The Game On discussion was so interesting to me this week. I learned so much from talking with my classmates and hearing our guest speakers. The guest speakers were seriously so awesome they were the best part of the week.
From the Game On readings and assignments I reflected upon my fond memories of years spent in the gym at basketball tournament after tournament and that one overwhelming trip to Disneyworld to play at AAU Nationals, all has a whole new meaning now. Never before did I realize what an innovative and blood sucking mechanism AAU basketball had become. My childhood years were spent playing AAU basketball, but Game On has opened my eyes as to what was actually going on in those gymnasiums or how amateur basketball has evolved.
Kids are expected to have a die-hard mentality about sports, at age eight. Do or die. There is nothing else beyond winning. This is what we are teaching the youth who are participating in sports, are we serious? When Farrey asked a group of eight year olds if they even knew what a national championship was, he never got an exactly right answer. The closest the boys came was “the whole country? The whole world?” We’ll give them points for effort, but this just reiterates the obsession with sport and the overbearing need to be champions starting at such a ridiculously young age.
Game On opened my eyes to the fact that AAU basketball is just a revenue-generating machine. It is simply a vehicle for economic advancement. Having participated in AAU basketball myself I was oblivious to all the telltale aspects that say “this is all for profit,” not the kids. For example, the no food allowed in the gym, in no way is that trying to help out the athlete’s family with cost containment. I guess until someone pointed out all the signs I just didn’t realize what the AAU organization was doing to unsuspecting or unaware parents and players. They are crooks.
That's my story and I'm sticking to it - America's Team - Out!
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