I didn't realize that sports were what prevented kids from joining a life of crime. I can't believe this kid has no hope now. He has to commit crimes. He can't possibly have made a mistake and this be the wakeup call he needed. A felony likely will not keep him from college, if he wants to go. He will get a 2nd chance to prove himself.
I don't know about you...but I dropped many many dollars I didn't have on going to school...didn't hear an outcry over that isht...
I agree with all the posters above. This is stupid and the judge probably is just trying to make a name for himself.
How would you know that? If anybody, kids especially, grow up thinking that they can only be a sports star, music star, etc, then they will most likely fail. There are relatively few of those "stars" in relation to how many kids dream of being such. A secondary goal should always be considered. If the kid is smart, he'll make the most of his time, like getting an education.
The responses got me curious, just added a poll, seems like I may be in the minority agreeing with the judge
Wow, are BB guns that dangerous? I mean I know you'll shoot your eyes out, but it's a felony offense?
Care to defend the judge's decision in any way? groogleaux put it best, IMO. Sports didn't cause him to do this, so why take it away from him? It is a ridiculous overreach by the judge to cause some phoney baloney deterrent.
Makes me think of watching PTI, and Michael Wilbon going off because Dwight Howard said he was glad he didn't go to college because it wouldn't have helped him at all. Wilbon considered a serious problem that kids, black in particular, see sports or music as their only way out, and tried to make the point that college is good for everyone. It never hurts to get an education.
Conversely, I think there are too many colleges and too many people who don't belong there already. Higher ed isn't for everyone. Part of why I think college football is such a joke, the majority of those kids aren't learning anything (and aren't capable of learning) and are just being exploited by the Universities for a shot at going to the NFL. Give them a way to go do what they're good at and love (sports) without having to go pretend to participate in higher education. I don't believe that college is a magic bullet to turn someone into a productive member of society.
Who's not capable of learning? Some yes, but most? I bet all of those athletes have many of their favorite songs memorized, I'd call that capable. If people don't believe they can learn, then it's their own problem. College sports should be considered an opportunity to get educated, with the outside chance of going higher in sports. If the student doesn't take advantage, that's his/her problem. The rest of the students would love to not have to spend years paying off their tuition. I can see your point that many of those athletes don't belong there, simply because sports may be all they care about, but if they cared, they might actually benefit from their opportunity.
If everyone went to college having a college degree would be less useful and then you would need a higher degree. If you are a lebron james why waste your time in college. If someone told you, you would spend your whole life working 9-5 being a slave of corp America, or have a shot of the pros with the fame money and girls what would you pick.
Lebron was basically a lock for the pros, but most aspiring professional athletes are not, even though they may think they are. Many of the athletes that do make it in the pros, look forward to other things when their short career is over. Idle time and lots of money could be said to entice bad behavior. Sports retirement could be the start of another life, one that benefits society in other ways. I think most of us come to a point in our lives when they ask themselves, "what can I do now?". College isn't a requirement for that, though.
