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Post by tnsooner on Jun 15, 2009 19:59:36 GMT -5
I hope for his sake he pans out:
When big Bryce Harper made the cover of Sports Illustrated two weeks ago, I knew we'd soon again be hearing from the 16-year-old 'chosen one.'
But not quite this soon.
On Sunday, the sophomore from Las Vegas found his way into national headlines again when his father announced that Bryce will forgo his final two years of high school and use a GED to enroll in a community college this August. Though it more or less makes a mockery of our education system, the Harpers' plan would make Bryce eligible for the 2010 draft, where he could conceivably be the Nationals' No. 1 pick and eventually join forces with Stephen Strasburg to save Washington baseball from itself.
It's a controversial decision, to be sure, but Ron Harper says he and his son are prepared to hear from the inevitable haters.
From the Las Vegas Review-Journal:
"There are going to be critics. I can't worry about what people think," Ron Harper said. "People are going to see what they want to see and say what they want to say. I think this prepares him for life, playing the game of baseball.
"People question your parenting and what you're doing. Honestly, we don't think it's that big a deal. He's not leaving school to go work in a fast-food restaurant. Bryce is a good kid. He's smart, and he's going to get his education."
From my viewpoint, I'm not going to act like a truant officer on Harper's decision when viewed in a vacuum. It's quite clear that Harper has loads of talent, lives to play baseball and has been groomed to play professional baseball ever since he and his family realized that he was much better than everyone else. It's obvious he has that physical attributes to succeed and he'd be drafted in two years anyway, so why delay the inevitable? Is an 18-year-old really that much better equipped to handle the pressures of grand expectations than a 16-year-old? As much as people will want to say that Harper should stay in school like a normal kid, the truth is that whatever normal life he had disappeared the minute he showed up on the cover of a magazine at homes across the country.
Plus, in an age when tennis and golf prodigies leave their families for top-flight academies before the age of 10 and future basketball studs are identified in the sixth grade, what's the problem with Harper setting out on a very defined career path? Being the top pick in the draft could net him $20 million or more, so making a play while the chips are on his side is just simply a smart move — especially in the volatile world of baseball talent.
The problem I do have with it, though, is that there are no doubt thousands of delusional parents who will see this news and think that maybe it's a viable path for their nowhere-near-as-talented sons and daughters. While the Harpers can't make their decision based on what other lemmings might do, I hope the door closes behind them.
What do you think?
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husky
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Post by husky on Jun 15, 2009 20:04:25 GMT -5
I The problem I do have with it, though, is that there are no doubt thousands of delusional parents who will see this news and think that maybe it's a viable path for their nowhere-near-as-talented sons and daughters. While the Harpers can't make their decision based on what other lemmings might do, I hope the door closes behind them. That's the big thing for me. It looks like Harper has the talent to do this, but there will be a bunch of other kids who think they can too, and then when it doesn't pan out they're stuck.
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Post by Geaux Tigers on Jun 15, 2009 20:09:14 GMT -5
Todd Marinovich in football Ty Tryon in golf
Thanks DAD!
If this plays out, the kid doesn't stand a chance IMO.
For every Tiger, there are 1,000's who fizz out.
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Post by tophb21 on Jun 15, 2009 20:16:11 GMT -5
Todd Marinovich in football Ty Tryon in golf Thanks DAD! If this plays out, the kid doesn't stand a chance IMO. For every Tiger, there are 1,000's who fizz out. I forgot about Ty Tryon. I worked on the AJGA when he was 14 and the kid was talking about going pro. Yeah that worked out real well for him.
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Post by maestro on Jun 15, 2009 20:50:30 GMT -5
I think it is a bit ridiculous myself. Let the kid be a kid for as long as he can. His maturity as a person and as an athlete can only be aided by staying in school for a year or 2 longer. Why the big rush? Just my two cents.
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Post by tnsooner on Jun 15, 2009 20:52:41 GMT -5
I think it is a bit ridiculous myself. Let the kid be a kid for as long as he can. His maturity as a person and as an athlete can only be aided by staying in school for a year or 2 longer. Why the big rush? Just my two cents. Cause momma and dadda wanna get PAID!
