The Myth of the Student Athlete

The Myth of the Student Athlete
by Chris Jones

status as the only man to win two Heisman’s is guaranteed to stay in tact for at least one more year. It was announced early last week Oklahoma quarterback and the reigning Heisman trophy winner Sam Bradford will undergo season ending shoulder surgery. On top of that, Bradford also announced that he will forgo his senior year of eligibility and enter the 2010 NFL draft. With his decision to go pro one year early, Bradford opens himself up to a world of criticism that comes with “a student athlete” turning his back on his University. How could he do that to his school? A student athlete is getting a free education at some of the finest institutions on the planet, and he is just going to throw it away? Hell yes!

The term student athlete is one that is used ridiculously in college sports. Big name players in the NCAA are there for one reason and one reason only, to move on to the next level. Now don’t get me wrong, there are thousands of student athletes that are there to succeed academically. I think it’s an even greater story when an athlete can use his scholarship to get him or her an education that they wouldn’t otherwise be able to obtain. But for players like Sam Bradford, college football is just a stepping-stone. When watching the Notre Dame vs USC football game last week, one of the commentators commented on how Jimmy Clausen and Matt Barkley used to play together in 6th grade quarterback camps. That’s pretty specific training from a young age. You think someone is going to go through all the camps, excel in high school, be one of the nations top prospects, play football for one of the best teams in country, to be an accountant? Of course not. For big name college players, they’ve been training for the NFL since they were young kids. So you shouldn’t be shocked when you hear that an athlete was caught cheating on a test or that a group had in some way tricked the academic system. I’m not condoning it, but they’re going to do what they need to get on the field. The NFL doesn’t care what your GPA was, they care about what you did on the field.

And the argument that these athletes owe it to their colleges to stay all four years is absolutely moronic. Schools recruit you to do one thing, play ball. What you do after your done at their institution is completely out of their minds. So it is up to the player to do what is best for his future. If it’s more beneficial for a kid to stay all four years and learn as much as he can, then he should definitely stay. But if all you can do is hurt your stock by staying additional year, than he would be an idiot for staying. But how could he turn his back on the FREE education the school was generously providing for him? Oh really? Well what about the MILLIONS and millions of dollars that these players make for their schools? I think that makes up for the free classes they receive that they will in many cases never use. So a player leaving early is hardly stabbing a school in the back. And many times the schools can see it coming. USC knew what they were getting into when they decided to offer O.J Mayo a scholarship. But even though only played for one year, he catapulted the USC program into something worth watching.

Now someone will tell me every time I make this argument “But if someone puts all their eggs in the Professional Sports basket and fail, then they are left with nothing”. Sadly, this can be true. If a person prepares their whole life to be a professional athlete and for whatever reason he or she fails, then many times they are left with very few options. But it is like that for any career you choose. If you decide to be an Art major and later on discover painting isn’t for you, you’re left with the same situation. If someone wants to rely solely on one career path then that is their choice and will suffer the consequences themselves.

I’m not saying get rid of the college athlete because I think college sports teach young players many life skills they will need to succeed at the next level. Balancing school, sports, and a social life is something these kids wouldn’t get if we scratched the whole college sports system and just went straight to a semi pro system. But the expectations for these players needs to change. Just cause they want to pursue their lifelong goals doesn’t make them bad people.

Ducks Flying Atop Pac-10

1. Oregon Ducks: Many people would assume that this is a reactionary move, based on the 47-20 decisive victory over the Trojans. But anyone who believes that must have stopped watching after the ugly loss the Ducks suffered in the opening week at Boise State.

Since that time, Oregon has averaged nearly 40 points in their last seven games and Chip Kelly’s leadership and unique style of coaching has led to a resurgence that experts largely did not see coming. The turnaround after Week 1 has resulted in the first 5-0 start to a Pac-10 slate since 1946 for the Ducks.

3. Oregon State Beavers: The argument for putting the team in Corvallis this high involves the game they played in the Coliseum on October 24. Mike Riley’s team has provided stiff competition for the Trojans in their previous two meetings, each of which was decided by six points.

