Posted on 04/05/2019 8:21:45 AM PDT by DUMBGRUNT
Earl Watson, a former UCLA basketball star, is back on campus to finish his degree and prepare for a career as a college coach
“He was asking me, like, where did I serve, and I said, ‘Serve where?’ ” Watson recalled. “He was like, ‘You know, did you serve in the Middle East?’ ”
Watson replied, “I played basketball. I’m a former NBA player/coach and I’m coming back to graduate.”
...“Because of the life experiences and everything I overcame to this point, it’s almost better coming to college later because I found my voice through life,” Watson said. “I understand where I stand in life.”
...Watson decided to return to school following his firing by the Suns after an 0-3 start to the 2017-18 season. He has paid more than $34,000 for tuition and fees, he said.
...A C-minus on that paper so frustrated Watson that he visited his professor during office hours. This is an upper-division history class, she told him. Expectations are high.
...“Probably like the second week, the kids realized who I was and they started typing in,” Watson recalled. “First it was supportive, like, ‘Phoenix sucks.’ Then by the third class it was like, ‘Earl Watson, you can’t beat me one-on-one. You’re old.’”
(Excerpt) Read more at wsj.com ...
But, from what I read, I wish him well.
A friend that was drafted into the pros,(like #9999) had many funny stories of his school days.
Reporting to the coach, his first day with his class schedule, the coach had an assistant revise the classes to instructors that were ‘friends of the team’.
And still, he was unsure until near the last semester.
Do you remember any funny anecdotes? I’d like to hear another.
I have a friend who was drafted at quarterback.
He said on the first day of training camp Bill Parcells walked in, grabbed his arms, looked him in the eye and said, “Son, you’re going to get killed out there.”
Being unsure of graduating in four years, he selected ‘easy’ classes and needed to pass everyone.
The first day in his ‘easy’ Public Speaking class, every male is wearing a tie, most a jacket.
He is wearing sweats.
His fraternity brothers improved his wardrobe with a clip-on tie and some accessories.
Still not making the grade. He misses too many classes.
One day a new instructor in his ‘easy’ class, he announced that his good friend Professor Soanso had been in an accident.
Anyone donating blood for his friend would be given extra help in the class.
He donated twice and graduated on time.
I don’t know whether to laugh or shake my head. I guess I’ll do both!
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