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Post by maestro on Jun 15, 2009 20:55:34 GMT -5
If it is meant to be than they will get paid I suppose. Although if it were my kid I wouldn't want a penny from him. It's his money.
I am not trying to sound high and mighty here. I just hate to see kids who feel like they have to be grown ups when they are not prepared.
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Post by tophb21 on Jun 15, 2009 21:01:24 GMT -5
If it is meant to be than they will get paid I suppose. Although if it were my kid I wouldn't want a penny from him. It's his money. I am not trying to sound high and mighty here. I just hate to see kids who feel like they have to be grown ups when they are not prepared. I agree with ya especially on the last paragraph.
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Post by tonythegator on Jun 15, 2009 21:04:39 GMT -5
Okay, are you ready for this. You may want to sit down!! TonytheGator agrees with everything on this thread, so far!! ;D
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KU62
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Post by KU62 on Jun 15, 2009 21:58:20 GMT -5
I think it is a bit ridiculous myself. Let the kid be a kid for as long as he can. His maturity as a person and as an athlete can only be aided by staying in school for a year or 2 longer. Why the big rush? Just my two cents. It was stated (maybe in the SI article) that playing two more years where no one can challenge him would simply be a colossal waste of time and talent. He really is that good, whatever his age. Staying in high school definitely would retard his development. Finishing high school might help him with maturation, but, to me, that doesn't sound like a problem -- many 25-yr old pros with an entire entourage don't have as good a handle on reality as Harper and his family have shown to date. They don't want him to 'drop out', rather to 'move on'. I say find him a JuCo, or even University, with a program prepared to foster student-athletes, and he will do just fine.
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KU62
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Post by KU62 on Jun 15, 2009 22:06:02 GMT -5
I The problem I do have with it, though, is that there are no doubt thousands of delusional parents who will see this news and think that maybe it's a viable path for their nowhere-near-as-talented sons and daughters. While the Harpers can't make their decision based on what other lemmings might do, I hope the door closes behind them. That's the big thing for me. It looks like Harper has the talent to do this, but there will be a bunch of other kids who think they can too, and then when it doesn't pan out they're stuck. You're saying it's not possible another kid deserves the same chance. When did it become noble to prohibit Americans from making decisions without public consensus?
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KU62
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Post by KU62 on Jun 15, 2009 22:24:16 GMT -5
I think it is a bit ridiculous myself. Let the kid be a kid for as long as he can. His maturity as a person and as an athlete can only be aided by staying in school for a year or 2 longer. Why the big rush? Just my two cents. If your 'ridiculous' means 'out of sight!', ok. If you mean 'deserving of ridicule', tell me you'd want to retract all the PhD degrees granted to 12, 14, 16 year olds and prohibit them from going on to do research; to disallow music performances or acting roles by child prodigies; confiscate the patents awarded to underage computer nerds; . . . just so none of them would be even a 'bit' ridiculous? To contradict the growing attitudes we hear all day, every day, from our liberal intelligentsia and their media lackeys, let me remind you: We aren't all cut from the same bolt of cloth. Nor could we be. Nor should we be -- as politically incorrect as it may be, it is still a fact. And, for a while yet, it is still legal for individual differences to exist.
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Post by sdsuphilip on Jun 16, 2009 1:28:43 GMT -5
This is kind of old, considering he is a cocky son of a bitch and will get plunked at least 5 hundred times in the bigs and does not care about school let him go
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Post by raleighrebel on Jun 16, 2009 9:51:07 GMT -5
bad idea imo...and if this is allowed, basketball kids should be able to do the same thing
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Post by bcsbbad on Jun 16, 2009 10:07:27 GMT -5
rr - don't know if it's a good or bad idea. At least he got his GED (doesn't need high school anymore) and he enrolled in a community college to continue his education. If basketball kids did the same thing, then yes, they should be able to do it too.
But then I remember the high school can't miss kid that signed with Texas many years ago - come on old brain remember that name - ..................................................
