Fathers Gone Wild, part deux

Hawaii commented on Fathers Gone Wild:

That is exactly what I thought! David would be the man’s dream son.

My second thought was that if this is the way Mr. Father of the Year deal with differences of opinion between him and his child, he’s in for a really interesting ride when that boy hits his teenage years.

Reading a bit around this morning it does seem like maybe it was a joke that got out of control.

Good point, re the teenage years.

I just googled “‘packers jersey’ father son” and came up with this:

Man cited after forcing son to wear Packers jersey

Matthew Call
Portage Daily Register
January 16, 2008

A 36-year-old Pardeeville man accusing of tying up his 7-year-old son with tape Saturday after the boy refused to wear a Green Bay Packers sweatshirt during the divisional playoff game against Seattle said the incident was a joke that “got blown way out of proportion.”

Matthew Kowald was arrested Monday on tentative felony charges of causing mental harm to a child and false imprisonment, but was issued only a disorderly conduct citation for the incident.

Kowald reportedly forced a Packers sweatshirt on the boy, who told his father he refused to root for the Packers and was told by Kowald that anyone who said that would be grounded. Columbia County Lt. Wayne Smith said Kowald restrained the boy with tape for about an hour and taped the shirt to him.

“He wanted the juvenile to be a Packers fan, and I would suggest he went about it the wrong way,” Smith said.

Kowald was arrested after the boy’s mother, Kowald’s wife, told authorities about the incident. Smith said it sounded strange at first, but the mother took pictures with her cell phone.

Kowald pleaded no contest to disorderly conduct Wednesday after he was released from the Columbia County Jail, Smith said. He paid a fine of $186.

Columbia County District Attorney Jane Kohlwey said there was not enough evidence against Kowald to support felony charges.

Kowald’s wife also filed a restraining order on Wednesday, Smith said, adding that other domestic issues have surfaced, though he wouldn’t elaborate.

Kowald said Wednesday that his son was challenging him in a friendly manner by saying he would not root for the Packers. In a joking manner, Kowald said he told his son to put on the Packers shirt and his son refused, throwing it back at him in jest, Kowald said.

In a continuation of that joke, Kowald said he tied the boy up and that his son was laughing at first. “It was like if you buried someone in the sand,” Kowald said. “My wife was sitting right there, taking pictures, laughing.”

“Then he couldn’t get out and he got upset and that’s it. It lasted a minute,” Kowald added. “I didn’t mean no harm, and he knows that, but I haven’t been able to tell him that,” because Kowald had not been allowed contact with him.

I guess it could have started out as a joke. But the restraining order indicates that the family has other issues.

Dang, I hope I continue to lead a quiet, unassuming, and boring life. I do not want my 15 minutes of fame. In fact, I’ll donate my 15 minutes to Britney Spears or Lindsay Lohan or whoever else needs/wants more.