Graduation Gap Between Student Athletes

In 2009, the National Collegiate Athletic Association’s “March Madness” held a commercial highlighting the graduation rate increase from student athletes, while in the previous year’s tournament a commercial emphasized on how the student athletes will “go pro in something else.” In the 1999 Division I tournament, the top 16 seeded men's teams had an average graduation rate of 44 percent; in 2009 it increased to 64 percent.

In a news paper article, professor Jessica A. Johnson wrote, “The annual study "Keeping Score When It Counts," published by Dr. Richard Lapchick of the Institute for Diversity and Ethics in Sports, shows only a 2 percentage-point increase in overall graduation rates for male basketball players, which now stands at 66 percent. Graduation rates continue to slowly increase for African-American male basketball players, but their general progress remains mediocre, as only 59 percent earn their degrees.”

In an interesting article I found, a section explained the improvements made from the NCAA president, Mark Emmert, "Academic reform is working, students are better prepared when they enter college, and they are staying on track to earn their degrees. Some doubted our efforts, but the resolve of our presidents is strong, and we are reaping the fruit of several years of hard work." Due to the reform, in one year time, the black athlete was able to increase the odds by 5 percent; more than any other ethnic group.

  Is the reason for coaches wanting their players to stay in college in order to help benefit the player or to benefit themselves? Jim Calhoun recently blew up on camera, telling a political activist freelance journalist to "shut up" when the journalist goaded him on his $1.6 million salary. When a coach has a better team, the more money the coach will bring in whether it’s from alumni or from advertisements. I believe that in order for a student athlete to leave college early for a professional league, he or she must take some kind of investment class, so when their athletic career ends they will be able to maintain a stable life. It really struck me when I began thinking about how quick an athlete’s career could end; from an injury or having a bad season and let go.  In college the athletes are given exclusive treatment in the class rooms, feeling the need to not preform to the best of their abilities in the classroom as they perform on game day. Dr. Tublitz recognizes the probability that not all the athletes will go on to the professionals; only around 3 percent will move on to the big leagues. "They come here and are treatedlike royalty. Until they break a leg or get put on the second string and thenthey get set aside. Many don't earn a degree. They don't have the training orthe skills to be independent after they leave the university. They'relost."

I personally feel that no student-athlete should be allowed to play past college unless they graduate. If their career were to suddenly end, they would be unprepared for a professional job. My father played football his whole life, and when he went to college injuries obstructed his abilities. He graduated with bachelors in liberal art and several of his team mates graduated with the same degree in PE and Dietitian. My father has been coaching ever since he graduated and is finally going to coach college ball.



Muhammad Ali; The Activist

Many remember Cassius Clay as the best fighter of all time, but how I will remember him is as an activist. From converting to Islam in 1964, Clay changed his name to Muhammad Ali. When Muhammad Ali was drafted for the Vietnam War he fought for his right to not go over seas. He claimed his religion has made him a pacifist and that he had no issue with the Vietnamese. Many people did have an issue with Ali calling himself a pacifist if he was fighting as a career. He said he would rather sit in jail for years than to go across the ocean and kill the Viet Cong. He traveled around the country hosting speeches at colleges against the war. Some of his most famous quotes due to the were,

 “I ain’t got no quarrel with the Vietcong. No Vietcong ever called me a nigger.”

“No, I am not going 10,000 miles to help murder, kill, and burn other people to simply help continue the domination of white slave masters over dark people the world over. This is the day and age when such evil injustice must come to an end.”

“Why should they ask me to put on a uniform and go ten thousand miles from home and drop bombs and bullets on brown people in Vietnam while so-called Negro people in Louisville are treated like dogs and denied simple human rights?”

April 28, 1967, Ali was suspended from boxing and stripped of his titles and his passport was revoked so he would be unable to box what so ever. His suspension lasted about three and a half years, and had his first fight back in Atlanta, Georgia against Jerry Quarry. It is believed that Ali’s best time would have been the years he sat out. In 1971 the Supreme Court revoked Ali’s convictions due to his religious beliefs.

In 1990 Muhammad Ali went to Iraq to negotiate the release of the 14 US hostages. That same year he lit the flame in the 1990 Olympics. In 2005 he was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom. He is still currently active in civic and humanitarian enterprises. He has so far raised $45 million to help find a cure to Parkinson’s disease which he is currently living with.

Play 60; A Healthy and Active Life

Fine, fit, and fun late president John F. Kennedy encouraged americans to get in shape and quit being soft! He wrote an article in Sports Illustrated when he was ignogorated into presidency in 1960. His efforts to getting americans in shape was mainly due to our national security. In 2010, retired generals, admirals, and civilian militiary leaders created a mission explaining americas constant decline in health and shape. They believe starting with young americans is the best way to build up a country with a strong military.

America’s current president, Barack Obama, has helped promote the Nation Football League’s (NFL) movement Play 60 for kids to be active for an hour a day to reverse childhood obesity.

"Our players recognize the value of staying healthy and it's important that young fans also understand the benefits of exercise. The NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell said, NFL PLAY 60 is a significant tool in ensuring children get their necessary, daily physical activity.”-NFL Commissioner, John Goodell

Obama's wife, Michelle Obama has also made an effort to end childhood obesity by showing short clips on how to eat better on Disney Channel. She emphasizes on potion sizes, what to eat, and exercise. She said in USA Today that her busy life in Chicago led to her buy fast food often for dinner and thought her daughters were fine due to the way they appeared. However her doctor told her that her children were fluctuating in weight. Her goal? To end childhood obesity!  Around 32% of adolescents are obes; 25 million kids.
Michelle believes its not just the kids who need to be informed of the health risks of eating unhealthy and not exercising, but all of their family. There are over $147 billion weight-related medical bills each year.