The Joy of Childhood

The enjoyment of being a child occurs for only a brief moment in life. Childhood is the only time when one should be able to enjoy freedom from the pressures and stress of the real world. The biggest issue should be choking down broccoli quickly enough to get back outside to play before the sun sets. In the past decade childhood has been snatched from our young, aspiring athletes and I'm not talking about the super-stars. It is the sisters and daughters who are being denied the opportunity of true childhood enjoyment.

Long gone are the days of two or three sport little girls. Every parent appears to be guiding their child toward being a specific sport specialist. At AAU games around the country, parents can be found huddling, conversing and taking note of college coaches that are in attendance; plotting the path for their child to get a scholarship. Irrelevant are the facts that the child is ten years old and the ball is bigger than her head. God forbid little Sally isn't getting enough playing time - her parents will fix that by starting their own AAU team and allowing super Sally to shoot the ball 27 times. No worries if she can't walk and chew gum, she is going to be a SUPERSTAR! This way, by the time players are 16 years old they have spent every single summer of their young lives on the AAU circuit and participated in thousands of games - unfortunately only basketball games.

The truth is that a very small percentage of the total number of high school athletes go on to play college sports at any level. The Division I level has 338 women's basketball teams. With approximately 15 players per team, there are approximately 5,070 DI women's basketball players. To put this number into perspective, the New York City public school system alone has 1,200 public schools and educates one million students a year. In reality less than 4% of female high school players will make it to the college level. (Take that percentage even lower when you evaluate college wrestling and lacrosse, who field less then half that amount of intercollegiate teams) These numbers are not meant to discourage participation in athletics, but to encourage parents to allow children to be well rounded athletes. School athletics are extremely important in the development of young females. It teaches them discipline, hard work, dedication, teamwork and most importantly self confidence. Why not allow a child to experience these intangibles from several sports? As a young woman matures, reaches high school and shows true signs of gifted athleticism, (not to be determined by her proud momma and poppa) then allow her to specialize in a specific sport. Sue Bird is a perfect example of an outstanding basketball player. How many people know that Bird was a tremendous soccer player, who didn't give up soccer until her junior year of high school when she transferred to Christ the King? Bird became National Player of the Year in college, won NCAA titles, was drafted by the WNBA, named to the National Team and participated in the Olympics. Clearly Bird's multi-sport background hindered her development.

Recently, National High School Player of the Year, Elena Delle Donne, left the University of Connecticut after two days of summer workouts. She then enrolled at the University of Delaware as a non-scholarship athlete where she will play volleyball this season. (I'm sure the volleyball coach hasn't stopped jumping for joy yet!) Much speculation has surrounded this young woman and her departure from UConn. Kara Wolters, a former All American out of UConn who finished her playing career a decade ago, felt the need to issue this statement:

She was so good. What a waste. It's the most bizarre thing I've ever heard. To have an opportunity like that to play, obviously at the best college women's program in the world...and she threw it away. It's like an engaged couple. You are glad they broke up before they got married and had to get a divorce. Better now to have her quit, than affect the team negatively and be like a cancer because she is whacked. So maybe it's for the best.

Who knew that Kara Wolters has a doctorate in psychology and can diagnose an 18 year old as "whacked?" It couldn't possibly be that Delle Donne was home sick or attached to her 23 year old sister who has cerebral palsy and is blind and deaf? Or perhaps, is it just possible that this kid is simply burned out on basketball? Yep clear as day, she must be certifiable - call the loony bin.

Delle Donne is a perfect example of why children need balance in their lives. If a child wants to play two or three sports or join the chess club and play the flute, allow them that luxury. Let them know the enjoyment of diving on the hard wood of a basketball court to save a ball, let them smell the grass of a soccer field on a spring day, or hear the crack of the bat as they hit a double. Allow your child to enjoy childhood, it only comes once. Life is short, but childhood is even shorter.

USA-NIKE AD

Just wanted to make sure everyone got to see this! Thought you would enjoy it!
Marvin Gaye
http://www.thebasketballjones.net/2008/08/07/usa-ad-featuring-the-wonderful-marvin-gaye/

vs Whitney Houston (pre Bobby Brown I believe.)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qciWEufZ2xA#

Gold Medal Thoughts

On the Final Day of the Olympics, let's reflect on the good, the bad and the totally absurd. China satisfied the absurd category immediately, when they deemed a 7 year old child not pretty enough to sing during opening ceremonies and instead had a 9 year old lip-sync. The 9 year old was much cuter, so it's ok to damage the confidence of a young girl, when a nation's best interests are at heart.