Two of Oregon State’s losses have come to Top 20 teams (#17 Cincinatti and #7 USC), and while the secondary is suspect, the majority of the remaining schedule is soft. Exempting Oregon, the combined records of the other three opponents is 10-14 and only one is bowl eligible. The running game, led by Jacquizz Rodgers, should continue to help the Beavers rack up wins until the Civil War game against the Ducks in Eugene.

Fool's Gold in Berkeley?

By Chris Carr

After a large offensive output against the Bruins, The California Golden Bears look for more of the same this week. The Bears welcome fellow Pac-10 team, Washington State to Berkeley on Saturday.

The 5 Guys in Sports You Cannot Hate

Dear Mr. Crabtree

As I write this I hope that you are enjoying a nice clam chowder bread bowl and taking in the beautiful scenery of what will be your home for the next six years. Yes, after months of holding out you decided that 17 million dollars guaranteed wasn’t so bad after all for the guy who went 10th overall in the draft. It’s been a very interesting summer hasn’t it Mike? And as your friend and fellow Bay Area resident, I thought I should let you know that moving into your new place and getting used to the fog are the least of your worries.

If you think you can just step into the league and dominate like you did in college, you are sadly mistaken. Nobody doubts your talent Mike. You were a beast in college, arguably one of the best collegiate receivers ever. But college success as a wide receiver doesn’t always translate into the NFL. For every Calvin Johnson, there’s a Mike Williams. For every Andre Johnson, there’s a Rashaun Woods. Who’s Rashaun Woods? Exactly Mike, exactly. So the fact that you were good in college means absolutely nothing now. And I know you have great physical tools, but the fact that you missed training camp is huge. I know you’ve most likely been training all summer in the weight room and on the track, but the fact of the matter is you haven’t been hit by a COLLEGE PLAYER in more than 9 months. So make sure your chinstrap is buckled nice and tight, because I’m sure this is no secret to you, but the boys in the NFL hit a whole lot harder than anyone who tackled you at Texas Tech.

The hardest part of your assimilation into a San Francisco 49er though won’t be on the football field, it’ll be winning over the many people who have written you off as a spoiled diva. You have become the face of greedy athletes in all of sports. Holdouts happen every year, but not like this. The fans will be the easiest. If you produce on the field, all the drama of the summer will be forgotten. Even the most cynical fans will be chanting your name once you start catching touchdowns. The media will be a little harder, but once you start producing they will also begin to sing your praises. The hardest guys to win over are going to be the guys in your own locker-room. These guys went through an entire training camp together, have been battling for the past month together, and now you roll in expecting to be one of the guys? These guys have had to answer questions about you all summer, so don’t be surprised is they are the happiest of people to see you. But if you do all the right things and be a good accountable teammate, you will eventually win them over as well.

Lets just call it like it is Mike, you basically drew a line in the sand and said “You pay me this or I’m not signing.” And the Niners said forget about it. So you ran away, you changed your cell phone so teammates couldn’t call you, and expected the 49ers to get off to such a bad start that they’d come crawling back to you offering you whatever you wanted. But a funny thing happened, the 49ers got off to a great start. They started winning games with great defense and an efficient offense. They created great team chemistry and realized they didn’t really need you as bad as they originally thought. So you came back down to earth realized that you should take the deal they were offering, cause going back into the draft isn’t going to make you any richer.

So welcome to the Bay Mike. I don’t think you’re a bad guy, just a guy who got some bad advice and didn’t know any better. I look forward to watching you catch Touchdowns for many years to come. If you and MC Hammer need help carrying boxes into your new place, gimme a call. And good luck, cause its going to be a long October.

A Message To Our Unhappy Warriors......

By Chris Jones

As you may have heard, the captain of the Golden State Warriors and its young prodigy are both stating that they are unhappy in Oakland. At the Warriors media day, both openly discussed their frustrations with their team, including Jackson firmly confirming that he still wants to be traded from Oakland to “a contender”.

Just when you thought the Oakland Raiders were dysfunctional…….

Stephen Jackson, 31, has said for months he wanted out of the Bay Area, saying that the team has regressed since its 2007 playoff run. Since that run, the team has failed to make the playoffs and were a disappointing 29-53 last season.

