A few weeks ago I saw this article on ESPNChicago.com that mentioned that high school sports will be covered on this website in the upcoming weeks. After reading this, I started wondering if this is a good thing, or a bad thing. Should we be exposing young, high school athletes to this sort of national media attention? Or would it be better to let these young minds develop, and save them from some of the pressure and embarrassment that can come with national attention?
We can all remember some of the most recent high school standouts. Lebron James was on the cover of sports illustrated as a junior in high school, and was already dubbed as “the chosen one”. The other person that comes to mind is Matt Barkley, who was called the Lebron James of high school football back when he was a junior in high school. The fact that some of these high school athletes are made into celebrities at such young ages has had its impact on high schools. “The increasing and intense coverage of high school sports, fueled by media-created rankings that can make celebrities out of 11th graders, has led some schools to hire sports information directors and has led educators to wonder if scholastic sports do not need NCAA – style oversight to protect athletes and academics.” (Hardin and Corrigan. 91)
ESPN, the self proclaimed worldwide leader in sports has now come up with a new branch called ESPN Rise, which is dedicated specifically to high school athletes. The claim to fame for high school sports was always the fact that it was considered pure. But with all this media attention that these high school athletes are getting, can we still say they are playing only for the love of the game? Even Hardin and Corrigan argue, “That high school sports and their relationship with media at the local and national levels are in need of closer scrutiny.” (Hardin and Corrigan, 90)
ESPN is now also showing high school football games of the week, which also adds to the national media coverage these high school athletes are getting, which could cause problems: “An admission from a high school football coach in The New York Times two years ago that he studied marketing and business plans as much as game plans is an indicator of how great the degree may be.” (Hardin and Corrigan, 91)
The move from print coverage to televised coverage is also examined in our handbook. “It is noteworthy that, to date, far more critical attention has been paid to television sports than to sports coverage in the print media.” (Handbook, 291) If the trends continue, and high school sports continue to receive more and more television coverage, then soon we will start seeing more and more of these athletes on TV.
Do you guys think this national attention is good for high school athletes? Does it affect recruiting? (OJ Mayo case) I argue that this national attention isn’t good for these young athletes. As mentioned before, high school sports should be about the love of the game. There are so many possibilities for things to go wrong when these kids start facing the pressure of media. What if they feel the need to use steroids to be even better? What if they start slacking off in school? How can they focus on a math test the next day, when they have a football game being televised the night before on ESPN? We can all remember the ones who got survived the early media attention and have excelled at the pro level. Sidney Crosby, Lebron, Kobe and others. But what about the ones who didn’t make it? The one’s who were dubbed as the next great thing, and now are not even known. This media attention affects the schools, the recruiters, and most importantly, the minds of these young athletes. I believe that they should be left alone, and given time to develop properly. Not physically, but mentally. Even Lebron James said that he felt all the pressure, and that it was hard for him to deal with. He said it got into his head, and the heads of his teammates. He should be lucky and proud of the fact that he made it past all that. There's even a debate online whether or not its good.
-Robin
High School sports today are so political, its about who's on the team and how high ranked the players are. I think high school sports should get some type of national media exposure but i think it should just be like the championship game or semi finals. I say that because high school athletes should get a little feel on what it will be like when they get to college.
ReplyDeleteThe national media attention high schools get today is unreal. Kids today should not be treated like adults and should be treated like kids like in the article "Media and the Business of High School Sports" when it says "It has been an long unwitten rule among journalist and broadcasters that young athletes be handled with kid gloves-they be treated with special care in light of their immaturity and in experience" (Hardin and Corrigan 91). Their talent might be above average but these are still high school kids.
I dont think it's right to put all this pressure on high school athletes because it take away from the social part of high school, makes it seem too much like a job. Then if they do not perform up to the standards of the media and peers like you said might turn to steroids or something that help to perform better.
