by Roy Exum
posted May 15, 2008
 Roy Exum |
Gillespie is the head basketball coach of the University of Kentucky and, for all I know, has never abused any kids, but he has come darn close in recent weeks when he, in somewhat sickening fashion, has offered basketball scholarships to two ninth-graders and one eighth-grader.
If that is not exploiting a child, then surely it crosses the line of common decency; what type of parent would allow that? And when they send the squad car, make sure it is a station wagon because one of the children, Jeremiah Davis of Muncie, Ind., said he’s also being recruited by Tennessee and Ohio State.
College recruiting has become a colossal business and it is sometimes ruthless. But to even think of a big-time coach fawning over some 13-year-old makes me want to throw up. And I mourn the fact guys like Gillespie are stealing what I believe is too precious to lose - these kids’ childhoods.
One time I spent several days with Bobby Orr, arguably the greatest hockey player who ever laced up skates. Late one afternoon Bobby and I were talking hockey, since I knew little about it, and the conversation veered to his early years. But when Bobby talks about signing with the Bruins at age 12, it isn’t funny.
Bobby Orr was born in Perry Sound, Ontario and was a far greater phenom than the three junior high basketball players Gillespie is trying to sign. He was magical with the stick, but – for the record – he didn’t sign with anybody.
One afternoon his dad came into his room and shattered his childhood. His gruff father told him to gather up his stuff, that in exchange for a used car, a coat of paint for the house and a little pocket money Bobby would be leaving with the guy in the living room. Right then.
So now, when everybody oohs and aahs about the fact Bobby played with the Oshawa Generals at age 14, the better story is how he was terribly treated as a foster child, how he got up every morning at 4 a.m. to work chores and how he was made to skate deep into every night. It is a chilling tale.
Of course, Bobby rose above it, as many a Stanley Cup will attest, and, if I were king of the NCAA, he would be the chairman of my “exploitation committee” because, to put it succinctly, he’s still got the scars.
Further, as king I would decree that no child in America could sign a scholarship of any kind until they reached the age of 17 and I would forbid any one of them from giving “an oral commitment” until after their junior year of high school. I’m serious.
I know of no college coach I admire any more than Georgia’s Mark Richt. I’m never met the guy, but I’ve read reams about him and the fact he just took 20 of his players on a mission trip to Honduras makes me hope they win the national title. Mark Richt is a giant – believe that.
But I hate it when I hear he’s recruited some sophomore in high school. I want life to be simpler than that. I want kids to escape the hassle of “having to decide” before their senior year of high school.
The other day I thought it was wonderful when McCallie’s Jay Fullam, just winding up his junior year, said he would commit to Vanderbilt, but I would have been happier if he had announced it after his senior season.
I don’t blame Jay for announcing earlier to escape all the hassle, but – if I were king – I’d eliminate the hassle because what college recruiters do, from constant text-messaging to far worse, is inexcusable in a civilized society.
And when it gets to the point the Kentucky basketball coach – who heads one of the premier programs in the nation – gets all slobber-mouthed over some eighth-grader in California, the time has come to send the state troopers down from Frankfort because such behavior is not only unacceptable, it’s just plain sick.
royexum@aol.com
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