Saying goodbye is never easy, especially to baseball and softball as an Olympic sport. Please thank M.L.B. Commissioner Bud Selig and the players union for making sure that our best possible players represented the U.S.A. in Olympic Baseball. Thank you Derek and A-Rod (yes he is a U.S. citizen) for demanding that a clause be placed in your contracts permitting you to represent the United States once every four years for two weeks. Oh wait, none of that happened did it?

For the women of the US Softball team, it was a bitter sweet ending to what has been an outstanding run since softball became an Olympic Sport in 1996. USA Softball set an amazing standard winning 3 of the 4 possible gold medals and riding a 21 game win streak into this Gold Medal game. What a travesty that little girls won't get to dream of playing softball in the Olympics and their daddies won't get to cheer for Jennie Finch. Fortunately, in the 2012 Olympics I will have trampoline, synchronized diving and rhythmic gymnastics to keep me entertained.






How about that outstanding television coverage U.S.A. Women's Basketball received? Is it possible that it was easier for me to catch a game of table tennis and badminton, then it was USA Women's Basketball? I was able to catch the gold medal game, where Australia lost 92-65. Lisa Leslie wrapped up a 19 year career with USA Basketball, winning her fourth gold medal. A round of applause is due the WNBA for suspending their season for several weeks, so that players could participate in the Olympics and represent their respective countries. (Might want to take some notes Bud...).


USA Men's Basketball saved the best for last, as they pulled out a thrilling 118-107 win against Spain. Coach K shared his love for country with his players and guided them back to the USA Basketball of old. Somehow, he got Kobe to share the ball. Perhaps Coach K should be leading the charge for world peace. Hopefully the hard work, team building and selfless play that he has established will carry on to future USA Basketball Teams. Jason Kidd is leaving USA Basketball with a 56-0 record (He didn't play on the 2004 team).


Gymnastics took home 10 medals, the most in a non-boycotted Olympics. Of course it wouldn't be the Olympics if there wasn't some controversy. The Chinese are offended that 3 of their gymnasts age are being questioned as legit. Odd that the question would be brought up since He Kexin's date of birth was reported in March 06 by the PRC General Administration of Sport as Jan 1, 1994. I guess the top government office in charge of sports was confused and couldn't get their dates correct. For future reference, if you are going to cheat, try not to publish their real age before hand. Of course He Kexin has her "official" passport with a different date of birth, making her of age to participate in these Olympics. I am sure the Chinese could never arrange for a passport to be forged? By the way has anyone seen those 4 protesters that were arrested over a week ago? I didn't think so.


Fortunately each year China receives $1.2 billion from the World Bank since they are a developing country(one-tenth of the population still lives on $1 a day). If China runs through that billion too quickly in the fiscal year, they can call upon the services of 79 year old Wu Dianyuan and 77 year old Wang Xiuying. These two women have been ordered to spend a year in a Chinese labor camp, so that they might be re-educated. Maybe the Chinese will re-educate them on possessing common sense when it comes to filing applications to hold a protest in China. At least the Chinese Government can get some good, solid, productive labor hours out of these two women as they approach their 80th birthdays. When China won the bid to host the Olympics, the Vice Premier issued this statement, "The winning of the 2008 Olympic bid is an example of the international recognition of China's social stability, economic progress and the healthy life of the Chinese people." If he thinks I believe one word of that statement he can start advertising Tiananmen Square as Disney World.

Thanks to Mark Spitz for setting the original record for gold medals and supporting and inspiring Michael Phelps, in his pursuit of greatness. Recently, a nutritionist took Michael Phelps to task for signing a contract with Frosted Flakes instead of Wheaties. Instead of placing blame with the parents of the obese children in America, lets blame it on Michael Phelps, a human specimen of perfection. Or maybe as a parent we should turn off the tv, take our kid out to play, empty the house of soda, ice cream, cookies and cake. Force your offspring to do what we had to do as kids; hop the fence and run to our neighbor's house for Devil Dogs or Hostess cupcakes. At least we burned some calories on our quest for sugar.

The members of the Men's and Women's 4x100 relay team should not run again without taking a drink from my daughter's sippy cup. One drink out of this cup and their fingers will stick to anything, including a track baton.

Watching the Beijing Olympics on television was quite an experience. I was the kid who unwrapped and re-wrapped all of her Christmas presents weeks before Christmas. It's only in recent years that I stopped reading the first and last chapters of books and then the middle part. Living on the west coast, there was no way I wasn't going to check ESPN and Fox Sports for results, while trying to figure out how the heck I could see a Women's Basketball game.

In Taekwondo, Cuba's Angel Matos pushed a judge, then pushed and kicked Swedish referee, Chakir Chelbat in the face. Talk about a rough day at the office. Apparently Matos didn't like the fact that he was disqualified in a bronze-medal match. Perhaps he can share stories with Swedish wrestler Ara Abrahamian, who left his bronze medal on the mat. Sure you won bronze in the 2008 Olympics Dad. "No really I did son, we can visit it in the vault of left behind medals."

USA Women's Soccer reclaimed gold, perhaps unexpectedly. Years ago, I played basketball against Christie Rampone when she was at Monmouth University and she blew by me every time (It may have been because I was on the bench at the time). In any case what a great turn around for Women's Soccer. (In no small part due to Christie Rampone's consistent leadership, as she just completed her tenth year with the National Team).

By the way who's your daddy? Much was made of the fact that WNBA superstar Becky Hammon went to play basketball for Russia. However, the U.S. had no problem naming 33 foreign born athletes to its various rosters. We also have Jenny Lang Ping, from China coaching our women's volleyball team, but it's o.k. because we gave China Jim Lefebre to manage their baseball team and Michael Bastian to coach their softball team. I guess its time to acknowledge and admit that the Olympics is just like everything else, a business.

The Olympics have have always been about breaking down barriers and uniting different cultures through sport. I can only hope that China's hosting of the Olympics shone more light on the hardship and human rights struggles their people face every day. They are not a free people. Those of us lucky enough to be born in the U.S.A. , can't imagine not possessing the freedom to criticize, praise, protest or applaud whomever we want, whenever we want. All of these thoughts can only lead me to one place, how much of the closing ceremony was real?

Living the American Dream-The Road Not Taken

How many of us are truly living the American Dream? Are we simply passing through each day, instead of living it to its fullest? Do we take our US Citizenship for granted? Perhaps the reality of fighting to survive each day forces certain individuals to grow hungry for success. Does the secret of success for some people stem from their upbringing, knowing what their parent(s) sacrificed so they might have opportunity?

Leroy Alitz, a member of the U.S. Wrestling Hall of Fame once said, “ To be a wrestler you have to have the speed of a sprinter, the agility of an acrobat, the strength of a weightlifter, and the strategic mind of a chess player.” These are traits U.S. wrestler Henry Cejudo embodies. He is the only US Wrestler to win gold at the Beijing Olympics, doing so at 55 kilograms (121 lbs). A sport that we have dominated in the past, winning 125 medals, 50 of them gold, saw the U.S. struggle to even medal at the Beijing Olympics. Henry’s success comes at an especially young age (21) and brings important topics to light.

He is the son of illegal immigrants from Mexico, one of seven children born to his mother. His father played no role in his upbringing. Henry's mother served as the provider, working numerous jobs to make sure her family was housed, clothed and fed. “Housed” could have been anywhere depending upon the day, month or year. However, the sense of family that she fostered resulted in her sons’ success.

I say sons’ because it was Henry’s older brother Angel who paved the way for him. Angel won four state championships in Arizona, compiling a record of 150-0. Recognized for his potential by National Freestyle Coach Dave Bennett, the Olympic Training Center (OTC) in Colorado Springs offered Angel the opportunity to come train. He accepted, asking if he could bring his brother Henry along, who was a rising high school junior. It was at the OTC where Henry began training in earnest for international competition and the Olympics. While in Colorado, he added two state championships to go along with the two he won in Arizona. He also collected the Asics National HS wrestler of the year title and the US National Senior Championship in freestyle.

How many of us raised in the United States with every middle class advantage, can even contemplate competing at the Olympic level or at the highest level available for our passion or discipline? Do we grow complacent because we have a roof over our heads and two cars in the garage? Somehow a family with no money, no house in their name, no U.S. athletic history and a single mom found a way to inspire two sons to become world class wrestlers. Cejudo stated, “I’m proud of my Mexican heritage. But I’m American. It’s the best country in the world. They call it the land of opportunity and it is.” Many people argue that Birthright Citizenship should be abolished, that the 14th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution has been misinterpreted. No matter how illegal the parents’ initial entrance was into the United States, this is one family living the American Dream and taking full advantage of the opportunity afforded them via the 14th Amendment. (Correct or incorrect interpretation, depending on to whom you are speaking) Of course Stephen Abas who was the 2004 Silver Medalist in Athens and finished second to Cejudo at the U.S. Trials, may be wishing the Supreme Court had made a ruling on this topic years ago...

