In a shocking display of poor sportsmanship and lack of emotional control, Joshua Shane Hammond, a father from Richlands, Virginia, has garnered internet infamy and potential legal consequences after attacking a referee at his son’s wrestling tournament in North Carolina. Dubbed “Steroid Dad” by the online community, Hammond’s outburst has become a viral sensation, raising concerns about parental behavior at youth sports events.
Joshua Shane Hammond Wrestling
The incident occurred during a wrestling match in which Hammond’s son was competing. Frustration boiled over when the referee, known as SpeedTurtle on TikTok, called an illegal move against Hammond Jr. The young wrestler, in a desperate attempt to escape a disadvantageous position, engaged in illegal maneuvers, which the referee promptly flagged. Despite the whistle, Hammond Jr. continued the move, prompting the referee to step onto the mat to issue a warning.
At this moment, Joshua Shane Hammond rushed onto the mat and shoved the referee from behind. This shove caused the referee to collide with the other child competing in the match, creating chaos and prompting immediate intervention from other referees, parents, and adults present to protect the children and restore order.
The altercation quickly went viral after SpeedTurtle, who is not only a high school wrestling official but also an attorney and a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Purple Belt, posted a video explaining the sequence of events. The video has garnered over 11 million views, showcasing Hammond’s actions and the ensuing pandemonium.
“You can see here that the bottom wrestler (Hammond Jr) is grabbing the top wrestler’s right toe with his left hand, putting his knee in an awkward position and bending it to the side. There’s a rule that I can call that illegal, taking any limb out of its normal range of motion…I’m in very good position and I can see his knee is in a strange position,” SpeedTurtle explains in the viral video.
As the video spread, it drew widespread condemnation from viewers. Comments on TikTok lambasted Hammond’s behavior, with users suggesting that he was experiencing “roid rage” and calling for criminal charges against him.
In response to the assault, SpeedTurtle has filed charges against Joshua Shane Hammond. This means that Hammond faces an arrest warrant in North Carolina, awaiting his next visit to the state. The video and subsequent media coverage have highlighted the importance of maintaining composure and sportsmanship at youth events, where setting a positive example for young athletes is crucial.
Joshua Shane Hammond’s actions have placed him in the “internet hall of fame” for all the wrong reasons. In the age of social media, such incidents are quickly recorded, shared, and scrutinized by a global audience. Once upon a time, such behavior might have gone unnoticed outside the local community, but today, it leads to instant and widespread condemnation.
The incident involving Hammond is a reminder of the significant role parents play in their children’s sports experiences. Overly aggressive behavior not only disrupts the event but also sets a negative example for young athletes. The viral nature of the incident has sparked discussions about parental conduct at youth sports events and the consequences of such behavior.
Adding to the controversy, a simple Google search reveals that Hammond’s wife, Mandi Dawn Hammond, has previously defrauded the U.S. government of COVID relief funds. This adds another layer of notoriety to the family, though her story is one for another time.
The age of social media has fundamentally changed how such incidents are perceived and dealt with. Joshua Shane Hammond’s assault on a referee during his son’s wrestling match serves as a stark reminder of the importance of sportsmanship and self-control. As the story continues to unfold, it underscores the need for accountability and the far-reaching impact of actions in the digital age.