Firebird
Senior Associate
Joined: Dec 29, 2010 12:55:06 GMT -5
Posts: 12,448
|
Post by Firebird on Jul 16, 2012 13:15:55 GMT -5
I remember reading about one gymnast who had undiagnosed diabetes and her coach and parents guessed what was going on but didn't want her to get treatment for it because it helped her stay thin....
Personally, I don't think the SPORTS are what damage the kids - rather, it's nonsense like this from self-serving adults who are supposed to be looking out for their interests.
|
|
thyme4change
Community Leader
Joined: Dec 26, 2010 13:54:08 GMT -5
Posts: 40,372
|
Post by thyme4change on Jul 16, 2012 13:18:21 GMT -5
As a participator in the great youth sports programs - I know my kids are just walking dollar signs to just about everyone we meet.
|
|
Deleted
Joined: Apr 20, 2024 4:56:04 GMT -5
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Jul 16, 2012 13:21:50 GMT -5
No kidding!
|
|
Opti
Community Leader
Joined: Dec 18, 2010 10:45:38 GMT -5
Posts: 39,680
Location: New Jersey
Mini-Profile Name Color: c28523
Mini-Profile Text Color: 990033
|
Post by Opti on Jul 16, 2012 16:36:26 GMT -5
The Coogan Law states that 15% has to go into an untouchable trust for the child. My guess is there are ways to get around that fact as well. I just finished a novel where the main character's parents pretty much drain his trust somewhat helped by the fact the bank changes hands several times. Its pretty funny with a slight dark streak. I found it compelling enough I actually read the book in two days. It is called "The Fourth Wall" by Walter Jon Williams. As for the OP, it pretty much depends on expenses incurred keeping your kid in the biz and what kind of assets I had available otherwise. I'd like to do better than 15%, but have no idea what the expenses are of nurturing an Olympic Athlete versus a child star.
|
|
justme
Senior Associate
Joined: Feb 10, 2012 13:12:47 GMT -5
Posts: 14,618
|
Post by justme on Jul 17, 2012 11:54:41 GMT -5
Sometimes parents just don't tell the kids. I'm guessing I was really enthusiastic about gymnastics because no one sat my 7 year old self down and said "Sweetie, you were born into a family of giants. Once you hit your growth spurt gymnastics just won't work, lets pick some other sport or dance or something." That growth spurt really did suck, I had to quit because it became too hard for me.
|
|
thyme4change
Community Leader
Joined: Dec 26, 2010 13:54:08 GMT -5
Posts: 40,372
|
Post by thyme4change on Jul 17, 2012 12:00:26 GMT -5
My daughter does gymnastics, and we are tall (although, I'm not convinced she will be - we do have some short in our family.) And I'm not going to discourage her. First off, I know she isn't going to become an elite gymnast. She isn't even close. But, I love that she enjoys it. I love that she works out. I love that she is learning about skill building and hard work. Why do I have to discourage her? Why would I want to discourage my kids from doing anything at this point. There is a high liklihood we are creating engineers or accountants or lawyers. Does that mean I should skip piano lessons? Why send them to dance lessons - they already missed the window to get started on a professional ballet career? Can't kids do whatever they want, even if we know they aren't going to grow up and be famous for doing it?
|
|
Wisconsin Beth
Distinguished Associate
No, we don't walk away. But when we're holding on to something precious, we run.
Joined: Dec 20, 2010 11:59:36 GMT -5
Posts: 30,626
|
Post by Wisconsin Beth on Jul 17, 2012 12:08:12 GMT -5
Doing something for the love of it and not for future gain is not YM approved Thyme.
|
|
973beachbum
Senior Associate
Politics Admin
Joined: Dec 17, 2010 16:12:13 GMT -5
Posts: 10,501
|
Post by 973beachbum on Jul 17, 2012 12:28:50 GMT -5
Your 3 examples out of the million or so kids that train to be professional athletes isn't really enough for me to say that every one of them will go off to college and become nobel prize winner. Which wasn't my argument. And you came back with 3 examples of people doing outside the sport and 6 that stayed in the sport. Also, it was 3 out of 7 that left the sport for other things, and 4 out of 7 that stayed. That's nearly 50-50 odds. Not to quibble FB but wasn't Dominique Dawes on that Olympic team? Because I am pretty sure she went on to be an actress on Broadway then the pres of the womens sports foundation and maybe a reporter. Kerri Strug didn't go on to run a gym either. I think she works for the government. I only know it because she had her apartment disigned on an HGTV type show.
|
|
thyme4change
Community Leader
Joined: Dec 26, 2010 13:54:08 GMT -5
Posts: 40,372
|
Post by thyme4change on Jul 17, 2012 12:43:47 GMT -5
Firebird detailed out what all 7 of them now do for a living. They are all perfect and great and all elite athletes are now perfect and great because they are better people than the rest of us.
|
|
Deleted
Joined: Apr 20, 2024 4:56:04 GMT -5
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Jul 17, 2012 12:44:20 GMT -5
Well if you'd write a book about your life you could be better people too you know.
|
|
Sum Dum Gai
Senior Associate
Joined: Aug 15, 2011 15:39:24 GMT -5
Posts: 19,892
|
Post by Sum Dum Gai on Jul 17, 2012 12:54:48 GMT -5
Sorry, I should have been more clear. This sentence from you:
means you aren't the people I'm talking about.