It is important to note that Henry and Angel took, as Robert Frost said, "the road not taken” almost ever by traditional American wrestlers. The majority of elite high school wrestlers continue on to college, where they participate in collegiate or folk-style wrestling. Collegiate wrestling is considerably different then the freestyle wrestling found at the international level. Henry’s belief, that forgoing college athletics would help him better prepare for the U.S. Olympic team, appears to have been right on the money. Is Henry’s success a one in a million chance or did the preparation for international wrestling at the OTC prepare him for what is considered the greatest stage in wrestling? (Kick WWF out of your head please!) What kind of precedent does this set for young elite wrestlers coming up the ranks? Will it cause them to forgo traditional college wrestling, pinning their hopes on Olympic and international success? Olympic opportunity only comes once every four years, you must win numerous qualifying matches just to get to the U.S. Olympic trials and if you don’t make the team you must wait another four years. At least in college there is an opportunity to win an NCAA title every year for four years. Although it's not an easy path, you can also attempt to qualify for the Olympics at the same time.

Wrestlers that forgo collegiate wrestling are not going to garner the millions of dollars that Kevin Garnett, Kobe Bryant, LeBron James and Tiger Woods gained by going straight to the "pros". According to U.S. National Freestyle Coach Kevin Jackson, the financial breakdown for an Olympic Training Center participant are as follows:
Room and Board $24,000, Club Sponsorship $600 to $1,000 and a 6 month training stipend of $500 to $1,000. A member of the OTC Wrestling team can take home $34,000 to $42,000 for the year and if they are fortunate enough to win an Olympic Gold Medal, they receive a bonus of $65,000. That is all well and good if you are single without a family to support.

Will these elite wrestlers be denying themselves important opportunities and relationships that can only be found at the collegiate level? (It is important to note that a wrestler training at OTC is offered the opportunity to attend college, at cost to the OTC program). Or will they be facing world class competition day in and day out instead? Already the trickle down affect is occurring.
Young Jake Deitchler, an 18 year old who just participated in the Beijing Olympics in Greco-Roman wrestling, announced to the New York Times that he will be heading to the Olympic Training Center. Originally Jake committed to the University of Minnesota and time will tell if his decision was the correct one for his personal success. In the meantime it leaves the University of Minnesota team and coaches with a hole in their roster for this upcoming season. Hopefully, future recruits will decide earlier in the recruiting process so they aren’t affecting a college team two weeks before classes begin.

At the end of the day, Henry Cejudo's performance is especially humbling to those of us who are provided every opportunity for success, but perhaps stuck in the American groove. Henry deserves congratulations for making the most out of opportunities that may never have presented themselves had his parents not illegally entered the United States in search of the American dream. Only the individual can make the choice that he feels is best for him and clearly Henry Cejudo “took the road less traveled and it has made all the difference”.

*special thanks to our inhouse resident wrestling expert, Justin Gorkowski, former West Point wrestling team captain, for all his valuable insight and expertise on wrestling.

Caleb Campbell-Hurry Up and Wait...

Certainly by now the majority of sports fans are familiar with Caleb Campbell, the USMA graduate who was drafted by the NFL Detroit Lions. Who can forget ESPN following him on draft day, as the crowd chanted USA! USA! What fan at home wasn't eagerly awaiting for this player who represented hard work, dedication and patriotism to be drafted? Someone that represented all that is right with college sports, that children could look up to, aspire to be and perhaps even be inspired to serve their country through the military.

Unfortunately, Caleb Campbell and several former USMA baseball players had their dreams cut short, when the U.S. Army revised their policy on July 8th. Sadly for Caleb Campbell, the US Army had absolutely no way to inform him about their policy change, until the night before training camp began. The greatest Army in the world, couldn't find a way to communicate to him, about the policy change; apparently all phones, media outlets, email and even the BAT SIGNAL were not available for use. He has since been ordered to return to West Point, to serve as a graduate assistant football coach for the 2008 season. Common sense here seems to lead me to believe he could have at least played this season for the Detroit Lions and then reported for training, as he will do once the West Point season concludes.

