Posted on 06/02/2015 1:02:58 PM PDT by GSWarrior
He is as popular as any athlete in the United States, and is adored by fans around the world.
But one such fan, Matt Amaral -- an English teacher at Mt. Eden High School in Hayward, California -- has conflicting feelings about the superstar point guard.
"You see, Steph (I hope you don’t mind if I call you Steph), if you come to my school you will be your usual inspiring, humble, hilarious, kind self and you will say all the right things. But the reason I don’t want you to come has to do with what you won’t say.
"...you also won’t mention that along with your father’s success came all the monetary rewards NONE of my students have, like three square meals a day; a full sized court and hoop in the backyard; a sense of safety; a mother and a father; top schools, top peers, and community resources. I know you might not think of it like this, but you might as well have come from another planet. But you won’t say that, will you?
"I mean, look at Klay Thompson. I wonder if anyone else finds it odd that the best shooting back-court in NBA history were both born with silver balls.
"What you will do is shoot some threes, dazzle everyone with your dimples, high five the homies, and sign some autographs. It will be wonderful. At least, it will seem like that at first... If you ask the boys on my campus what they are going to be when they get older, the answer will involve a sport. They will claim they are going to play in the NBA or NFL, and seeing you there will make them think they can actually do it."
(Excerpt) Read more at csnbayarea.com ...
“This teacher seems to be saying that Curry has ONLY been successful in the NBA because his father achieved success that ALLOWED him to play NBA-level basketball.”
Seems?
What he says is that Curry won the genetic lottery and had one-on-one tutoring at the court at his house.
Yep—lots of NBA players come from extremely poor, fatherless backgrounds in tough neighborhoods.
Professional sports has long provided an opportunity that way, and yes, being a pro’s son or a coach’s son has also long provided an edge, too.
Sounds like this teacher will only be happy when everyone comes from an equally challenging background.
“Well, then let’s keep our kids away from astronauts, nuclear physicists, anything that is outside their grasp, lest they become distracted from their studies. “
If you strive to be an astronaut you will develop skills that will reward you in the future.
If you strive to be an NBA star, you will develop skills that will serve you on a Saturday afternoon with the boys.
That's part of what the teacher is saying. And the teacher is RIGHT. Out of all the hundreds of thousands of high school basketball players, only a few tens of thousands become college basketball players. Out of those tens of thousands, at any given time, no more than 360 active NBA Players exist. If a kid isn't at the top of the heap in high school, he's not headed to the NBA. Having an intact family is a big help toward being at the top of the heap in high school. A kid at 12 or 14 years old who has never played an organized game of basketball WILL NOT be headed to the NBA. If he gets his shit together, though, he still has a really good shot at learning a skilled trade or earning a worthwhile college degree.
This guy is spot on. My son likes to tell me he’s going to play football at Notre Dame and then be in the NFL. He’s 10 years old. I feel it’s my job as a father to discourage outrageous goals. I tell him he may in fact be an excellent football player but will most likely be about 5 foot 10 and weigh 185 pounds. He can have a fun Div III football experience like I had. I then became a pilot in the military. Solid goal for a smart 5 foot 10 white dude.
I tell him I fully expect him to be accepted to Notre Dame academically. Solid goal. His mother finished high school in 3 years, got a perfect score on her SAT (which was a big deal in 1987) and proceeded to graduate Magna from Johns Hopkins. So far he seems to have inherited her brains.
I was a great athlete in my small High School pond. Excelled at football, wrestling, and rugby. But 5 foot 10 white dudes don’t go pro. For every miracle Wes Welker type that makes it, a 1,000 others get a real taste of reality.
This teacher is doing his kids a service. Hopefully he inspires them to pursue realistic , attainable goals. We need more solid productive citizens. Especially black young men.
He also leads the league in fewest tattoos.
“He choose Davidson, a school with tough admission standards, because he KNOWS the importance of having a backup plan. He is a living example of what you say he lacks.”
The author says they admire him as a person and a player. That is NOT the issue.
What the author says is that when he speaks to the students he doesn’t provide them with the need for a back-up plan.
Well, aren’t you just full of bovine processed grass ...
Let’s see, here.
In the entire known universe, at any given time, there are no more than 360 NBA basketball players.
OTOH, there are millions of engineers, scientists, physicians, nurses, lawyers, skilled tradesmen, sailors, pilots, truckers ...
I like those odds ... and, as the author says, that’s within their control.
So your position is that MVP Steph Curry appearing in a Bay Area classroom during the playoffs is detrimental to the students' future prospects? You would not allow it if it were up to you?
If the teacher didn’t grow up with the
same deprivations as his students then
he should probably STFU too. Curry worked
hard to get where he is regardless of how
wealthy his family might have have been.
I guess this teacher would also not have
allowed JFK or RFK or any number of successful
people from successful families around his
kids, either. GOOOOOOO.....Dubs!
If I were an educator in the Bay Area I would be clamoring for Curry to visit my school.
You are right. The odds of becoming an NBA player, or even an overseas player, are much higher than some of my examples.
Obviously. And you place such extreme importance on tossing an orange ball at a hoop that you completely identify yourself with a group of 12 men who get paid to do that. That’s your business.
If I were a teacher anywhere, I wouldn’t be holding up professional athletes (or other entertainers) as the Great American Hero.
I would hold up most who rise to the top of their profession as role models provided they conduct themselves with honesty and dignity.
Let’s see:
360 NBA players.
Millions of scientists and engineers, tens of thousands of pilots (to stick with the categories you chose).
And you think the odds of being a professional athlete are better?
You already posted that and I already responded. Scroll up!
I would not be surprised when Curry’s faith in God is used against him being a role model in some quarters.
“So your position is that MVP Steph Curry appearing in a Bay Area classroom during the playoffs is detrimental to the students’ future prospects? You would not allow it if it were up to you?”
My position is that you distorted the truth when you posted:
“Bitter, jealous, angry leftist spews venom at Steph Curry.
The author stated he was a fan of SC and admired him as a player and a person.
As for inviting guest to schools, I would insist they provide an inspirational message and not just party with the kids.
Dell Curry probably made enough playing ball to live comfortably, plus his work as a Hornets, I mean Bobcats, broadcaster.
Well, I don’t know for a fact that he is a bitter, angry leftist. You have me there.
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