FanNation

For the Love of Student-Athletes

Often, student-athletes, especially at the D-I level, are thought to be more "athlete" than "student." Schools and athletic programs are suspected and even accused of catering to these money-making young adults, letting them slide by after brushes with the law or making exceptions for sub-par academic performances. An ESPN magazine piece by Bruce Feldman, about former Auburn linebacker Patrick Trahan (http://sports.espn.go.com/espnmag/story?id=3361190), shows that's not always the case and that, in the quest to raise standards, the NCAA and individual schools don't necessarily make the allowances or offer the support some students need.

Trahan was diagnosed with dysgraphia, meaning he has problems writing his thoughts, as an elementary schooler. He had a documented learning disability; he went to a special school as a fifth-grader, so he obviously wasn't one of the students who faked a condition to get special treatment. But he didn't get the help he needed at Auburn. The general assumption is that D-I athletes, especially those talented enough to start, as Trahan is, are pampered and given all the help necessary to keep them on the field. But Trahan's needs weren't met and, as a result, neither were the eligibility results. Because he struggled with the "student" part of student-athlete, albeit through absolutely no fault of his own, he wasn't allowed to fulfill the "athlete" part where he could excel. 

Trahan, fortunately, will get another chance when he joins the Ole Miss team this fall. But what about the other students who aren't so lucky? Surely there are other talented athletes, smart kids, who want to succeed but may not have the resources or supportive family that Trahan did. Hopefully his story will bring to light the problems with the student-athlete culture in NCAA sports.

Good-Looking Draft

Let's be clear about two things: the only team I really cared about in this year's draft was the Baltimore Ravens and the only reason I wanted to watch any of it was to see those big, buff football players all dressed up. I have such a soft spot in my heart for hot athletes and attractive well-dressed men, so if the fact that it was the most football I'd be getting for a couple more months wasn't enough to get me to tune in, the eye candy made it a worthy event.

Peanuts and Cracker Jacks

The first time I tried Cracker Jacks was the beginning of a tumultuous relationship with baseball. Before that, I'd loved it, because my daddy loved it, and because watching the games was just part of life, and going to games meant cotton candy and souvenirs. I wanted Cracker Jacks so bad because I loved singing "Take Me Out to the Ballgame," so by the time I was five, I was pretty sure peanuts and Cracker Jacks must be the best things ever.

A Pretty Pathetic Start

Things have been rough for the Baltimore Orioles for quite a few years now (ok, more than a decade, but who's counting?) and just a couple games into 2008, it doesn't look like there'll be a massive turnaround anytime soon. 

Opening Day was a "sell-out," meaning all the tickets were sold but only a handful of diehard fans and/or people with nothing better to do showed up. The days of eagerly anticipating the start of the baseball season are long gone for most people in Bmore. And the O's did(n't?) disappoint, springing out to an early lead and then letting it slip away, as they are so wont to do (or so I hear - I kind of stopped paying attention about, oh, maybe ELEVEN years ago).

Play Ball!

All sports are not created equal. Neither are all sports fans. Personally, I'm a college football girl; late summer through January is my favorite time of year, but March brings out the, uh, madness in quite a few people.

The other day, though, I turned on ESPN at lunchtime and was surprised to see baseball. Where I am, it's still wintry and cold and I was expecting to see yet another basketball game. Instead, I saw blue skies, sunshine, perfectly kept green grass - the epitome of a laidback spring afternoon. It was fabulous.