"Scholastic programs are seen as an ideal venue for boys and girls to build character, develop healthy lifestyles and learn sportmanship and teamwork"(Hardin and Corrigan 90). I think this is what high school sports should be about but in this day and time high school sports are politically driven and as the future gets here i think a close eye and more rules should be enforced when it comes to national media getting involved with high school sports.
Having played multiple sports throughout high school, I knew that for me my sports career would end after high school and this allowed me to enjoy the game more without worrying about college scouts or reaching out to colleges to get my name out there. I had no pressure put on me and this is exactly how high school sports should be. I understand that for many athletes during high school, they are looking at it as just another step in their hope towards a college or even professional team one day. But if they are always looking to the future, is it not taking away from their present team? My younger brother, currently a senior in high school, has been to so many basketball showcases these past few years it is almost unbelievable how he is always taking the next step to get his name out their to coaches. I even know people that work on websites which are dedicated solely to high school basketball players who are trying to work their way onto a college team.
ReplyDeleteWhen looking at colleges, my brother's first question is whether or not he could play basketball there, nothing ever to do with how they are academically. "We also wonder whether the academic needs of athletes will become a lower priority as school administrators negotiate game times and travel schedules with TV contracts and marquee match-ups in mind." (Hardin and Corrigan 92). Now I love watching college sports, but how many of these players actually continue on to a professional level? If players lose out on their education because of college sports, what will they gain from this in the long run? Education should always be the first priority, no matter how good someone is at sports, whether you are pushing it aside in high school to focus more on looking for a school based on sports or juggling school around sports in college while it should be the other way around. To respond to Robin's comment about if a college kid has a game that is going to be televised the following day, clearly what would they be doing the night before? Pulling an all night to study for a large math test, or focusing on what they believe to perhaps be "the game of their lives?" Pretty easy answer to that one.
The fact that media began focusing largely on high school sports has a large affect on how high school sports has turned from more of a fun after school activity to a serious sporting level in itself. "In the television age sport has been turned into mass spectacle..." and because of this, high school athletes have seen where sports can possible take them in life and have made college level sporting teams as popular if not more than professional sports.
In my opinion, high school sports should be less focused on in the national media and kept more in the local news for athletes.
I have mixed feelings about this topic. Part of me feels that media for high school sports is a good thing because they get a taste of the big times even if they never make it pro. On the other hand I feel like it is bad because high school students are so young that they are fragile and cannot handle national television coverage like professional sports and college can.
ReplyDeleteSo for the pros of high school sports in the media, I think that it is great for monetary values for the school. If a school is on television, theres a greater chance of more fans coming out to see that team's next game. For the school, showing a game on television is a good way to raise more money.
I also feel like it is good because not every high school player will make it to the pros, or even play a college sport for that matter. For those kids, being part of a team that is shown on national television is the chance of a lifetime. Knowing that the world will see them can be a way to inspire some kids to do better as well. They have more incentive to try harder. Robin spoke about ESPN Rise and how it may not mean that kids play for the love of the game anymore. However, I think that it gives them one more thing to strive for. Instead of just a high school trophy as a prize, they have a chance to be nationally recognized.
There are also many reasons why I think that this media for high school kids is not a great idea. I think that they are still very fragile and need time to just play the game without added pressure.
"Television and the other media do not simply reflect the world, but rather construct versions, or accounts, of it" (Handbook of Sports Studies, 295). To me, this shows how a reporter won't just cover the game but mold a story that makes for great television. What happens in the media results in every day life instead of the other way around. High schoolers are at a vulnerable age that if a bad story took place, they might not be able to handle the outcome.
Along with this concept, "It has long been an unwritten rule among journalists and broadcasters that young athletes be handled with kid gloves" (Hardin and Corrigan, 91). Journalists ae supposed to take it easy when showing a game of young sports and edit out the play of the kid who misses an easy catch because it could hurt is ego. However, it is also well known that a journalist will do what it takes to get a good story and if it means showing an embarassing play, I'm sure there are reporters that would show it anyways.
