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Hard to imagine that Cliff Huxtable is talking about players like Maurice Clarrett, Sabastian Tellfair and so many others who think that they can forego an education and make mad money as a professional athlete. These are the same young men mind you that for the most part, cannot speak proper English, understand the basic principles of finance and business, and realize that there is more to life than fast cars, fast women and a posse. Believe it or not but these are the leaders of tomorrow because the kids that watch them on the boob tube want to emulate them. Scary thought isn’t it. For years this column has touted the necessary belief that some form of education was needed for any athlete who was going to make a jump to the professional ranks. Even if they just got the basics down in business finance, that would be better than nothing at all. Well it seems that Dr. Cosby is saying the same thing but just on a broader stage and he has received some serious backlash for only speaking the truth. So if it takes a person like Cosby to actually turn over the stones of a problem that has been left unsolved. I remember what Georgia Tech’s Paul Hewitt told the gathered media after his team lost to Connecticut in this year’s Final Four: “I’ve got some freshmen, sophomores and juniors who have missed eight days of class and now my concern is for them to get caught up on their school work.” When Hewitt spoke those words, that was just prior to John Calhoun lauding praise on his superstar, Emeka Okafur, for not only being named the Most Valuable Player in the tourney but also for graduating from UConn in three years with a degree in Finance. These are two coaches who believe in the educational process and know that they are dealing with ‘at risk’ kids in the system that Cosby is talking about. What has me on the soap box of Cosby’s comments is the fact that since our society, meaning the Black society, puts so much emphasis on Black athletes as a form of success, then it is only right that these athletes be held accountable for the actions that they do. Yes they are indeed role models and I’ve probably said that for the umpteenth time in this column. Yes it is up to the parents to give their children POSITIVE role models and that the process should begin with what is in their own homes. Yet we all know that sometimes that is not necessarily possible for various reasons and that the secondary role models like athletes and entertainers become the primary sources of inspiration. And thus my banter and rhetoric for wanting athletes to make sure that they live a positive life. What Black athletes need to realize is that they are role models because they are the most successful entity that this segment of society entrusts. Yes we have members of the athletic world who do so much wrongdoing that they may never see the right side of the mountain (or the equation for that matter) but we seem to persevere in finding the few gems that live up to our standards; whatever those standards are for the moment. The Black athletes in our society need to take Cosby’s words to heart because he is talking about them and where they came from. He is talking about the fact that there is a vicious cycle that needs to be broken and they may hold the very keys to breaking that cycle. Maybe Cosby ruffled a few feathers but they needed to be ruffled. Hopefully a few of those feathers are the numerous Black athletes who think they can’t make a small dent in the problem described by Dr. Cosby. Not only can this part of our society make a difference but they should. If they want to help solve the problem, then heed Cosby’s words and come with a plan that can help fix a problem that keeps getting swept under the rug.  Gregory Moore is the Managing Editor of the San Antonio Informer, a weekly African American newspaper located in San Antonio, Texas. WANT TO REACH THIS WRITER Copyright 2006 by BlackAthlete.net, Inc. All Rights Reserved. |
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