I am sick of seeing 13 to 15 year old kids labeled as the next superstar. We anoint these kids to the point where they think they are above the rules. Adults tolerate ant-social and sometimes illegal behavior; we enable these kids to the point where they never have to grow up, this is not a racial thing, it transcends race and gender. They don’t have to go to class, they don’t have to do the assignments, and someone always takes care of them. What do you think will happen when you give a kid like this a contract worth millions of dollars? Will he immediately learn responsibility and change a behavior pattern that authority figures have enabled him to do throughout his athletic career. I don’t think so and there is evidence everyday in the sports page to prove it. I know I am old fashioned but I was raised to believe that character was important. As coaches, teachers and administrators we have a responsibility to teach good behavior and responsibility for the star and the last person on the bench.
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