As great as it would be to be on television as a high school kid, I think I am leaning towards the fact that it might not be a good idea. For the state championship game, there is nothing better to be that winning team shown on television. But, there isa whole other team that could be heartbroken in front of the workd to see. This is a completely different scenario for high school kids and professional athletes. I think that reporters should be careful on how they show high school sports.
I think that high school sports are getting too much attention and play from the national media. I agree with Evann in that I think high school national championship games can be covered by the national media (broadcast on ESPN for example). I think it’s a good thing for local media outlets to cover state high school championships, but nothing from the national media for such games.
ReplyDeleteI think the most absurd aspect of said national media coverage are the national rankings for high school teams. Not only are there rankings throughout the season, but there are pre-season rankings! For high school teams! It’s one thing to have such rankings for college sports because there is much more structure as far as official rosters, divisions, conferences, etc., but completely different to do the same with high school teams. Yes, high schools have rules and regulations regarding rosters and eligibility as well as different divisions within the state, but not nearly to the extent of the NCAA.
Hardin and Corrigan point out that “high school sports are not a hard sell. As coverage of college and professional sports has focused increasingly on scandals and commercialism, high school sports have retained their reputation for ‘purity’” (Hardin and Corrigan, 90). However, due to the massive increase of national attention, high school sports may soon lose that image of “purity.” As both Robin and Evann suggested, the national attention could have significant negative effects on individual high school athletes, and I think for the families and towns of said high schools and their athletes. National coverage naturally creates added unnecessary pressure on individuals, some of whom cannot yet operate a motor vehicle legally, yet the public expects so much physical and mental maturity from these kids when the national media steps in.
Such added pressure can affect young student athletes both physically and mentally. As Robin said, there can be the pressure of taking steroids in order to get an edge and look better in the national eye, whether it be for fame, boosting the ego, or college recruitment opportunities. However, none of these things are worth risking serious injury and mental health (and not taking a high school education seriously). As for the issue of recruitment, it can help many young athletes gain exposure needed to help them get a scholarship that they would otherwise not receive. However, I think there are enough scouts out there for so many schools that if a player is good enough to deserve such scholarships, then they will be found. On the other hand, many young athletes’ futures can be put at the mercy of say, ESPN because the network makes choices regarding which games to cover, which players to feature or give extra attention, and then highlights and other coverage after the broadcast.
Evann hit the nail on the head when he quoted Hardin and Corrigan: “Scholastic programs are seen as an ideal venue for boys and girls to build character, develop healthy lifestyles and learn sportsmanship and teamwork” (90). This is precisely what high school sports are about; to give students extra-curricular opportunities and teach them many lessons that simply cannot be learned inside a classroom.
I think high school sports receive too much national media attention. I think it is great when high school sports are covered by local newspapers and occasionally on the national news for major events such as championship games. I remember being in high school playing sports and looking at the local box scores in the paper and it was always exciting. There was never really any pressure because you felt like you knew all the people that read your local newspaper. When it is brought to the national level I think there is a lot of pressure put on these student athletes.
ReplyDeleteWhen coaches realize they can be on the national news I think there is a possibility that this may go to their heads. They could think of this as an opportunity to gain self recognition and feel better about themselves and their team. This could cause coaches to put even more pressure on athletes than they already have.
Hardin and Corrigan explain how schools have realized athletics can become major money makers: “As the financial stakes climb and the high school model more closely resembles that of big time college athletics, journalists, educators, and scholars will play critical roles in addressing the myriad social and ethical issues that emerge” (Media and the Business of High School Sports Page 1).
High school athletes should focus on enjoying the game, competition, and memories they are making. For many athletes this is the last time they will be able to play sports on an actual team if they are not good enough to make it in college or the pros. They should not have the added pressure of trying to excel to promote their school, coach or teammates. They should not worry about making it on ESPN but rather winning games and having a good time playing sports with high school friends.