But I digress. Many people will argue that a Military Academy cadet should not have the opportunity to play professional sports, that they are receiving an education, with the intent to serve in the greatest Army in the world. However, this was a policy that was signed, advertised and sold to potential athletic recruits, then snatched away from them, in what can certainly be labeled as misrepresentation. The Army could have avoided this entire mess by amending their policy, but grandfathering in all cadets who have already started their junior year. After your sophomore year at West Point, you are free to leave without penalty, as Caleb Campbell could have done, once his athletic potential was realized. However, this policy gave him the option to be an officer and a professional athlete. How many current student athletes, musicians, or those who have uniquely possessed talents made the decision to stay at U.S.M.A. based on this policy and now have no recourse?

In April 2005, Army Secretary Francis Harvey approved a policy that allowed soldiers to apply for release from active duty, if they "possessed unique talent and abilities" to pursue an alternative service policy. Perhaps the public has already forgotten why this policy was written into affect. At the time the U.S. Army was 7,000 recruits behind in its goal for 80,000 recruits. It was meant to boost recruiting efforts, place the Army in a positive light and provide opportunity. Lt. Col Bryan Hilferty, an Army spokesman at the Pentagon, in April 2005 said, "the new program is a win-win situation. The soldier continues to serve, does something he loves and helps us man the force." I can only assume that the U.S. Army has reached its maximum number of recruits, that they are no longer short 3,000 mid-level officers and can simply rely on ARMY STRONG commercials to boost the interest of potential recruits.

Since the Army appears to be so desperate for bodies, is it safe to assume, that all cadets will now have to serve at least two years on true Active Duty, before being allowed to pursue Master's Degrees? Are all Rhodes, Marshall, Mitchell, Churchill, Gates, Fulbright, Truman and East-West award winners on a plane back to their respective units? Or are we to infer that it is okay to delay your service by two years, if you are pursuing an academic degree? Will all WCAP and ALL ARMY athletes be pulled out of their programs as well? I find it hard to believe that a school which values "the athlete" as much as U.S.M.A. would place their athletes on unequal ground, not providing them with the same opportunity afforded to individuals pursuing a higher level of education. After all it was General Douglas MacArthur who stated, "On the fields of friendly strife are sown the seeds that on other days and other fields will bear the fruit of victory." Perhaps herein lies the truth about why U.S.M.A. and the U.S. Army needs its former athletes immediately in their ranks, and can afford the "scholars" the chance to continue their schooling after graduation.

Recently, Navy athletic director Chet Gladchuk stated, "Our coaches are now operating under a significant handicap when recruiting head-to-head with Army. It may not be reflected on the playing field today, but I can guarantee you that it will result in a competitive disadvantage down the road." Well Mr. Gladchuk, you got your wish, all academies are now on "equal footing."
I am sure you have forwarded a memo to all your coaches, that they should not point out to a potential recruit, that if they attend U.S.N.A. their chances for deployment are significantly less then if they attend U.S.M.A. Also, please feel free to instruct your coaches not to mention David Robinson, as that would provide you with an unfair advantage, even though he is perhaps your most well known "recruiter". All is fair in love, war and of course recruiting.

I'm sure only true fans of college basketball and the United States Military Academy can tell you who led the country in scoring, at a different service academy, at the same time that David Robinson was playing, matching up against each other five times. Kevin Houston, a 5'11 guard for the United States Military Academy led the nation during the 1986-1987 in scoring, at 32.9 ppg, with a personal high of 53 points. Unfortunately, he never grew to be over 6'8, therefore couldn't be excused from his Army commitment at the time. Imagine the publicity he could have provided the ARMY, if he could have made a go of a career in the NBA. THE GENERAL vs THE ADMIRAL.

In any case, wouldn't the practical solution be for all the Academies to adopt the original policy drafted in April 2005. That way at the end of the day, the athletic departments of U.S.M.A., U.S.N.A. and U.S.A.F.A can utilize this policy to help attract a higher level of potential athletes to attend their school, who may not have originally considered an Academy. Clearly, not every athlete attracted will be drafted and the Army, Navy and Air Force would have a higher caliber of service person in their ranks. We are fortunate enough to live in the greatest country in the world, served by the greatest Armed Forces in the World. Together they should be united in their pursuit of greatness.