“'I'm made for the playoffs and championships. That's what I play for. I'm Big Shot Jack”

Big shot Jack? Who in the world has ever called him Big shot Jack? Nicknames your friends give you while playing XBOX do not count. Big shot Rob? Yes. Big Shot Jack? Absolutely not. And you’re made for playoffs and championships? Out of your 12 years in professional basketball, you have played in the post season a grand total of 4 times, your most successful coming with the Warriors. So if you are made for the playoffs, apparently you weren’t made very well. And championships? Your only trip to the Finals came when you piggybacked off of Tim Duncan and Tony Parker to score an incredible 12 points per game. 12! So obviously you weren’t made for that either. You’ve actually spent more time in a Legal court than on a NBA finals court. So don’t tell the fans your “made for playoffs and championships”. You’re not Kobe, you’re not Lebron, you simply aren’t on that level.

Monta Ellis, 23, didn’t say that he wanted out of Oakland, but that he simply can not imagine himself playing alongside new teammate Stephen Curry. “I just can't. I can't. Can't win that way.” Coach Don Nelson has said repeatedly that he would like to try using both Ellis and Curry on the floor together.

Monta, since when do you know anything about coaching in the NBA? You are a player, a good player, but a player none the less. Why don’t you let your coach, who is one of the best in NBA history, take care of the game planning. If he says get out on the floor with Curry, you do it. Your coach knows a whole lot more about scheming in the NBA than you do. You just go out there and play, something you could have done a lot more of last season had you not decided to go joyriding on your scooter in the offseason. All you sound like is a spoiled only child that’s worried he wont get as much attention once the new child comes around. It’s time for Monta to finally realize his potential and earn the 11 million dollars he’ll be getting next season.

So what are the Warriors to do with these two sour apples? Well, you have to keep Monta. You’ve invested far too much time and money in him to let him go now. He’s young and has the potential (key word) to be a great player in the NBA for years. But Jackson has got to go. He’s 31 years old, so his best ball is already behind him. And the sad truth is Warriors fans, even with Jackson the Warriors aren’t making the playoffs. Not in the West. So don’t make this team that is full of young up and coming talent have to endure an entire season of Jackson’s nonsense. Find the best offer, and let Captain Jack sail far far away from Oakland.

Holliday trade was pure business for A's

By Chris Biderman

Many fans will hate to admit it, but baseball is a business.

Such was made evident Friday morning when Billy Beane shipped the team’s best player, Matt Holliday, to St. Louis for a trio of major league quality prospects.  It was a business decision, and a decision for the future ­– orchestrated by a man and organization that has been making these type decisions for the past two years. 

The business plan is to infuse the organization with young and cheap talent, allowing the small market A’s to find themselves back in the green.  It’s been said that the team is losing money this year for the first time since Lew Wolff took ownership in 2005.

It would have been bad business for the A’s to pay their most costly player for the rest of this lost season.  It would have been risky business to take the two draft picks after Holliday walked at the end of the season, simply because there’s no guarantee that draft picks will pan out.

So instead, the A’s traded Holliday for a package that appears better than the group the A’s sent to Colorado to obtain him.  The key piece in the deal was slugger Brett Wallace, the same Brett Wallace that Oakland passed on in the ’08 draft and took second basemen Jemile Weeks 12th overall instead.  The Cardinals took Wallace 13th overall in a draft when many observers believed he was the best bat available.

Oakland was high on Wallace, but saw an organizational need at second base, thus they chose Weeks.

Wallace is currently a top-ten prospect according to many outlets, and he’s been tearing up the minors.  He’s produced at every level he’s been at.  In 2008 he hit .327 in A-ball and .367 in Double-A.  In College he won the Pac-10 triple crown in both his sophomore and junior seasons at Arizona State.  The dude can rake. 

The knock on Wallace is his work in the field.  Currently he is a third basemen, but while he has good hands, his lateral range and quickness is questionable.  Many scouts see a switch to first base in the near future.

Wallace is coming home.  The Sonoma native went to Justin Sienna High School in Napa, a baseball program that dominated the entire North Bay during his tenor.  He also grew up an A’s fan with his favorite player being Eric Chavez.  When Oakland passed on him in ’08, it probably would have been tough to imagine he would be competing for Chavez’s job come 2010.  As of now he will report to Triple-A Sacramento.