After reading this I thought about ways this could be monitored and it was hard to come up with an easy solution. I think a lot of responsibility rests on coaches, school administrators and journalists. Administrators should stress that they do not see athletics as a marketing tool for the school and coaches should not push their athletes to try and make extraordinary plays just to be on the national news.
-Kyle
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ReplyDeleteExposure is good…..to an extent. I give credit to athletes like Lebron, Kobe and Sydney Crosby. Aside from their physical talents they must be some of the most mentally stable people in professional athletics and even the world. I couldn’t imagine being 17 years old and being told that I am going to be the number one pick in the draft. The mere fact that Lebron, Kobe and Sydney got through it and have continued to be the some of the best in their sports is incredible.
ReplyDeleteAgain, exposure is good….to an extent. Being broadcasted on the local tv station or having a newspaper article is one thing. Being the national game of the week on ESPN is a little too much. How can a kid possibly concentrate in school knowing that he is going to be on ESPN that night for the entire country to see?
"Scholastic programs are seen as an ideal venue for boys and girls to build character, develop healthy lifestyles and learn sportsmanship and teamwork"(Hardin and Corrigan 90).
High school athletics is the time for an athlete to develop as a person. By playing high school sports a teenager can learn a lot about themselves. They learn how hard they can push themselves physically, they learn how to communicate, listen and be an effective leader. The media should not have an effect on how they play the game. Again, being interviewed by a local reporter is one thing, being interviewed by Stewart Scott or someone of that nature is a bit over- bearing.
“As the financial stakes climb and the high school model more closely resembles that of big time college athletics, journalists, educators, and scholars will play critical roles in addressing the myriad social and ethical issues that emerge” (Media and the Business of High School Sports Page 1).
High school administrators should take a closer look when letting a team from their high school be involved in a national marquee matchup. Taking the national spotlight probably has its financial perks but administrators should really think about how this national exposure is affecting their student-athletes mentally. It is a thrill to play and win in the spotlight but what about the player who misses the tying shot or drops the winning pass, how will the rest of that kids life be affected?
Personally, I think high school sports in the media is not a bad thing. I think it is a good thing for the athletes. There are a couple reasons I feel this way. First, the college recruiting process is sometimes very difficult for student athletes. Obviously, the best players are going to get recruited because they are the "cream of the crop." On the other hand, what about the one's who are average or on the borderline of earning a scholarship? For basketball, NCAA rules has prohibited college coaches from attending AAU events until the summer. AAU is one of the biggest recruiting tools for college coaches. AAU starts at the end of March and goes all the way through August, but coaches are limited to seeing most of their prospects during the July "Live Period." In this case, media definitely helps these student-athletes. There are recruting databased on sites like rivals.com, scout.com, and ESPN.com that have updates from these tournaments so coaches can see how their potential players are doing. I think this is very beneficial for athletes.
ReplyDeleteMostly, the high school players or teams shown on big networks like ESPN are big-time athletes. The name LeBron James has been thrown around a lot. These athletes, for the most part, are going to get attention regardless. They are going to be professional athletes. Showing them in HS is only going to prepare them for their future in sports.
For the most part, commentators are not as critical with HS athletes as they are with college or even professional athletes. In the article "Media and the Business of High School Sports: A Case for Closer Scrutinity," the authors state, "It has been a long unwitten rule among journalist and broadcasters that young athletes be handled with kid gloves-they be treated with special care in light of their immaturity and in experience" (Hardin and Corrigan 91). Commentators of HS sporting events do this. For example, the Little League World Series is played by 12 and 13 year olds. The commentators do a great job keeping in context that their are just kids on the field. You will never hear a commentator critique a kid for striking out or making an error which is good.
Finally, media in sports is good because it attracts more high school viewers to watch their peers. I know when I was in high school I used to love watching the best basketball players in the country to see how good they were compared to me. In the article, "Sports in the Media," the author mentions, "To win and to hold audiences and readers, it is necessary to establish points of identification, and to speak or write in modes that connect with the audience. The audience has to be cajoled into viewing, and the values underpinning the presentation have to be capable of connecting with the audience. Strategies for media production must have some relation to the range of gratifications that viewers seek"(Whannel 294). This is just the case for high school athletes. Their is definitely a connection between high school athletes seeing the best athletes play.
