Historical Baller

A Evolution in Recruiting ?

2012-02-21T18:23:00.000-08:00

In the 1900's College recruiting was a bit tricky. College college coaches were limited with technology use, they either had to send a coach to watch a player play or recieve film of a player's games. During the time period before the 1970's, some athletes would write to college coaches asking them to take a visit and watch them practice a play a game one weekend. Most of the time College coaches ask about the player's reputation. They would contact the High School that the athlete attends and asked school administrators their opinion about the athlete. But before Video tapes was invented, these were the only options for College coaches to scout a athlete.

Back in the early and middle 1900's college coaches would as look to see if an athlete won a State Championship or statistics. They would also consider what other Colleges were recruiting them, then they would take those factors into mind and decide if that was the player they want to recruit.

But things change over time. Now since technology is more effective, Video recordings, emailing, Social networking, facebook and more has helped athletes and coaches recruit faster and more effective. In all High School sports there are networks like ESPN, WIN Magazine (for wrestling) that have national rankings for all different sports. They contain video, highlights and statistics for the whole world to see. On youtube, alot of High School athletes post their highlight film online or they put it on a DVD disc and send it out to colleges. But when College coaches recognize a athlete that they see, they look them up. For example, In High School I am a wrestler for Wyoming Seminary College Prepatory. There is a website for National High school wrestling events that reveals me in competition.

Because of this website, I have had Old Dominion, University of North Carolina, North Carolina State, University of Indiana and West Virginia University contact me. Coaches approach athletes differently now a days. Sometimes they contact the head coach of your sport or they contact you online. Some coaches use email ing or Facebook. They stay in touch with you for as long as they want. College coaches also attend sporting events like All star events. In basketball the best college recruiting event is called the ''Mcdonalds All-star game. In this game is the top basketball players from all over the country come together and compete in front of college scouts and N.B.A. scouts

Athletes such as Carmelo Anthony, John Wall, Josh Smith and other great basketball players competed in this event. In Football there are websites as well as All Star games that reveal athletes to coaches. Such as the ESPN top 150 rankings, the Army All American football game and websites that reveal athletes profiles, information and game film.

Many athletes have took advantage of these opportunities in these all star events. For example Tim Tebow, Terell Pryor, Desean Jackson and many more have participated in this honorable event.

Throughout the last forty years college recruiting has become easier for Coaches. But at the same time it does not guarantee them the right choice. Athletes that are recruited, do not sometimes have a happy ending. There are still struggles for coaches, not only at the College level but at the professional level also. The N.F.L. has a pratice before the draft called the ''Combine.'' All college athletes that are invited, practice in front of NFL scouts. But recruiting has overall become better because of technology.

http://missourisportsmag.com/?p=49430
www.flowrestling.org
www.espn.com/top150

My Reaction to the ''Black Athlete''

2012-01-22T11:30:00.000-08:00

Many Black athletes endure humble beginnings. They go through financial struggles throughout their entire life. So when an opportunity to make or take money, they have a hard time not accepting it. Colleges and Universities that recruit black athletes break NCAA rules by playing their players one way or another. It could be an Alumni paying the players or Agents. Throughout recent years their have been many cases in which a Black athlete is caught being recruited and being paid. The Sports that involve these cases are mostly Football and Basketball. A year ago there was a case involving Heisman Trophy winner Cam Netwon. The University of Tennessee and the University of Auburn offered Cam Newton's Father money in order to recruit him.

If Division one athletes do not accept money and their family cannot afford to send them money then what happens? Even though the athlete is on a full athletic scholarship, spending money throughout the year is hard to obtain while training all year round for a sport. In March 2010 the quarterback Jeremiah Masoli was charged with burglary. He and a fellow player stole two computers and a guitar from a fraternity house at the University of Oregon. This cost Masoli his starting position throughout spring football. He was moved to wide receiver by the coaches and thought it was not the right fit. So he transfered to the University of Ole Miss. Now his currently a quarterback for the San Francisco 49ers. But this incident cost Masoli his political image in College Football. He lost his Heisman Trophy contention because of this. He says actions was caused because he had little spending money and wonders if he should have asked alumni or Agents for money. He said if he would have broke the NCAA rules, he probably would have got away with it and still be at the University of Oregon.

Masoli led Oregon to its first Pac-10 title and Rose Bowl since 2001

Another case involving the Black athlete was when Reggie Bush was forced to return his Heisman Trophy. During his football career at USC, Reggie Bush and his family received money and gifts. The running back coach was aware that this was happening but did not do anything about it. Even though he won the Heisman Trophy through the voting, and the rules that were broken did not affect his performance or the opponents he played. The NCAA board felt that the Heisman trophy is fitted for athletes who show a positive image in the college football world. He did return the trophy but the runner up in the voting did not obtain the trophy. Which was Vince Young. He wanted to start a program that helps athletes and families afford the costs of sending players to college. He said he wanted to do this to help people not make the same mistakes he did.