The A’s also received outfielder Shane Peterson and RHP Clayton Mortensen.  It’s been said that Oakland is as high on Peterson as they are on Wallace.  Peterson is a left-handed corner outfielder who shows good patients and projects as an every day player.  He was drafted in the supplemental round (59th overall) in the ’08 draft.

Mortensen has pitched one game in the majors, but has spent most of the last two seasons at Triple-A Memphis.  His numbers don’t jump off the stat sheet, but it’s been said that his sinker is major league quality; he just needs to refine more of his pitches and command.  He was drafted in the first round (36th overall) in the 2007 draft. 

Instead of sitting on Holliday for the rest of ’09 and taking two first rounders in next years draft, the Athletics decided to save themselves some money and obtain three prospects that are far closer to the majors than anyone they could have drafted next year.  In Beane’s eyes, this is good business. 

Wallace is the key.  If he turns into a productive mainstay, then the deal was great.  If he turns into Daric Barton, then the A’s might need to reevaluate their business model.

Morrow scores 47 to set new scoring record in W's rout of Hornets

Randolph goes for 42 as Warriors down Bulls

Warriors dominate Pistons in Morrow's return

The Warriors dominated the Piston’s summer league team Monday and won easily, 97-69 in a sound performance.

Anthony Morrow returned from his two game absence after suffering a left ankle sprain to score 17 points on 8-13 shooting.  

“I was very eager, I was trying to calm myself down,” Morrow said.  “I had to get my head right because I didn’t want to be too anxious coming out here.  I just wanted to help my teammates and let the game come to me but be aggressive, and that’s what I did.”

Morrow had been laboring hard all summer alongside Anthony Randolph, working out three times a day at the team’s facility back in Oakland.  Rumors circulated of a particular workout in which he had made 90-something threes out of 100 or so attempts.  Morrow clarified that it he drilled 98 of 112 a few weeks back.

“It didn’t really surprise me, I work hard like that every summer and every day during the season,” he said.

Morrow is coming into the ’09-’10 season as one of the many perimeter scorers on the Warriors roster.  He is likely the team’s best jump shooter, if not one of the best in the league.  Last year he struggled with consistency and his overall game, but with his hard work this off-season he will likely have an opportunity to be an impact scorer off the bench.

“He’s a rhythm guy, he’s a shooter,” said coach Keith Smart, of Morrow.  “He worked so hard this summer to get ready to play and hurt himself the last practice (before coming to Las Vegas) and come back.  You can see the growth of his leadership.”

Anthony Randolph once again was the best player on the floor for the three quarters he played (he didn’t play in the fourth quarter after sustaining a cut underneath his left eye).  The lanky seven footer went for 21 points and nabbed ten boards.  He’s proven this summer that his ceiling is as high as he’s willing to work.

Stephen Curry ran the point for most of the night, and seems to be more comfortable in that role each time out.  The Warriors ran more set plays tonight than they have in the first two contests, most of which saw Curry with the ball in his hands making the decisions.  He lead the team in scoring for the second straight game with 23 points on 37% shooting. 

Curry fared well, but still has room to improve.  He had four assists but also four turnovers.  On the defensive end he showed quick hands and managed five steals.

“The point guard who guards him knows he’s going to have a job all night,” Smart said.  “That helps him because he’s going to wear guys out.  He’s in phenomenal shape.  You need to be in phenomenal shape to work off screens.  Right now he’s getting a break not having to run off screens so that’s really a plus for him right now.”

Smart said this is the best young group that he’s worked with and the team’s chemistry is phenomenal.  The team will play its fourth game of the five game schedule tomorrow night when they take on the Chicago Bulls at 5 p.m. in the desert. 

Curry leads W's past Kings in overtime with 29

Randolph and Curry show promise in Summer League opener

Tags: By Chris Biderman

Lakers Sign Ron Artest

By Chris the Intern

 

Normally I’m not one to agree with Bill Plaschke of the L.A. Times, but when it comes to the Lakers’ signing of Ron Artest, he’s right on point.

The volatile Artest is indeed an immediate upgrade at the forward position for the world champs, but sometimes the addition of a star NBA player can do more damage than good, especially when it means that a key piece to the championship puzzle is leaving.

Trevor Ariza played extremely well for the Lakers during their championship run, and his quiet and unassuming personality made it easier for Kobe Bryant to be the leader that he needed to be.  Artest is now the wrench thrown into a locker room that had no bolts to unscrew. 

This is the same guy who told Bryant, “You can’t handle me” during the Western Conference semis while Bryant went for 40 points against Houston.  This is the same guy who jumped into the stands in Auburn Hills only to beat up the guy next to the guy who threw a beer at him.  This is the same guy who’s been run out of town by every front office that’s ever made the mistake of signing him. 

Some say Artest has a unique and complicated personality.  But really, the guy is just not that smart.  He believes that because he’s a physically imposing defensive player who also has the ability to score, that he can be a team leader.  If he was such a good team leader, don’t you think a team like the Rockets who may lose their star center to injury would want him back?

No, they don’t want him back.  They would rather have the quiet, unassuming, sharp shooter who arguably was the Lakers’ third best player during the playoffs.  They would rather have the guy who’s only 24, has a ring, and can lock up a perimeter as well if not better than Artest.  And they’re only paying $600 k more a year than the Lakers are paying for the 29 year-old Artest.

Does this mean that the Lakers will not win a ring again next year?  Not necessarily, the talent needed for such a feet is still there.  But when you have a coach like Phil Jackson, who’s contemplating only coaching home games next season, Artest becomes a huge issue.  What’s going to happen when Kurt Rambis has to attempt to replicate Jackson’s calming influence on the road when Artest goes postal on a cameraman?  How does this signing influence Jackson’s decision to come back at all?

On the court the swap of Ariza for Artest makes a little bit of sense, but in five years when Ariza is only 29 and a star while Artest is 34 playing in Memphis or Milwaukee, Laker fans will be wondering Mitch Kupchak was thinking.

Warriors Draft Curry at No. 7

by Chris the Intern

The Larry Riley era as G.M. of your Golden State Warriors has begun.  By drafting the sweet shooting Stephen Curry out of Davidson, Riley has given his team a player who can score from anywhere on the floor.

But is this what this team really needs?

The Warriors were the second highest scoring team in the NBA last season even without having Monta Ellis for a majority of the season after being suspended for the infamous moped accident.  Pairing Curry with Ellis will certainly give the Warriors a lethal scoring threat in the backcourt.

But the ability to put the ball in the hoop will not guarantee success, as was made evident by last season’s Warriors.  Curry will be a great player and scorer in the NBA, but this does not address any of the team’s weaknesses.

The Warriors were not a good team last year because of the way they defended and rebounded.  Curry could develop into a solid on-ball defender, but will never become a game changer on the defensive end.  And standing at only 6 foot 3 inches, he will have a hard time matching up with many of the shooting guards in the Western Conference.  The size in the Warriors backcourt could become a serious defensive liability, but after all, this is Don Nelson’s team we’re talking about.

It is apparent that Nelson’s influence on Riley is more prevalent than Riley put off in his opening press conference as G.M. of the team.  Nelson is notorious for ‘small ball’ game plan that sees his team put up lots of points, but also allow the opponent more than their fair share.

That leaves many to question why the Warriors chose not to take Jordan Hill out of the University of Arizona.  The Warriors’ roster already has its fair share of athletic big men with Anthony Randolph, Brandon Wright, Andris Biedrins, and Rony Turiaf.  But the addition of Hill would give depth in the frontcourt, which is every G.M.’s dream in the NBA.  And, unlike Randolph, Wright, and Biedrins, Hill comes into the league with an NBA body ready to bruise with other big men.  The Warriors have not had a bruising power forward with the ability to rebound since Troy Murphy.

Curry will start his career with the Warriors as a lethal scoring threat off the bench, which they desperately needed last year.  But as long as Ellis is on the roster and healthy, Curry will have a hard time cracking the starting lineup.  But if this team can stay healthy they have a promising starting five: Ellis, Corey Maggette, Steven Jackson, Randolph and Biedrins.    

Riley’s first move was relatively safe.  No one could really fault him for taking the best pure shooter in the draft, as well as an underrated passer to plug into Nelson’s brilliant offensive system.  But the team is still far from being a contender.  The Warriors ability to contend will not come from changes on the roster, but from progression of all the young talent that’s already there.