What Are We Doing?
Nov. 20, 2009
I know it’s been a while since I wrote a blog, sorry grad school keeps me kind of busy. Now that I apologized, let’s get to the reason I’m finally writing something. I was sitting back watching SportsNation, finally getting a minute to catch my breath, when a 9 year old kid by the name of Dakota Simms came across my TV screen. Simms is being pegged the next basketball phenom. This kid trains daily at IMG, a multi-sports facility. Simms has to make at least 200 three pointers a day, yes 200 three pointers a day. First, I was blown away by the skill this kid possess and how good he can possibly be in the next 10 plus years when he’s eligible to enter the league. He has “star” written all over him, but then the educator in me came out. “What the f***?!?!?!” Really, people you have a 9 year old kid locked in a gym for 14 hours a week practicing basketball. You have him spending his childhood chasing a dream that can disappear in a blink of an eye. I’m not trying to jinx this kid but I’m simply saying why is education always put on the backburner to chase after an a pro athletic career. It’s not this 9 year old’s fault, I blame his parents, his coach which doesn’t surprise me is his dad. Your probably saying 14 hours a week isn’t all that bad, I guess it depends on how you look at it because at age 9. I spent 10 hours a week Monday thru Friday practicing basketball. The major difference though, I spent 10 hours a week practicing with a team, and not forced to jack up 400+ shots a day. How do I know he’s shooting 400-plus shots a day? I don’t… but I know if he has to make 200, he has to shoot at least 400 shots and be 50 percent from behind the arc which I doubt he’s doing so my estimate is probably far lower attempts than he actually shoots. When does he get a chance to, I don’t know, do HOMEWORK, BE A KID? Not once did this report or any report mention his academics, just how he’s excelling on the court. My pops was nuts when it came to me playing basketball, he had me dribbling a ball at the age of 2. I have footage if you don’t believe me. The difference is, I couldn’t play if I brought home anything less than a B. Basketball was my reward for doing well in school. If I screwed up in class, my pops will take my court down. There were no 14 hour individual practices. It was get your ass in the house, finish your homework and then you can go play ball. Unfortunately, ever parent is not like mine which is sad and it’s developing a bunch of talented dumb ass people. We’ve all listened to some of these athletes talk and just cringe. I’m pretty sure Dexter Manley is not the only pro athlete that has lived his life being functionally illiterate. Derek Rose was pushed through high school and college because of his basketball talent. When will someone step up and think about these kids life after sports. Better yet, about the kids that don’t make it. No one considers or even give a damn about them. When my knees gave out and my ankles turned to glass, I was able to turn to my academics to get me as far as grad school. I fear that the majority of these child phenoms that pop up every year will never have that chance because athletics was put before their education. So instead of encouraging athletics over academics, how about reversing it….
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