David Clyde. It still works. ;d ;d ;d
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jun 16, 2009 10:17:33 GMT -5
It's already started in basketball... with the kid that left high school to play in Europe next year... it's a horribly bad idea... they are allowed to do it, so go ahead... Just don't be surprised when the kids turn out to be troubled young adults and have depression issues.... pressue brings out the best and worst in people.. I hope he overcomes it and becomes great... but my money's on him becoming the next big thing that doesn't pan out....
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Post by maestro on Jun 16, 2009 10:44:24 GMT -5
I think it is a bit ridiculous myself. Let the kid be a kid for as long as he can. His maturity as a person and as an athlete can only be aided by staying in school for a year or 2 longer. Why the big rush? Just my two cents. If your 'ridiculous' means 'out of sight!', ok. If you mean 'deserving of ridicule', tell me you'd want to retract all the PhD degrees granted to 12, 14, 16 year olds and prohibit them from going on to do research; to disallow music performances or acting roles by child prodigies; confiscate the patents awarded to underage computer nerds; . . . just so none of them would be even a 'bit' ridiculous? To contradict the growing attitudes we hear all day, every day, from our liberal intelligentsia and their media lackeys, let me remind you: We aren't all cut from the same bolt of cloth. Nor could we be. Nor should we be -- as politically incorrect as it may be, it is still a fact. And, for a while yet, it is still legal for individual differences to exist. Whatever KU. Kids these days are exposed to the adult world too early IMO. Let the kid be a kid. Baseball isn't going anywhere. That is my point. We certainly aren't all cut from the same cloth. For instance, you are very different from me. You are a contrarion, and I am a smart ass. That's fine, I don't have any issues with that. Good luck to the kid. I just hope that his parents have his long term future as their first and most important interest. Not just dollar signs.
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Post by kaara on Jun 16, 2009 10:47:00 GMT -5
It is interesting that you bring up Tiger. Here is an example of a guy who IS the most dominant player in the world at his sport, he was the most dominant amateur in the world at his sprot when he was an amateur YET his parent, nor he tried to accelerate the process. Tiger stayed an amateur and competed in amateur events against his peers throughout high school, he then went to college and competed for 3 years at Stanford at the college level and was 21 years old before he turned pro. Everyoen wants their kid to be the next Tiger yet none of them seem willing to adhere to the path that got him there.
Overzealous parents who think THEY know better than coaches and trainers etc.... think "well my kid is just so much more awesome right now than his peers so I should have him competing against older kids, or better competition, or going pro early etc... etc.." yet that is exactly what they should NOT do. The truth is (a truth these mental midgets refuse to comprehend) is that competing against your peers (even if you are dominant) has long lasting positive effects on the athlete both mentally, emotionally and physically. Tiger will tell you (he has in some interviews) had he turned pro when he was 17 (and he could have) he would not be as good as he is today, he says it outright. I have spoken to college D1 trainers and I have had the opportunity to even speak to some former NHL and NFL players and they all say the same thing, let the young athlete compete against their peers, let them be dominant if they are lucky and passionate enough to be that but let them mature with their peers, it will benefit THEM in the long run even if it does not benefit YOU (the parent) in the short run.
I see this stuff all the time in youth hockey and it drives me nuts, the parents cannot see the forrest through the trees.
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Post by kaara on Jun 16, 2009 10:54:16 GMT -5
I think I heard that too and a whole bunch of coaches, trainers and scouts on the otherside completely refute that idea. The guy hits the bal with a high average but he has alot of work to be done defensively and between the ears. Not everything is about at bats. He can still develop at high school and it would not 'retard" his development at all according to many experts on the subject. Of course I guess you believe staying an amateur until he was 21 and competing against his peers retarded Tiger Woods as well......
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Post by maestro on Jun 16, 2009 12:34:15 GMT -5
I see this stuff all the time in youth hockey and it drives me nuts, the parents cannot see the forrest through the trees.
However, KU62 can.
