Teenager Has Testicle Amputated After 'Sack Tapping' Game

[tracker_usmc]

CROSBY, Minn. -- Pain is the operative word in the unfortunate story of 14-year-old David Gibbons. It is a pain he has endured both physically and emotionally after being punched in the groin by another student as he changed classes at Crosby Ironton High School.

"One o'clock in the morning he woke me up and told me he was in excruciating pain," recalls Christy Gibbons, David's mom. Not long after, David was in surgery at St. Joseph's Hospital in Brainerd having his right testicle removed.

"This may be called a game, but it's not a game. It's dangerous and it needs to stop," said Christy.

It's a notion seconded by Dr. Scott Wheeler, a Brainerd urologist.

"It's just gotten way out of control," said Wheeler, who now performs "three to four surgeries a year" on boys with ruptured testicles and other complications of being groin punched - with dozens more coming in with less severe injuries. "It's high school, junior high, elementary school," said Wheeler.

Dubbed "sack tapping" by some students, the practice is now featured in dozens of homemade videos on YouTube.

"We're gonna see who our first victim is," says a student in one video before punching an unsuspecting male student in the groin as he walked down a school hallway.

It is painful to watch and Dr. Wheeler says increasingly common. "All parents, you need to have this talk with your kids not to do it. It's lost its humor. It's not a game anymore. People get hurt."

"I don't know how to stop it," said David, who says he's been the recipient of similar attacks in the past. His parents pulled him out of school and are now planning a move to a different school district.

Jamie Skjeveland, superintendent of Crosby Ironton schools, says the investigation of the incident involving David is complete, but he declined to comment on any disciplinary action for privacy reasons.

On Wednesday morning the Gibbons are scheduled to meet with Crow Wing County Attorney Don Ryan to learn if criminal charges will be filed against the other student.

"This kid doing that, he should definitely be held responsible for that," said Denny Gibbons, David's dad.

Doctors have told David that even though he lost a testicle in the attack, he should still be able to have children someday.

David's mom mostly wants other parents to be aware. "I seen the pain he was in. I seen what he went through every day, and it just breaks my heart and I don't want any other child to have to go through this."

[squidfamily1]

if you're not strong enough to protect your junk you don't have any balls anyway. Move your kid to another school district, really?
"I seen what he been through"

[Pakman3000]

if you're not strong enough to protect your junk you don't have any balls anyway. Move your kid to another school district, really?
"I seen what he been through"

LOL Coldhearted.

[jack]

it's called a cup. the first time someone breaks their hand on your crotch they'll stop

[Guest]

Ok...now for my opinion!!!! This was called an Apple Slap in my days. I had NO clue when this was going around. Yes, I got the hit but, when the pain faded a little they where bloodied and I was the one that sat in In School Suspension. Is this really a laughing matter Gents???? I think not. Cup check etc....It is BS.

Squid....so, how many kids do you have???? If you have any there is nothing you can do to prepiar your child for such a thing. All you can do is tell him that this may happen and understand as a parent that terminology changes.
I point blank have told my kids that if something like this happens....they 1st they have the chance to deal with it like a man to bloody the bastard and don't stop until a teacher or a staff member stops them. I will then go to the School and deal with things from there but, in some cases that may not happen for a while!!!! IE in this kids case he was unfortunate that surgery came at a later time. I could of been an immediate thing.
So, in closing....hit me in the balls and I will GUARANTEE you I will bloody your ass and be a man not to hit you in the balls. In my opinion this is just down right mean and TOTALLY not being a man to hit another guy there. Yeah, I have been trained as an Infantry Solider.....the whole Grab, Twist and Pull deal. I still will use this method but, ONLY in a last resort for my life,

[Guest]

Ok...now for my opinion!!!! This was called an Apple Slap in my days. I had NO clue when this was going around. Yes, I got the hit but, when the pain faded a little they where bloodied and I was the one that sat in In School Suspension. Is this really a laughing matter Gents???? I think not. Cup check etc....It is BS.

Squid....so, how many kids do you have???? If you have any there is nothing you can do to prepiar your child for such a thing. All you can do is tell him that this may happen and understand as a parent that terminology changes.
I point blank have told my kids that if something like this happens....they 1st they have the chance to deal with it like a man to bloody the bastard and don't stop until a teacher or a staff member stops them. I will then go to the School and deal with things from there but, in some cases that may not happen for a while!!!! IE in this kids case he was unfortunate that surgery came at a later time. I could of been an immediate thing.
So, in closing....hit me in the balls and I will GUARANTEE you I will bloody your ass and be a man not to hit you in the balls. In my opinion this is just down right mean and TOTALLY not being a man to hit another guy there. Yeah, I have been trained as an Infantry Solider.....the whole Grab, Twist and Pull deal. I still will use this method but, ONLY in a last resort for my life,

[Pakman3000]

IMO, sack tapping or touching another guy's junk is kinda gay. Back in my day we'd walk around campus with our arms crossed over our chest all day to guard against punches or cover your neck to prevent chops to the throat. In retrospect it was all so stupid. :oops:

[David_3033]

Man I feel bad for that kid... I can say I would be one pissed off man ready to kill the other kid if he did that BS to my son. I remember that game and thought it was the stupidest game I've ever seen (might of been called something different then). Maybe that kid will not be able to have kids later in life now. I definitely want to teach my son to fight so he doesn't have such problems. I also will not allow him to be a bully without punishment from me. I personally never got messed with through school.

[tracker_usmc]

I agree with you both DB and 25th. I taught my son early on not to bully anyone and not to be bullied by anyone. If he got into a fight and he didn't start it then he was not going to get into trouble at home. He has a best friend since the first grade that is deaf and my son stuck up for him and got into many fight with boys teasing his friend which he never got into trouble for at home. I told his principle at both his grammer school and Junior High school that if the kids couldn't take an ass whooping then they shouldn't be picking on kids with handicaps. I got slapped in the nuts ONE time in High School and immediatly punched the kid in the nose and broke it. Needless to say I never got slapped in the nuts again EVER!

[Pakman3000]

I'm reading the comments here and I'm not sure if we're discussing the same thing. There a difference between being victimized/bullied and partaking in a game that just goes wrong. I this was a random act of bullying then I can understand all the fight back talk. Personally, I've never seen anyone randomly victimized for no reason in all my years of school. Too many people would stand up for the person. If this kid was also doing the tapping and got injured being offguard or in the course of horseplay, then the old saying applies: It's all fun and games 'til someone taps a nut out...errr, something like that.

[squidfamily1]

I agree with you both DB and 25th. I taught my son early on not to bully anyone and not to be bullied by anyone. If he got into a fight and he didn't start it then he was not going to get into trouble at home. He has a best friend since the first grade that is deaf and my son stuck up for him and got into many fight with boys teasing his friend which he never got into trouble for at home. I told his principle at both his grammer school and Junior High school that if the kids couldn't take an ass whooping then they shouldn't be picking on kids with handicaps. I got slapped in the nuts ONE time in High School and immediatly punched the kid in the nose and broke it. Needless to say I never got slapped in the nuts again EVER!

exactly my point, deal with it, don't move

[ASignorelli]

Holy crap. that's freaking retarded! WOW! I remember some guys in my old unit tried starting that, and tried to get me to joi in, when one got me in the nuts. After I recovered I punched him in the face, and said "Face punch! What? it's a game I like to play." And thus, they never tried to get me again.

[saviger]

a sack of nuts: