Independence Day: An Idea

It seems a simple and inalienable principle, but independence-moreover: freedom-is anything but. The requirements for freedom are intangible, unlike freedom itself: sheer force of will, an inherent desire and the wherewithal to activate the aforementioned. Freedom can be taken and it is rarely given without immeasurable sacrifice which is why it is our most cherished idea.

One of the most powerful forces known to man is the idea. Ideas have shaped the universe as we know it. Ideas have allowed us to dream and forced us in to bondage. That freedom is an inalienable right is an idea. Freedom as an idea has no weight save the collective will of a people to fight to the bowels of their souls for it.

For this reason there is perhaps no greater secular holiday than Independence Day. In the United Sates, we celebrate with one another-all walks of life, all credos, all ethnicities-starring intently into the night sky to see the rockets red glare and bombs bursting in air. That that star spangled banner still waves is testament to the will of the people who salute it and the sacrifices they have laid bare.

This Independence Day, remember the struggles of those less fortunate around the world and the struggles in equal measure of your neighbors who still suffer despite having the freedoms we enjoy. Salute those who protect it with their will, desire and lives. Marvel at the strength of an idea and how it has shaped the world-for better or worse. Cherish the fragility of freedom and always remember that the first verse of the Star Spangled Banner-our National Anthem-ends in a question mark.

Victory is no longer an incentive

Victory is no longer an incentive

Whether it is sad but true remains to be seen-but it is true. For many student athletes victory is no longer an incentive for playing sports in college. Sure they want to win but that is the competitive nature ingrained in every athlete worth their salt. But it seems that it is no longer the driving force behind the decision of many collegiate athletes.

Here’s the question though: is that a bad thing? Take an unbiased look at the life of a typical collegiate athlete. Unless they were bitten by a radioactive spider or drank a cup of Gatorade given to them by a scientist, these athletes were bred from birth to play ball.

A combination of natural ability and relentless practice does not leave time for a typical childhood. Hounded for their abilities from Diaper Dandies Childcare all the way to St. Henry’s of the High Score Prep, the athlete of today is constantly bombarded by pressure to perform. Imagine the amount of pressure that exists on their shoulders; pressure from family and friends, from school administrators and coaches, from strangers and from themselves.

Keep in mind that they’re doing all this for free and that they are children or teenagers or extremely young adults.  Built up to an almost impossible standard, nursed to sleep with dreams of glory and avarice-the modern student athlete is a victim more that a culprit. A harsh but true reality exists for the fans-it is our fault.

Hard to swallow, right? But think about it for just a second. Do we not demand a faster, stronger, more exciting game every year? Do we not pour our adulation over our favorite athletes like Gatorade after the final buzzer? Do we not treat them like the paragons of physicality we would all like to be? Yes. Yes we do. Do we forget that they are human? Yes. Do we forget that they have class, bills, and a life outside of the arena? Yes.

That victory is no longer an incentive is more telling of the humanity inherent to the athletes than any ACL tear could be. Man cannot live on victory alone; though another classic maxim comes to mind: to the victor go the spoils.

Let me be brutally honest: do we care? Do we honestly care that a student athlete is getting kickbacks for being awesome? Do we honestly care that they are selling memorabilia of which they have multiple copies to pay for the things we all need such as rent and gas? Or do we care because it is against the rules? The problem may be acute as we see it now but as more light is shed on the issue it seems to mimic Prohibition more than a few individuals out for themselves.

There has been a debate about whether or not college athletes should be paid. Paying college athletes would seem to be duplicative seeing as how most already receive a free college education which, after 4 years, could equal more than $50,000 depending on the school. Is this enough? Perhaps. How about instead of paying them we just don’t punish them for receiving “luxuries of status”. Discounts-if you will. Giving a poor college kid a discount on a car seems more like charity that the act of a booster. If an exemplary non-student athlete receives the same treatment is that wrong?

The debate on whether student athletes should be paid will rage on and likely fall on the deaf ears of the NCAA. There are equal reasons for and against and stuck in between are the boys and girls in uniform fighting for us on the field. Fighting for victory; but for whom?