Sports violence claimed another victim Friday, this time a 42-year-old father convicted of involuntary manslaughter in the death of his son’s 40-year-old hockey coach.
Thomas Junta, a 6-1, 275-pound truck driver from Reading, Mass., pummeled 6-0, 150-pound coach Michael Costin at a local ice rink on July 5, 2000.
Costin died a day later from massive bleeding caused by a ruptured spinal artery.
Junta excused his confrontational behavior because Costin permitted body-checking and elbowing of Junta’s son during a noncontact scrimmage of 10-year-old boys.
Duh. Ice hockey is a brutal ritual that encourages violence. There is no such thing as no contact in hockey at any level.
Junta, described by his lawyers as a “gentle giant,” could have been convicted of the more serious charge of manslaughter. He faces a sentence of only 3-5 years in prison.
Violence and contact sports go together. Junta is the latest argument for banning youth contact sports and for discouraging parents from attending practices and games. (13 JANUARY 2002)