Many Black athletes that become professional have broken the rules of the NCAA in some way. But in their eyes, the risk is worth it because they are trying to make a living in the sport that they play. Compared to most Black Athletes backgrounds, they are highly motivated to go professional at a sport no matter what the cost might be. A lot of Black Athletes have nothing to lose but everything to gain. A movie was created called ''Blue Chips'' to demonstrate why colleges break NCAA rules in order to recruit athletes. Colleges do it in order to win. And you win with the best players on you team.

Canceling the Olympics?

2012-01-09T09:48:00.000-08:00

The 1980 olympic games was a political event to remember. Before the 1980 olympics, politics never got invovled. During this time the Soviet Union was supporting a war in Afganistan. they sent military forces to support the Marxist government. In an effort to stop this president Carter issued a ultimatium to boycott the 1980 olymipic games. Unless the soviets pullrd thier foces out of the Middle East the the United States would not participate in the 1980 Olympic Games. Other countries got innvolved as well like Japan, West Germany, China, France, Greece, United Kingdom and the Phillipines. Throughout all of the ceremonies, the boycotted olympic games used the Olympic anthem and the Olympic flag.

The 1984 Olympic Games was also boycotted. But this time the Soviet Union started it along with 14 other Eastern countries. Iran and Libya refused to attend to the olympic games because of the tensions they have with the United States. ( Now thesecountries have boycotted the 1980 and 1984 Olympic Games.) Even with these countries boycotting, 140 nations still competed in the games.

http://www.usatoday.com/sports/columnist/brennan/2005-04-13-brennan_x.htm

The journal of sports history- Jim Brown

2011-12-11T12:17:00.000-08:00

In the Article ''The journal of sports history'' it mentions alot of famous African American athletes like Jim brown, Bill Russel and Muhhamad Ali. they were all involved in the Civil Rights movement during the mid 1900's. I strongly believe that Jim Brown was the most complete athlete during this time period. He overcame much adversity during his road to success. He played basketball, Lacrosse and football.

During his High School days he dominated at all three sports in New York. He set state records in all three sports. Which eventually led to him attending Syracuse University. Due to the fact that he was black, he was not offered a scholarship his first year. During his freshman year he started in all three sports and earned All American honors in football and Lacrosse.

Even though Syracuse University was in the North, he still faced alot of racism. He was most known for his skills on the football field and it eventually led to Syracuse University being a national contender for the National Championship. Despite having alot of success, he did not get along well with his coaches, especially the head coach. His Senior year they made it to the cotton Bowl. He rushed for 132 yards, scored three touchdowns and also kicked three extra points. they eventually lost 27-28. He believed that no one was better than him that year and should have won the Heisman trophy. At a press confernce he said '' The Heisman, I did not win that. If I said that I should of won it, then tommorrow the papers would talk about a angry negro that doesn't know his place. I know my place gentleman. Even though you might not like it.''

Later on he was drafted by the Cleveland Browns. He broke many records like obtaining a hundred rushing touchdowns even though there were only 12 games in a season back then. Currently there are 16 games in a season. He retired at age 30, decided to pursue a career in acting and still does till this current day.

Here are some of his amazing highlights

My reaction!!!

2011-12-07T16:14:00.000-08:00

In the articles that I read, it seems as tho that Arizona is still a racist state. The Phoenix Sun's basketball organization decided to protest the racial problems because many of their players are minorities. They changed their jersey's to say ''Los Suns.'' In the video they interviewed basketball star Steve Nash and he spoke about the racial problems in the states. That they wanted to be apart of the political change.

''Los Suns''

Other racial events that occured was when Govenor Mecham canceled the holiday that celebrated

Martin Luther kings birthday. This lead to a boycott lead by singer Steve wonder. The ending result was the removal of the govenor back in 1988. Other racial events that occured in the state of Arizona from 1985 up until present day was when the singing group called '' public enemy'' wrote a song called

''By the time I get to Arizona.'' Racists citizens of Arizona boycotted this song because of the lyrics used that discribe arizona as a racists state.( this is a link to an article that I read and the song http://hiphopandpolitics.wordpress.com/2010/05/05/the-racist-state-of-arizona-reflects-a-deep-seeded-fear-of-black-brown-people-rising-up/)

While doing this assignment, it reminded me of the first african American who won the Heisman Trophy. I watched the movie called ''The Express.'' It revealed the journey in which a black person had to endure inorder to achieve his goal. He would get taunted by offials, fans and his own teamates. Sometimes his coach would let him drive the ball into the redzone and pull him out of the game and put a white person in to score because he did not want fans throwing objects at him. While watching this it made me realize how much of a messed up society America was during the early and mid 1900's.

