Krause: Snubbing English on all-star list is wrong way for coaches to protest transfers

Once again, the collective wisdom of the Northeastern Conference boys basketball coaches doesn’t seem very wise.Since before the season started, there has been an undercurrent of resentment toward the English program because the school accepted six transfers into the program between last March and December – three of whom received clearance to play this season after principals of their previous schools signed transfer approval documents called Form 200s (a fourth came from the Dominican Republic).The fact that English sought MIAA waivers for the other two – Cory McMillan of East Boston and Bryan Ortiz of Salem – after the principals of the two schools declined to approve Form 200s is part of the reason some of the coaches were seriously considering boycotting the Benedetto Jamboree, which English hosted.It’s possible the coaches have a legitimate complaint (we’ll be more certain of that Thursday or Friday, when a committee rules on East Boston headmaster Michael Rubin’s complaint that English improperly sought out McMillan and enticed him to transfer). But talking of boycotting the Benedetto was the wrong way to draw attention to the issue.And now, it appears as if the coaches are in the wrong again. Sunday, they got together to pick the league all-stars. And what resulted from that meeting is beyond astounding.English – which went undefeated in the league for the third straight season – wound up with only one all-star: Ryan Woumn. Does that not seem a little light to you? Shouldn’t a team that ran roughshod over everyone else get more than one all-star? You don’t suppose there’s a message in there, do you? Especially considering that the most glaring snub involves a Lynn kid who also happens to be one of the transfer students: Jarell Byrd?There’s a healthy history of school-hopping among Lynn athletes. And while it’s quite possible the city is much too lax about these things, there isn’t a school among the four (I include St. Mary’s) that hasn’t benefited from, and been victim of, all this leapfrogging. It is monumentally small and petty for coaches to make Byrd pay the price for all of it.Byrd was a two-time league all-star at Classical. And having attended almost half of English’s games this season, I can assure you his play has not dropped off. If anything, it’s improved.Those who claim to be outraged over how they feel English has conducted itself in its procurement of players can and should do what Rubin did – lodge a formal complaint – instead of doing this.(The coaches also chose Jasper Grassa over Woumn for the league most valuable player. But with all due respect to Woumn, who’s a great kid and a great player, Grassa earned this. He’s had an incredible season.)Assistant MIAA director Dick Baker says the decision on Rubin’s complaint should come down Thursday or Friday – just in time for the tournament pairings to be announced. The Bulldogs could draw the top seed in Division 1 North, and at the very least the No. 2 – unless the MIAA deems Rubin’s accusations serious enough to warrant forfeits (in which case English can still appeal).It’s fairly certain there will be penalties. It’s just a question of what. But if you’re looking for some precedent about how seriously the MIAA takes the charge of improperly approaching players, look no farther back than 2005, when it suspended St. Mary’s hockey coach Mark Lee for the tournament after it made a similar decision about the Spartans’ junior high program.If Buzzy Barton is to be suspended for the tournament, that would be a shame. No one worked harder than Barton to settle things down after the Jack O’Brien fiasco – even getting his name dragged through the mud in the process.If he’s forced to take a bullet for the actions of others associated with the program – whoever they may be – then shame on the person, or people, behind all of this.If the worst aspects of Rubin’s charges turn out to be true, then let’s understand this wasn’t solely the responsibility of a rogue assis