Monday, March 1, 1999
McNown, Farris have same rights as non-athletes
SPORTS: Students often leave school early to pursue career;
ethnicity, politics not an issue
By Scott Bishoff
Scott Kurashige’s article ("Winners never quit," Viewpoint, Feb.
24) was just another example of turning athletics into a political
forum to cry foul about the perceived injustices of a system that
allows athletes to leave school early to pursue their dreams.
His first argument, berating Cade McNown and Kris Farris for
leaving school early, is an old and tired complaint. If I were
offered a chance to drop out of school and forgo law school to
immediately join a top firm and be trained, all the while making
millions of dollars, I would jump at the chance.
Furthermore, our society regularly trots out success stories of
young scientists or computer geniuses who leave school for academic
research and discover cures or develop new technological advances.
Everywhere we turn, we hear about self-made millionaires who never
even finished high school, yet we put down athletes for doing the
exact same thing.
For Kurashige to assert that this is a racial issue, however, is
ludicrous. I will more than allow someone to debate me on the topic
of leaving school early, as I admit there are pros and cons; but to
bring race into his discussion is plain irresponsible.
African American athletes, such as Kobe Bryant and Stephon
Marbury, and white athletes, such as McNown, both have equal
opportunities to leave school early. Many do, race
notwithstanding.
This issue is strictly about money, and the desire for riches
exists in us all, regardless of the color of our skin. Apparently,
Kurashige only reads The L.A. Times when it suits his purpose, for
I have seen great articles this year on DeShaun Foster, Brendan
Ayanbedejo and Ryan Roques. His assertion that UCLA is only touting
academics with regards to white athletes is unfounded and
dangerous.
I will not argue that the stream of athletes leaving college
early may not hurt them in the long run, but several advantages
exist in their decisions.
Using athletics, however, as a forum to discuss affirmative
action is another example of propping up sports programs to debate
academic issues. If Kurashige were so interested in proving UCLA’s
negligence in its admittance of African American students, I would
much rather have seen an article detailing admissions statistics
for the entire school than just for the football team. Leave sports
alone, and let them remain the entertainment they were meant to
be.
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