Overall, I think high school sports in the media is a positive. I think it allows some kids to get seen, it attracts more viewers, and I feel like most people are able to realize the fact that kids are in high school and hold them to smaller standards. High school sports in the media will continue to grow in the future.
I agree that High School sports are only going to grow in terms of national popularity in the media. Recruiting for college is becoming a business that is making money out of their backside. I am currently a member of a premium Miami Hurricanes board where I pay to get inside access to interviews, recruiting insiders, and practice reports every day. Who would have thought to pay for this stuff years ago?
ReplyDeleteHardin and Corrigan's article is correct in saying these relationships need closer scrutiny. There are members of the media who are rumored to try and influence where kids go by telling them that they will rank them higher on their site if they consider school A. Also, this celebrity status can often turn bad for the kid, as many kids straight out of high school aren't prepared for the intense media scrutiny that goes along with everyday recruiting. A certain player last yr, Bryce Brown was a highly touted running back who verbally committed to Miami. Throughout the process I witnessed a massive change in his personality, from being a joyous adolescent heading to college, to someone who seemed to take anything said to him too seriously and his recruitment turned into a massive headache for all parties.
It was particularly disturbing to me to read in the book (Handbook of Sports Studies, 295) of the fact that some reporters will exploit the story and instead of taking a good kid who made a mistake and talk about how great the game was, they would focus on the mistake, making that kid the "goat". At that level of sport, it may not be suitable for a kid to take on that kind of pressure. I believe there is a very thin line between too much coverage of high school athletes and promoting them to colleges and the media needs to be careful not to cross it.
Like many people have said, I do feel the national attention towards high school sports and the high school athletes is getting a bit ridiculous. We have to remember that a lot of these kids are still only 16-17 years old and when a big game is coming up, they can't have that added pressure of a big affiliate like ESPN broadcasting their games. Scouts showing up at these games as well play a big role in the student's life and adds a lot of pressure to their work schedule in school. I do think it is alright for a company like ESPN to broadcast a big championship game like Evann said because as a high school football player, I got extra excited to play in the game even when the local radio station showed up for the game. I don't think they can take it too far especially for the players who are just average/above average at best.
ReplyDeleteOne example I can relate my argument on is with my favorite TV show, Friday Night Lights. In the article, "Media and the Business of High School Sports: A Case for Closer Scrutiny", the authors use FNL as an example as well when they state, "High School Sports have been deemed rich enough to provide fodder for prime-time drama (NBC's Friday Night Lights) and reality shows (MTV's Two-A-Days and ESPN Varsity Inc.)." (pg.90) This past season, freshman quarterback on the show, J.D. McCoy, is one of the best young QB's in the state of Texas. As a freshman, he wins the starting job as the QB over senior Matt Saracen, but as the season goes on, added pressure from scouts and his father almost drive McCoy insane and he really struggles to cope with all that pressure. I compare this to regular life because I'm sure this happens to all the top young high school athletes. They should be able to go have fun, make new friends, and take the stress of school away. You can't do that if you have scouts and big affiliates like Rivals, Scout, and ESPN breathing down your neck every week.
One last point I would like to make is a point the authors make in the same article. They go on to say, "We also wonder whether the academic needs of athletes will become a lower priority as school administrators negotiate game times and travel schedules with TV contracts and marquee match-ups in mind." (pg. 92) I know from my days that everyone of my coaches made sure before every practice that I was keeping up with my grades and if I failed two classes I wouldn't be able to stay on the team. Well I also do go to a smaller school, but it's not like I haven't had big name players come from my high school. Shane Dibona, a DE/LB in the grade below me, now plays DE at Iowa. We've also had Jack Shields come from my high school who now is the starting Offensive Center for Virginia. So while my school isn't worthy of national television, we have had players deal with scouts and all that stuff and they have done fine with school. I can definitely see people struggling to keep up with their school work especially with a big national game coming up, but I know in a couple of situations, the coaches do make sure their players stay up with their academics before anything.
