The Sad Story Told 10,000 Times
I once attended a private school where a former Westinghouse student was invited on an "academic scholarship" to give some life to our traditionally lackluster basketball team.
The kid proved to be a monster on the court and only slightly more tame off it. Almost tit-for-tat, every win in basketball was matched with a disciplinary issue on campus.
His classroom disruptions, dorm room scuffles, drinking, and marijuana use were always defrayed by his shepherding coach. Ultimately, however, he was caught making phone calls on his roommate's calling card.
Our school had a code of conduct, and lying, cheating, or stealing were strictly forbidden. I sat on the honor council which heard his case.
The council grilled him mercilessly. How dare he violate our trust and squander his golden opportunity to succeed.
Abstaining throughout the inquisition, I saved my one question for the end: "Who were you calling that was worth taking such a risk?"
He then described how he and his 4 brothers lived without their father(s). Their mother worked several jobs to support their family and pay for their 2 bedroom apartment.
As the oldest, he was man of the house and the only father figure his younger brothers had. He felt like he'd abandoned them by leaving home to attend our school. The calls were made to check in on his brothers and guide them from afar through the lethal perils of Chicago's projects.
Mine was the lone dissent in the vote to expel him.
Though I, too, cherished the honor code of our virtuous school, I knew his scholarship was given with the primary intent of changing our school's basketball fortunes. And while the council felt it was incumbent upon him to change his nature and assimilate into our culture, I could not avoid the fact that we were the ones who invited him into our place, unwilling to accept his culture and values as they came to us. He was there to change us, not the other way around. For all he sacrificed to give us a .500+ record, I had no reservations in sacrificing our honor code with my vote.
He soon disappeared back to Chicago's mean streets. Our basketball team did not win another game following his departure. All parties involved lost a lot that year.
Sound familiar?
The kid proved to be a monster on the court and only slightly more tame off it. Almost tit-for-tat, every win in basketball was matched with a disciplinary issue on campus.
His classroom disruptions, dorm room scuffles, drinking, and marijuana use were always defrayed by his shepherding coach. Ultimately, however, he was caught making phone calls on his roommate's calling card.
Our school had a code of conduct, and lying, cheating, or stealing were strictly forbidden. I sat on the honor council which heard his case.
The council grilled him mercilessly. How dare he violate our trust and squander his golden opportunity to succeed.
Abstaining throughout the inquisition, I saved my one question for the end: "Who were you calling that was worth taking such a risk?"
He then described how he and his 4 brothers lived without their father(s). Their mother worked several jobs to support their family and pay for their 2 bedroom apartment.
As the oldest, he was man of the house and the only father figure his younger brothers had. He felt like he'd abandoned them by leaving home to attend our school. The calls were made to check in on his brothers and guide them from afar through the lethal perils of Chicago's projects.
Mine was the lone dissent in the vote to expel him.
Though I, too, cherished the honor code of our virtuous school, I knew his scholarship was given with the primary intent of changing our school's basketball fortunes. And while the council felt it was incumbent upon him to change his nature and assimilate into our culture, I could not avoid the fact that we were the ones who invited him into our place, unwilling to accept his culture and values as they came to us. He was there to change us, not the other way around. For all he sacrificed to give us a .500+ record, I had no reservations in sacrificing our honor code with my vote.
He soon disappeared back to Chicago's mean streets. Our basketball team did not win another game following his departure. All parties involved lost a lot that year.
Sound familiar?
Replies to This Discussion
-
Permalink Reply by Jay on -
In the 60's, I was involved in teaching inner-city kids to swim. No big deal. The Sister/Nun who organized the program made a statement that has stuck in my mind for over forty years. These kids won't do well in the SAT or ACT exams but they are geniuses when it to picking locks or other activites, like survival.
We all need to help our fellow man, whether he/she is an athlete or not.
-
Permalink Reply by Ted Stryker on -
Well said, Chronic and Jay. It's sad that it took as long as it did for someone to ask the kid in Chronic's story "why?". Shouldn't that have been the first question? I'm not sure that the real answer would have come out immediately, even if it was asked. While it's overused and trite, thinking about this issue in terms of Maslow's hierarchy is useful. Most people have all the basics covered so they move on to worrying about other things, like basketball and fantasy teams and, in the extreme, pollution. People who don't have the basics covered are still back there somewhere, trying to make a decent life for themselves and take care of the things that many of the rest simply take for granted.
Is it any wonder that the athlete's feel used and that no one really cares about their well-being--and then behave accordingly?
-
Permalink Reply by jame on
-
I am a athlete by profession but now i am doing Freelance Writing in a sports magazine.To be very frank we feel really neglected as compared to the basketball players.I hope the government do something about this and save the athletes.Top priority should be to provide International Medical Insurance .
Regards
jame Masters Tickets
About
Badge
HoosiersHQ links
© 2009 Created by HT Digital Media on Ning. Create a Ning Network!
