High School Basketball Coach Accused of Whipping Players

A lawsuit has been filed against Jackson (Miss.) Public Schools on behalf of three Murrah High School basketball players who allege they were physically and verbally abused by Marlon Dorsey - a first-year coach who admits to whipping players with a weight belt. According to The Clarion-Ledger of Jackson, the suit details other allegations against Dorsey, including invasion of privacy and "intentional infliction of emotional distress," claiming Dorsey used words like "sissy," "wimp" and "soft" when referring to players. In addition to Dorsey, it names assistant boys' basketball coach Brandon Sanders, Murrah principal Freddrick Murray and Jackson Public Schools.

Lisa Ross, attorney for the players, contends that a six-second video clip captured on a cellphone shows one of the players bent over in a school gymnasium as a man she claims is Dorsey swings a five- to 10-pound weight belt, hitting him three times in the buttocks. The cracks echo harshly as other players continue to practice. "It was outrageous," she said. The suit claims the whippings were doled out for failing to run plays correctly; Dorsey reportedly stated in a letter to parents that punishment was doled out for a number of reasons - including disrespecting teachers, stealing cellphones, leaving campus without permission, being tardy for class and not following dress code.

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