How quickly life can change...

[Tiger Wench]

I heard this story on the local news tonight, and I just cannot get it out of my head.  Two families, utterly ruined.  The attacker probably would have wound up in prison eventually for domestic abuse, or felony assault or worse but for this coach to have been an absolutely innocent party is just awful.  One punch, and that's it... game over for both men.   Families ruined.  In one split second of stupidity and jealous rage. 

It was a simple act of chivalry that allegedly brought a husband's rage upon Christopher Matthews, a 33-year-old coach who was in critical condition and on life support Monday.  **NOTE:  He died this afternoon - the attacker has not yet been charged with the coach's death but charges are expected.

Matthews, the girls soccer coach at Stratford High School, had just finished a meal with colleagues and parents Friday in celebration of a recent victory.  *NOTE:  Stratford is an upscale mostly white suburb of Houston.

One of the parents expressed concern that she was receiving threatening text messages from her husband, friends said. Matthews decided to escort the woman to her car, in the parking lot of a restaurant in the 14030 block of Memorial Drive in Houston.

As Matthews, whose wife was also at the restaurant, accompanied the woman at about 11 p.m., the husband was waiting for her, friends said. The alleged attacker, Ronald Lee Newman, 51, punched Matthews, who fell to the ground and lost consciousness, police said.  **Hit his head on the concrete sidewalk.

Matthews was treated in the intensive care unit at Ben Taub General Hospital, and friends gathered Sunday to pray that the swelling in his brain would subside. But the beating had taken its toll. Matthews was being supported by a ventilator late Monday.

Stratford and Spring Branch ISD released statements on Matthews, who is married to Buffie Matthews, an assistant girls basketball coach and an algebra teacher at Stratford.  **They also have a son who is a freshman there.

In addition to his coaching role, Matthews taught world history at the school.

[CCTAU]

Very sad story. In this day and time, if you are going to escort someone in that situation, be prepared for the crazies. People that cause others to be concerned for their safety, without reason, are inherently unstable.

This is another reason that I condone carrying a concealed weapon. I may NEVER have to use it, but there may be just one time when I do. And it may save a life. Now we have a good man dead and a family in tatters because a slimy assed individual thought he had the right to terrorize a woman. Sad indeed.