Boy, 7, refused to wear Packers clothing before game
Posted: Thursday January 17, 2008 12:39AM; Updated: Thursday January 17, 2008 1:40AM


PORTAGE, Wis. (AP) -- Upset that his 7-year-old son wouldn't wear a Green Bay Packers jersey during the team's playoff victory Saturday, a man restrained the boy for an hour with tape and taped the jersey onto him.

Mathew Kowald was cited for disorderly conduct in connection with the incident with his son at their home in Pardeeville, Lt. Wayne Smith of the Columbia County Sheriff's Department said. Pardeeville is about 30 miles north of Madison.

The 36-year-old Kowald was arrested Monday after his wife told authorities about the incident. Kowald was taken to the county jail and held until Wednesday, when he pleaded no contest, paid a fine of $186 and was released.

Kowald's wife filed a restraining order Wednesday, so Kowald will not be able to have contact with his family, Smith said. Smith said other domestic issues have surfaced, though he wouldn't elaborate.

The boy refused to wear the jersey Saturday, when the Packers beat the Seattle Seahawks in a playoff game, Smith said. Smith said the incident sounded strange when reported at first, but the mother took pictures with her cell phone and that type of evidence is difficult to dispute.

Kowald, contacted later Wednesday by the Portage Daily Register, said the incident started as a joke. His son challenged him by saying he wouldn't root for the Packers. When he tied the boy up, the youngster was laughing while his wife took pictures, he said.

"Then he couldn't get out and he got upset and that's it. It lasted a minute," he said. "I didn't mean no harm, and he knows that, but I haven't been able to tell him that."

District Attorney Jane Kohlwey said there wasn't enough evidence to support felony charges.

"I wouldn't agree with what he did, but legally a parent can restrain a child," she said. "I have no proof of emotional damage. ... I have to follow the law.

So when he gets older and has no respect for him, his father is gonna ask "where did I go wrong" ?


dickhead

Jesus

Let's see...the game was on Saturday afternoon. Allow me to set the scene. (Since I live in Wisconsin and know it well.) Dad had had a few by game time. He thinks he and sonny-boy are going to have a fun afternoon watching the game. They start joking about the kid not really being a fan since he doesn't have on his Packers shirt. Dad tapes the kid into a chair as a prank (the kid's going along with it) and goes back to drinking his beer.

Kid's not finding it funny anymore and starts kicking. Which makes Dad laugh even more. (He can be a little mean after he's had a couple belts.) It escalates from there.

If the Packers win this weekend, yours truly will be in hibernation until after the Super Bowl. The insanity is just too much to bear.

Genesia said:

They're talking about 500,000 tailgaters this weekend.

so sad....but i know some abusive Bears fans too..

Mars23 said:

Geezuz.

The weather's going to be a big factor, though It's supposed to be zero and windy at game time. Folks just aren't going to be able to be outside for that long.

I really think it was meant as a joke, the mom seized the opportunity to make a decision she had already make in the back of her head. I hate it when one-sided stories like these end up in the newspaper, cuz you know ... now it is all true