Loyola pole vaulter Evan Barr explains what happened at state meet

There have been close to 4,000 comments made on a Yahoo.com story about the decision to disqualify Los Angeles Loyola pole vaulter Evan Barr last weekend at the state track and field championships when he uttered a profanity at the conclusion of a jump. That DQ cost the Cubs a state title.

I spoke to Barr by phone on Wednesday, and he said he understands what the officials did.

"I was just really frustrated that I wasn't able to continue," he said.

Barr finished tied for third place after missing on a final attempt. The points he accumulated would have been enough to give Loyola a state championship. But after his final miss, he tossed his pole and let out a profanity that was loud enough to be heard in the stands.

"I just had knee surgery five weeks ago and was thinking I had a shot at winning," he said. "I really wanted to win. I felt I should have won last year, and it didn't happen. On my third miss, I was really frustrated. My emotions got the better of me. Immediately afterward, I felt so terrible. Within a minute, I sat down and had to apologize."

Barr said he didn't know he had been disqualified until the awards presentation.

"They were telling everybody who had placed and told me to wait because they had to review what happened," he said. "I totally understand what they did. I felt so bad. It was such a big thing for my teammates and myself. I felt responsible for it."

Barr said he tried to apologize afterward. "I went to every single official I could find on the field," he said.

Barr said he had never been informed about the rule that the use of a profanity in a competitive area could get you disqualified, but he said, "It’s pretty much common sense."

-- Eric Sondheimer

Photo: Evan Barr. Credit: Katie Falkenberg / For The Times

Comments

[Richard Bacher]

It was a sad day for Barr and his team. I hope he can look forward and move on from here with renewed energy and turn the experience into a positive. If so, he will have a bright future.

[Dave from Alberta]

This is merely to correct a typo- gave/have, thanks, sorry for the repeat.
Americans...............are so fickle! They are their own worst enemy. Thanks be to God that they have dedicated men and women to cut through all this ....stuff and stand up and fight for these people! Figure skating world wide is just a fickle...........d

[Dave from Alberta]

Americans...............are so fickle! They are their own worst enemy. Thanks be to God that they gave dedicated men and women to cut through all this ....stuff and stand up and fight for these people! Figure skating world wide is just a fickle...........d.

[tony]

Make him take a lap.

But don't punish the rest of his team.

[proud to be a cub]

I was at the Master's meet in 2007 when soon-to-be State champion shot putter Joe Canavan fouled a 65-foot throw, straddled the toe board and shouted "F##K" at the top of his lungs. No dq, nothing. The official told him to calm down and let it go. We all make mistakes, but for a track official to dq an athlete who has worked that hard over a moment like that is a sign of someone who needs power in his life and can't find it anywhere else. Either that or he was a Long Beach Poly fan looking for a way to help his team.

[Sports Fan]

The no profanity rule is in the NFHS rule book for every sport. The penalty is the same in each sport - ejection or disqualification. The officials correctly enforced the rules.

At the beginning of each season, the CIF office sends each coach a copy of the NFHS rule book. It is the responsibility of the coaching staff to ensure that the student-athletes are aware of the rules and the penalties for breaking them.

[Father Juan Crespi]

A Celt would have known better.....

[jj]

should have been a warning.

[MISSION]

oh well now he knows the rules. I'm sure coach Diaz and staff know the rules.

[Ed Sugden]

Kudos to young Mr. Barr. He's taken responsibility for his actions-- within moments of his mistake, in fact. Proud that he's bound for my alma mater.

[Just Sayin']

Good for him to take responsibility for a mistake. I have seen kids on basketball courts get technical fouls for swearing and baseball players get tossed from games for throwing equipment. I was not at the meet but based upon what I have read, the rule was applied properly. I feel bad for the kid but he seems like the kind of kid who will learn from this and has better things in his future.

[Marcia Twane]

'Barr said he had never been informed about the rule that the use of a profanity in a competitive area could get you disqualified, but he said, "It’s pretty much common sense."'

This is such B. S.

Our country is becoming such a [cat-like] state - afraid of reality.

I don't advocate cussing a blue streak, but excited utterances should be accepted as part of life.