[NU Sports] Very provocative commentary

[Roy Lamberton]

OK Mr. Lewis:

We take some the of the millions that College football generates away from the
other sports programs and give it to those poor exploited players.

All that does is make another class of "rich" student, one who's loyalties are
not to getting educated but to just playing football. Big test tomorrow, aw blow
it off - go down to the bar and party. Pay those kids enough money so they don't
figure they need to learn anything!

Then we'll have an entire new generation of big, strong 22 year olds who can't
earn an honest living except maybe working construction cleanup for minimum
wage. Yeah, there are other endeavors they can get into, I'm sure their
entrepreneurial spirit will lead some of them into organized crime, where they
can eventually earn a .45 slug in the back of the head or a lifetime of room and
board on the rest of us.

One of the things I do here in my town is coach under 13 football. Over half of
my "kids" are probably of African descent, I assume that from their appearance,
and contact with their mothers. Some of their dads get recruited to help me
coach but I rarely see the other fathers except at games when I'm too busy then
to pay much attention.

As a coach, looking to instill the idea of winning on the field [and in life], I
actually could care less about their background or parentage. I just want them
to learn to be successful - both in school and on the field.

You can ask any of my former players - I stress to my kids that they should
continue their education and play football as long as they can at any level. 

You see, I have a son who is now pretty successful in the construction business
- he's the youngest project Superintendent for a major builder in North
Carolina. The only way we got him to go to college [and open up that door to
management] was Div III football.

At one time I agreed with you Mr. Lewis. I didn't see the value of any organized
sport in the development of teenagers. 

But now I'm convinced that the salvation of this generation is going to be
sports programs that stress the hard work it takes to become a winner, and the
team effort it takes to maintain that winning tradition. It doesn't take a
village - it takes mentors who are willing to work with any kid who is
interested.

I think the old adage is that "nothing is ever accomplished without enthusiasm"
- or as we preach "desire, intensity, enthusiasm." 

The majority of College football players know this - they eventually realize
what they've been given to enhance their God given athletic talents. [see
Darnell Autry]. If their exploits on the field [and court] help provide
opportunity and experience for more kids in other sports, fine. Somebody has to
pay for the Soccer fields, Tennis courts, etc, not to mention the value of the
scholarships awarded.

If a kid didn't perform, would they get fired from the University? Or the team?

The issue here is that America grew great by rewarding those who knew how to win
- those who could build organizations to excel and provide goods and services to
the rest of us. Football and its rewarding of coaches, is just a small
reflection of that idea.

Paying student athletes will just encourage the attitude that all they can do is
play football, I would suggest that many would become low paid university
student employees and that's not what the "student athlete" concept is really
all about.

rsl
 
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Roy S. Lamberton - Senior Associate
& sometime Unix Guru....
Computer Applications & Support Associates
Northwestern University, Speech 1974 
=====  Go Cats -  Beat 'em All =============
"You have a Republic Madam --
     If you can keep it" - Benjamin Franklin
============================================

> -----Original Message-----
> From: nwu-sports-bounces at tssi.com [mailto:nwu-sports-bounces at tssi.com] On
> Behalf Of Ben Adler
> Sent: Monday, November 12, 2007 12:50 AM
> To: nwu-sports at tssi.com
> Subject: [NU Sports] Very provocative commentary
> 
> If you haven't seen today's commentary on the commercialism of college
> football by author Michael Lewis (Moneyball, The Blind Side) in the NY
> Times, it's definitely worth a read.  Not exactly preaching to the choir...
> http://www.nytimes.com/2007/11/11/opinion/11lewis.html
> 
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