High school students have enough to worry about without constantly having a camera pointed in their face. They face the constant pressures of trying to maintain good grades, have a social life, and juggle sports all at the same time. Sports are especially stressful, because even without media coverage, everyone is competing with one another to be the best. There is even competition between teammates. As a former starting pitcher, I have experienced the struggles of trying to maintain the number one spot in the rotation when all of your teammates are trying to have better performances than you. This pressure grows even more when college scouts come to games, and all you think about is performing well in front of them. These pressures and teammate conflicts eliminate the reason we decide to play sports in the first place, which is to have fun. After playing baseball my entire life, and being inches away from signing with a Division 1 school, I actually decided to quit. Baseball became my life, and it no longer felt like a game to me- it felt like a job.
ReplyDeleteThe pressure to be the best, especially with high school athletes can also lead them on the dangerous road to steroid use. In The Cream, ‘The Clear’, BALCO and Baseball: An Analysis of MLB Players’ Image, Haigh states, “Some of baseball’s greats have been employing Benoit’s (1995) image restoration strategies to repair their images because of accusations of steroid use” (2). If these professional athletes, who are grown men have to seek help to repair their image, what would a young high school athlete go through if there was national media coverage of his steroid use?
A perfect example of why high school athletes don’t need media coverage is Kevin Hart, the high school offensive linemen who “cried wolf. Hart told everyone at his school that he was going to sign with a Division 1 school, and a pep rally was held for him to announce which school he would choose, which was Florida. It turned out that Florida was never even in contact with Hart, who made the story up because he was afraid that people would think he was a failure for not playing Division 1 football. Hardin and Corrigan’s, Essay: Media and the Business of High School Sports: A Case for Closer Scrutiny states, “perhaps it is not a stretch to argue that the relation between high school sports, media, and the culture urgently needs much more scrutiny than it has received” (92). I completely agree with the fact that the media needs to back off of the high school athletes, and just let them enjoy the game.
`I agree that there is far too much media attention than is right for high school sports. The term “purity” was brought up several times in both Robins’ blog and the Hardin and Corrigan article, and I believe the increasing media coverage is only going to take that away. At both the professional level and the college level, there is a large focus on scandals that top athletes are involved in, and many reporters and writers are quick to write off an athlete the second something goes wrong. The Hardin and Corrigan article states, “As coverage of college and professional sports has focused increasingly on scandals and commercialism, high school sports have retained their reputation for ‘purity.’ Scholastic programs are seen as an ideal venue for boys and girls to build character, develop healthy lifestyles, and learn sportsmanship and teamwork” (90). If media attention grows, it’s only a matter of time before this reputation gets tarnished. High school students are bound to make mistakes just from lack of experience in the world, and if the media is there to report on a mistake a star athlete makes it can drastically change their lives.
ReplyDeleteThis coverage also takes away from players’ academic lives. If star high school athletes are being covered on television, then teachers are less likely to reprimand that person for poor grades than a student who is not a star athlete. At the same time, it also gives an athlete an excuse not to do the assigned work. According to Gary Whannel in the Handbook of Sports Studies, “In the television age sport has been turned into mass spectacle…and is epitomized by major sport events like the Olympic Games…the World Cup…and the Super Bowl” (293). If LeBron James had a nationally televised game on Wednesday and a paper due Thursday, I would bet that all he’s thinking about Wednesday is the triple-double he’s going to get and what scouts are going to be at the game. Whereas the typical students’ idea of getting on tv by being in the background of some news report, now high school athletes have the chance to play in front of millions, much more pressure than any high schooler needs. All this attention only takes away from athletes’ education. Robert Andrew Powell attributes the difficulty to maintain the integrity of high school sports directly to its media coverage (Hardin and Corrigan 91).
