Don't Touch

We seem to have athletics problems that go beyond changing conferences and outside of the big money sports. 

From the Daily Bruin: A UCLA baseball coach was disciplined for slapping a player, according to a university report obtained by the Daily Bruin. David Berg, formerly an assistant coach of UCLA baseball, was placed on investigative leave for striking a player in the face after a dinner with the team’s recruits Oct. 27, 2023, according to 102 pages of documents obtained by The Bruin. Berg was disciplined with a fine of $10,000, a one-month suspension from working with the team in any capacity for the month of January and a suspension for the first seven games held in February. Berg is no longer employed by UCLA Athletics...

“My intention was to give him a love tap on the cheek,” Berg told Hamilton Lee – an investigator from campus Human Resources...

John Savage, the team’s head coach, told investigators that he did not witness the incident. He also told investigators that although he believed the slap’s intentions to be playful, he did not see touching players as in line with the program’s values. Although the player also told the investigator that Berg had previously struck members of the team in the locker room, the investigation did not rule on those claims. The player who was slapped Oct. 27 also said he did not want to see Berg severely punished...

Full story at https://dailybruin.com/2024/08/05/former-ucla-baseball-assistant-coach-disciplined-for-slapping-player.