Athletes learn the lesson

Sporting News, The, Dec 6, 1993 by Richard Lapchick

We may have turned the corner on the issue of academics and athletics.

It has been argued for decades that playing big-time sports in high school an may lead to the exploitation of athletes, especially African American athletes. Low graduation rates, low scores on standardized tests and a presumed over-emphasis on sport at the expense of education, seemed to uphold the argument. The publicity regarding racism in sport in the aftermath of Marge Schott and Al Campanis dampened the hope of those who believed that playing sport helped ease racial tensions.

According to a recent national survey by Lou Harris, many African American high school student-athletes, while still carrying the unrealistic belief that they can be the newest rising stars, now clearly understand that playing sports is a vehicle that can deliver educational, social and life-skill benefits that will help them be productive members of society. They don't have to play for the Bulls. They can be the team doctor or attorney.

The Harris study found that African American student-athletes continue to have unrealistic aspirations of playing in college and in the pros: 51 percent believe they can make the pros (vs. 18 percent of white student-athletes).

The results of the Harris survey give us hope that such fantasies may not lead to shock and emotional letdown.

If you a re a 14-year-old African American, you recognize that the color of your skin may, in all likelihood, limit the range of your life's choices. You have less chance to finish high school, go to college and be employed than if you were white. You have, by far, fewer chances of making it big in corporate America or as a top administrator or professor in college. Just turn on the TV and you will see that.

In communities driven by despair, athletes in our outreach program realized that they can't afford to snuff out hope. So, while not throwing sand on the fires of desire, athletes have been telling youth to keep hope alive, but to balance it and prepare for the future through school.

Harris reports that outreach athletes have had a substantial and a sustained impact, especially among African American student-athletes.

Harris found that 76 percent of African American student-athletes and 60 percent of white student-athletes favor a minimum C average for eligibility in sports. Currently, 44 states do not require a C average. We are failing student-athletes by not asking for more.

As dropout rates in urban communities soar, 57 percent of African American student-athletes said playing sports helped "a great deal" in staying in school. Fifty percent said playing sports helped them "a great deal" to become a better student.

Apparently, even athletes who believe they will make the pros aren't ignoring academic preparation. It is the first conclusive evidence that we have reached these young people. With the understanding that one needs to balance academic and athletic goals, playing sport has clear benefits to African American students. African American student-athletes may have dug a collective grave for all those who have exploited them in the past.

On the social benefits of playing sport, Harris said, "It was critical to we that at a time when racial and ethnic tensions boil over in school into serious conflicts almost every day, the survey showed that team sports create friendships that cut across racial lines; 76 percent of all white and African American student-athletes reported that they became friends with someone from another racial or ethnic group through playings sports."

We don't get together as equals in many places in America. In our racially charged society, this may prove to be the ultimate benefit of sport, fulfilling a dream of Jackie Robinson.

As drugs and alcohol dominate the lives many teens, sports seems to help African American student-athletes to avoid such potential dangers: 65 percent said playing in sports had helped "a great deal" in avoiding drugs; 60 percent believed playing sports had the same effect in avoiding

In my early experiences, the world of sport was littered with broken promises and unfulfilled dreams. This is the beat news I have yet seen that sports is beginning to deliver on the promises it has made for all. these years.