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Post by NCBulldawg on Jun 16, 2009 13:19:13 GMT -5
I'm thinking more along the lines of Michelle Wie... but don't take it to literal. Just saying, youth should be spent being youthful, as well as developing skills for later in life. Skipping it just because.... well, you are asking for a poorly adjusted kid in the grand scheme of things.
Good luck, but we shall see.
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Post by maestro on Jun 16, 2009 13:21:40 GMT -5
I'm thinking more along the lines of Michelle Wie... but don't take it to literal. Just saying, youth should be spent being youthful, as well as developing skills for later in life. Skipping it just because.... well, you are asking for a poorly adjusted kid in the grand scheme of things. Good luck, but we shall see. But he is cut from a different cloth NCBD.
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csd10
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Post by csd10 on Jun 16, 2009 15:42:39 GMT -5
I was just reading about this kid today, and at first I was thinking what most of you have already said. But after reading the article, "I figured what the hell," he might as well take his shot. This may be a horrible idea, but hindsight will be the only way to know for sure, and it doesn't sound like the family is getting too far ahead of themselves. This is an excerpt from the article: Ron isn't even entirely sure that Bryce will be eligible for the 2010 draft. "We haven't got anything in writing yet," he said. But the Harpers have been in contact with officials from Major League Baseball and the Major League Baseball Players Association to make sure they follow whatever protocols are necessary to be draft eligible next year, including making sure he completed all high school courses and exams at least 365 days prior to the draft.
"Even if he's not [draft eligible in 2010]," Ron said, "he will play 55 games a year with a wood bat and receive an associate art degree. It's a good situation for him."
It might be easy for someone not familiar with Bryce, his talent and his family to think the kid is being pushed too fast, but the move to the College of Southern Nevada makes perfect sense. Bryce will live at home, take online and night classes, attend classes three days a week, carrying 12 credits, and be allowed to attend high school events with his former classmates and buddies, such as proms and homecomings. His older brother, Bryan, a pitcher, will transfer from Cal State Northridge and also attend College of Southern Nevada. Bryan will live in an off-campus apartment and will be Bryce's roommate when the team plays on the road.Here is the link to the full article: sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2009/writers/tom_verducci/06/16/bryce.harper/index.html?eref=sihpT1
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Post by kaara on Jun 16, 2009 16:44:39 GMT -5
Honestly, this excerpt only fuels my belief that his parents are overzealous and are getting ahead of themselves. I bet $1,000,000 that this kid's dad has been doing the research on this "opportunity" for over two years...............
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poejoe8
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Post by poejoe8 on Jun 16, 2009 19:04:05 GMT -5
This is kind of old, considering he is a cocky son of a bitch and will get plunked at least 5 hundred times in the bigs and does not care about school let him go Based on your previous predictions, I believe I'll go "all in" on his future success.
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KU62
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Post by KU62 on Jun 17, 2009 23:45:09 GMT -5
Whatever KU. Kids these days are exposed to the adult world too early IMO. Let the kid be a kid. Baseball isn't going anywhere. That is my point. We certainly aren't all cut from the same cloth. For instance, you are very different from me. You are a contrarion, and I am a smart ass. That's fine, I don't have any issues with that. Good luck to the kid. I just hope that his parents have his long term future as their first and most important interest. Not just dollar signs. That sounds good to me. My problem with nearly every post on this thread is that they come across as - Force the kid . . .
- Make a rule . . .
- Don't let anyone . . .
Anecdote: Guest speaker at Career Day in elementary school, has each kid give their goal in life. Little girl wants to be a teacher. Speaker asks why. Girl replies: 'Because then I get to be the one who says, "Now, everyone in a straight line, and No Talking!" ' I say, it's the kid's business (with family guidance). No one else should have a right, or the power to dictate these decisions. I realize full well that attitude is " contrary" to the present political climate, and I am proud to maintain my position -- more rules is a bad approach, by a ratio of at least three to one.
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Post by kaara on Jun 18, 2009 9:10:00 GMT -5
I don't see anyone in this thread advocating more rules. I see folks advocating common sense. I think there is a big difference
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