared me for when I moved with my Dad on the West Side and I transferred to Michele Clark. Talk about a culture shock. I believe I'm stronger for the experience, but my kids will go to schools that have some kind of mix.

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Well, that's what I have heard from a friend who taught there for a while. Some kids everywhere have challenges that a school isn't gonna solve, but there are more of such kids at a place like that . . . but they need a nice place to go to, too.

why would a working ref listen to what a non working ref standing on the sidelines had to say? If anything, I would think the working ref would be pissed at the guy.

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O judgment! Thou art fled to brutish beasts,
And men have lost their reason.