johnb
01-30-2014, 02:06 PM
I came away with mixed feelings after reading the front page article about Hurley and St. Anthony's. It sent me online, to a 60 Minutes show that I'd seen before (http://www.cbsnews.com/news/coach-bob-hurley-the-sage-of-st-anthony/) and to the St. Anthony's web site.
Part of me thinks: Inner city kids getting an education from a great and underpaid coach (whose son was one of Duke's all-time greats). Long tradition sending kids to college and the pro's. Why shouldn't the Nets let them use an empty gym? Selfish jerks...
Another part of me: A parochial school with under 60 kids (boys and girls) per grade has won 4 high school national championships and 23 NJ state championships? So it's just one of the many schools that caters to and attracts great basketball players. Maybe it was one of the first, and maybe it's not glitzy, and maybe their kids do go to college, but it's still a basketball team with a high school that is almost an after thought. If their rich basketball alumni, local fans, and the parochial system aren't able to support them, why should the school continue--those players will find other schools that would salivate to get them on their team. And should they be given use of an NBA court? Why? Are they the only hs team without a home court? Of course it sets a precedent...
And it set me to wondering further about specialization at a young age. For example, many of Duke athletes have gone to such schools. And not just for basketball players. Look at where our golfers and tennis players went. Often, they are online courses or specialty sports academies that allow the focus of the day to be on sports. Lacrosse is one exception (while we can argue that the kids reflect the heterogeneous American culture, the high schools they attended reflect a broad spectrum of affluent America (but the schools don't really focus on sports). Football is another exception and may actually feature kids from a broad array of high schools (though typically large high schools, presumably, which tend to field the good teams).
Anyway, no real point aside from the possibility that Mr. Hurley has done a great job with his kids but that the school just won't make the transition to another generation. And that may be okay.
Part of me thinks: Inner city kids getting an education from a great and underpaid coach (whose son was one of Duke's all-time greats). Long tradition sending kids to college and the pro's. Why shouldn't the Nets let them use an empty gym? Selfish jerks...
Another part of me: A parochial school with under 60 kids (boys and girls) per grade has won 4 high school national championships and 23 NJ state championships? So it's just one of the many schools that caters to and attracts great basketball players. Maybe it was one of the first, and maybe it's not glitzy, and maybe their kids do go to college, but it's still a basketball team with a high school that is almost an after thought. If their rich basketball alumni, local fans, and the parochial system aren't able to support them, why should the school continue--those players will find other schools that would salivate to get them on their team. And should they be given use of an NBA court? Why? Are they the only hs team without a home court? Of course it sets a precedent...
And it set me to wondering further about specialization at a young age. For example, many of Duke athletes have gone to such schools. And not just for basketball players. Look at where our golfers and tennis players went. Often, they are online courses or specialty sports academies that allow the focus of the day to be on sports. Lacrosse is one exception (while we can argue that the kids reflect the heterogeneous American culture, the high schools they attended reflect a broad spectrum of affluent America (but the schools don't really focus on sports). Football is another exception and may actually feature kids from a broad array of high schools (though typically large high schools, presumably, which tend to field the good teams).
Anyway, no real point aside from the possibility that Mr. Hurley has done a great job with his kids but that the school just won't make the transition to another generation. And that may be okay.