Micah Livingston Duke took to her Facebook page to share a troubling experience that happened during a flag football practice in North Port, Florida.
In the post, she described how her team had been trying out a different organization for flag football this season, one with just a short commitment, and they were holding practice at Mullen Field, which is located off Sumter Boulevard.
As the practice was coming to an end around 4 in the afternoon, an older man with white hair walked up to the female coach who was sitting in the bleachers and started confronting her because he believed the field was reserved for his group during that time.
Micah pointed out that the field had been empty from earlier in the afternoon until their practice started, so there had been no one using it before they arrived.
In no time, what began as what might’ve seemed like a straightforward discussion about scheduling soon turned into something much more heated and uncomfortable for everyone there.
The man began raising his voice and acting in an aggressive manner. He started complaining loudly that he was tired of flag football coaches taking over time slots that he had supposedly paid for.
Above all, the man was complaining loudly that too mixed in several rude and disrespectful remarks as he went on.
Micah mentioned that she was sitting just a couple of sections away in the bleachers and could hear every word the man said without any trouble.
She expressed how upsetting it was to watch a grown man yelling at a woman in that way, especially when it felt completely unnecessary and out of proportion.
When the man noticed Micah looking in their direction, he turned his attention toward her and started directing comments that way as well.
Micah responded by calmly saying that he didn’t know who the man thought he was talking to, but it certainly was not him.
In reply, the man told Duke to use a strong profanity and then turned and walked off.
Micah expressed her disbelief in what she saw during the entire encounter. Above all, she was particularly stunned by the level of disrespect coming from someone who holds a leadership role in youth sports.
According to what Duke wrote, this man is reportedly the president of the North Port Jr Bobcats football league, which makes the situation even more disappointing because people in such positions are expected to set a good example for young athletes and the families involved in these programs.
She wrote:
I was absolutely stunned by the level of hostility shown—especially coming from someone who is reportedly the president of the North Port Jr Bobcats football league
Micah Livingstone Duke
Micah further emphasized that this wasn’t some mutual argument between equals, and there were no other men around at the time. It was just women who were being spoken to in an aggressive and demeaning manner by someone with authority in the local sports community.
She called the behavior unacceptable and embarrassing and expressed her disappointment, writing:
This behavior is unacceptable, embarrassing, and deeply disappointing—especially from someone who is supposed to represent youth sports, leadership, and community! North Port Parks & Rec
Micah Livingstone Duke
