Mayor Booted from High School Wrestling Tournament

When John Callahan began shouting at referee Dennis Buchman during a district wrestling tournament Saturday night at Liberty High School in Bethlehem, Pa., the 22-year veteran official wasted no time ejecting him. But what makes this story worthy of national news is the fact that Callahan - the father of a wrestler from nearby Freedom High School - also is Bethlehem's mayor and a candidate for Northampton County executive.

"I applaud the ref that kicked the mayor out," psychologist John Mayer, vice president of the Center for Ethical Youth Coaching in Chicago, told The Morning Call newspaper of Lehigh Valley, adding Callahan set a bad example that suggests disrespecting officials is acceptable behavior. "He deserves a badge of honor. I don't care who you are. You have to follow the rules and you have to behave appropriately as a parent."

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