Ernie Davis

http://hiphopandpolitics.wordpress.com/2010/05/05/the-racist-state-of-arizona-reflects-a-deep-seeded-fear-of-black-brown-people-rising-up/

2011-12-07T06:51:00.000-08:00

As I read the articles, athletes such as Steve Nash and Charles Barkley responded to the state of Arizona as a state that that is still currently racists. The Phoenix Suns wore jersey's that said ''Los Suns'' which is a political movement to help change a racist law that is still going on in Arizona called racial profiling.
Anther article that I found that relates to this topic is https://mail.wyomingseminary.org/owa/redir.aspx?C=547cf9ff5afb48c2af598434a613d152&URL=http%3a%2f%2fhiphopandpolitics.wordpress.com%2f2010%2f05%2f05%2fthe-racist-state-of-arizona-reflects-a-deep-seeded-fear-of-black-brown-people-rising-up%2f This article also shows that Arizona is a racist state that boycotts Martin Luther King's birthday. The Rapping group called ''public enemy'' made a song that reflects the racisim in Arizona. This also lead to other boycotts in the state of Arizona. When the Govenor of Arizona canceled The holiday of Martin Luther king's birthday a movement lead by Stevie Wonder started. This also triggered other effects such as the Super Bowl being switch to another setting because of many racial events.

http://www.google.com/imgres?um=1&hl=en&sa=N&biw=1093&bih=470&tbm=isch&tbnid=iKveFtU63DhevM:&imgrefurl=http://poundthebudweiser.blogspot.com/2010/06/arizona-state-of-week.html&docid=G87IK91FG3AU0M&imgurl=http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_913i6e5Kxmk/TCtiJA315TI/AAAAAAAABcE/koSbTuDNcNU/s400/arizona_is.jpg&w=363&h=400&ei=-XrfTuSqKoLY0QHw-szCBw&zoom=1&iact=rc&dur=202&sig=118099907640004783609&page=1&tbnh=111&tbnw=86&start=0&ndsp=13&ved=1t:429,r:2,s:0&tx=64&ty=49

http://www.google.com/imgres?um=1&hl=en&sa=G&noj=1&tbm=isch&tbnid=9w5JRfqHBslDBM:&imgrefurl=http://modlumpkin.blogspot.com/2010_05_01_archive.html&docid=9tx3KB90KfK2cM&imgurl=http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_pkqX2orcoGA/S9wg7j9crLI/AAAAAAAAAOs/__AYvF5_PmY/s1600/arizona%252Blaw.jpg&w=456&h=376&ei=nHvfTozmFIjv0gHfi63PBw&zoom=1&biw=1093&bih=470&iact=rc&dur=281&sig=118099907640004783609&page=2&tbnh=118&tbnw=142&start=12&ndsp=13&ved=1t:429,r:11,s:12&tx=76&ty=73
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QGa4i6sMKvc
http://www.google.com/imgres?um=1&hl=en&sa=N&noj=1&tbm=isch&tbnid=kEqanZSaonU9OM:&imgrefurl=http://www.protestarizona.com/&docid=uCJ_j_MnrPuZcM&imgurl=http://www.protestarizona.com/images/Arizona-is-a-red-state.jpg&w=617&h=453&ei=s3zfTqypCeK90QHq-cXBBw&zoom=1&biw=1093&bih=470&iact=rc&dur=359&sig=118099907640004783609&page=4&tbnh=117&tbnw=160&start=37&ndsp=13&ved=1t:429,r:6,s:37&tx=106&ty=54

http://www.google.com/imgres?um=1&hl=en&sa=G&noj=1&tbm=isch&tbnid=bVmsxdt3KTky0M:&imgrefurl=http://genesis1010.blogspot.com/2010_04_01_archive.html&docid=emQRtdTeVXrrdM&imgurl=http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_UyiANSGcDX0/S9uiOGnakUI/AAAAAAAAADo/_t6X24Ol_1c/s1600/04.ss_full.jpg&w=1200&h=831&ei=nHvfTozmFIjv0gHfi63PBw&zoom=1&biw=1093&bih=470&iact=rc&dur=312&sig=118099907640004783609&page=1&tbnh=110&tbnw=159&start=0&ndsp=12&ved=1t:429,r:10,s:0&tx=91&ty=20http://www.google.com/imgres?um=1&hl=en&sa=N&noj=1&tbm=isch&tbnid=kEqanZSaonU9OM:&imgrefurl=http://www.protestarizona.com/&docid=uCJ_j_MnrPuZcM&imgurl=http://www.protestarizona.com/images/Arizona-is-a-red-state.jpg&w=617&h=453&ei=s3zfTqypCeK90QHq-cXBBw&zoom=1&biw=1093&bih=470&iact=rc&dur=359&sig=118099907640004783609&page=4&tbnh=117&tbnw=160&start=37&ndsp=13&ved=1t:429,r:6,s:37&tx=106&ty=54