I think that the topic of national media coverage of high school sports is two-fold. On one hand, it’s a good thing for the kids to get media exposure, especially if they don’t have the opportunities to have a college recruit come and see them, or if they want to go to college, but don’t have the financial capability. On the other, there’s the fact that media attention for kids at this young of an age can almost never be a good thing. One minute they’re hot, and the next they’re not. The attention that they receive in school could be too great, other students begin to wonder if teachers are giving the athlete good grades just because he was on ESPN the night before.
ReplyDeleteThe school could even be using the athlete just to get more school funding, or something else. There are too many possible outcomes with students being put in the spotlight at the age of 16. Keep in mind, how many of these high school players will actually make it to a university to play said sport? How many of them will actually become professional players? The reason why some people love to watch March Madness and college football is because they know that most of those players won’t make it to the professional leagues, and they play those games with all their heart. What happens when their spotlight dims and the media is no longer paying them any attention?
The fact that the media needs to handle student athletes with “kid gloves” (Hardin and Corrigan, 91) is a statement that sometime isn’t enforced, and can only lead to a child’s life either getting exosed in the media for the better, or worse… which benefits more depends.
As long as i can remember high school athletes have been relevant in sports. Whether its your small town heroes, or the fortunate ones who get worldwide media attention they all resemble the increase in awareness of young athletes. i remember waking up every weekend and reading the stats of my high school football team. These athletes were my peers and friends, but i found myself very interested in there individual performances. Gradually, i started to look at my highs schools opponents players. In my case there were some standouts athletes in my area. For instance Ray Rice (Baltimore Ravens), Jason Mccourtey ( Titans), B.J. Raji ( Packers). The truth is there is something about high school athletics that is exciting. I have noticed that for years my local sports channels have been promoting high-school sports in a positive light. MSG for instance takes the top high-school programs in football (in the NY/NJ area) , and breaks down the weekly games. There is a high demand for viewing high-school sports. You never know when the next big thing will emerge into the world of sports. The demand has become so high that according to Corrigan and Hardin, " Espn also recently announced major purchases of online and print media focusing on high-school sports as part of an initiative to ramp up its offerings" (Corrigan and Hardin 90). ESPN being the worldwide leader in sports shows that high-school athletics is here to stay.
ReplyDeleteThe one major issue i have with high-school athletes is dubbing them the next best player. These athletes are still developing and are young enough where this attention can hurt them. The NBA for example has had a number of players enter the draft and not pan out. The most recent one i can remember is Sebastion Telfair. He led his Lincoln HS in NY to 3 titles, and was on the cover of Slam with King James. However, he has not amounted to the player scouts and critics imagined him to be. I believe the NBA has noticed this trend, and ultimately why they made the decision to have athletes go to a college for at least one year. This gives the players a year to develop and experience the media.
My opinion is that we should leave high school athletics where it is. I think its good for athletes to experience some of the attention of the national limelight. The truth is you never know when a high-school athlete will become the next superstar. However, labeling them something before they reach there true potential is unfortunate. These athletes are still young enough where these type of comments can get to their head. Furthermore, Prominent High-School programs should be televised. This is where i disagree with Robert Andrew Powell. He states, "want to find a corrupt high-school team? Just turn on the television" (Hardin and Corrigan 91). This is a very bold statement, considering that only elite teams are televised. Claiming that they are corrupt because of their stature is wrong. Overall, i like the direction and current position high-school athletics is in. If sports fans of all ages can watch 11 and 12 year olds play little league baseball, whats so wrong about televising high-school sports. Even though im not aware of all the top teams, if a game is being televised i am definately interested. High-school is a time to develop in all areas, and promoting games on national television is part of the process for athletes. It shows them that this attention will be something they experience for years to come. I disagree with most of the students and believe that the coverage of high school athletics is right where it should be.