The people I'm talking about are absolutely convinced that their 8 year old is getting a college scholarship based on the activity they're in, so they're willing to sink crazy amounts of money into it. I'm sitting in the stands watching a bunch of 8 year olds stumble around a basketball court, half of them can't even lob the ball high enough to make a basket to begin with, and the dude on my left who's all of 5'6", and his even shorter wife, prattle the entire time about how talented their kid is and how he's going to get a basketball scholarship. Uh huh. My daughters were taller than their son when they were 4... so good luck with that.
If you really want your kid to have a shot at playing past high school, and even in high school to a certain extent, you have to pick a sport that's going to fit their body type. Scrawny kids don't even play high school football. Short kids don't play basketball or volleyball. Tall kids don't make good gymnasts. Etc., etc. There is a sport out there for just about every body type, but that doesn't mean every body type can excel at every sport.
|
|
thyme4change
Community Leader
Joined: Dec 26, 2010 13:54:08 GMT -5
Posts: 40,372
|
Post by thyme4change on Jul 17, 2012 12:59:45 GMT -5
|
|
swamp
Community Leader
Don't be a fool. Call me!
Joined: Dec 19, 2010 16:03:22 GMT -5
Posts: 45,306
|
Post by swamp on Jul 17, 2012 13:01:05 GMT -5
There are a few parents like that in DH's hockey league. They're 5 years old for cripes sake, the kid can barely skate.
|
|
Sum Dum Gai
Senior Associate
Joined: Aug 15, 2011 15:39:24 GMT -5
Posts: 19,892
|
Post by Sum Dum Gai on Jul 17, 2012 13:04:12 GMT -5
The older the girls get the higher that percentage of parents get. Even though some of their daughters are still really mediocre ball players. It's kind of fascinating to watch actually, if you can avoid the accompanying BS.
|
|
Firebird
Senior Associate
Joined: Dec 29, 2010 12:55:06 GMT -5
Posts: 12,448
|
Post by Firebird on Jul 17, 2012 13:04:22 GMT -5
Can't kids do whatever they want, even if we know they aren't going to grow up and be famous for doing it? No. Firebird detailed out what all 7 of them now do for a living. They are all perfect and great and all elite athletes are now perfect and great because they are better people than the rest of us. OMFG. I. Did. Not. Say. That. I know this isn't a life-or-death conversation but can you PLEASE stop misquoting me? It's getting super annoying. All I said was that four of the seven currently work in gymnastics, but three went on to do other things (and 973, yes, she did go on to do other stuff for awhile but I thought she now worked for or ran USA Gymnastics... feel free to fact check me on that one though). And my whole point in pointing this out is that elite gymnasts sometimes do have the ability to go into other fields and become quite successful, and that even the ones who stay in gymnastics don't necessarily do so because they can't think of anything else to do or wouldn't be successful at anything else, but because they actually loved the sport and wanted to spend their life doing it. I just had a problem with you characterizing all elite athletes as washouts who couldn't hack it in other careers. So I pointed out that a) not all elite athletes stay in their sport and make a career of it, and b) even those that did might not have done so out of lack of imagination but because they truly had a hand for it and happened to recognize that early in life. There is absolutely NOTHING wrong with going on to coach in a sport that you played at high levels as a juvenile, and it doesn't mean that you were too stupid to do anything else.
|
|
Sum Dum Gai
Senior Associate
Joined: Aug 15, 2011 15:39:24 GMT -5
Posts: 19,892
|
Post by Sum Dum Gai on Jul 17, 2012 13:07:43 GMT -5
There is if you're female. Then you were too stupid to do anything else so you coach. If you're male and a former football player that coaches for a college you're treated like a god though. Doesn't make a lick of sense, but that's our societal view of it.
|
|
thyme4change
Community Leader
Joined: Dec 26, 2010 13:54:08 GMT -5
Posts: 40,372
|
Post by thyme4change on Jul 17, 2012 13:10:44 GMT -5
Speaking of misquoting...where did I say "all?"
|
|
Firebird
Senior Associate
Joined: Dec 29, 2010 12:55:06 GMT -5
Posts: 12,448
|
Post by Firebird on Jul 17, 2012 13:12:05 GMT -5
You are also assuming that they would be able to make something of themselves by going to college. A lot them don't have a self-identity outside of their olympic sport. Going to school to become a Pharmacist or a Desktop Support analyst is just outside of their ability to think of themselves.
Fine, "a lot" then. My bad. At least I didn't blatantly rephrase your response so it said something you didn't actually say. I find that extremely irritating.
|
|
thyme4change
Community Leader
Joined: Dec 26, 2010 13:54:08 GMT -5
Posts: 40,372
|
Post by thyme4change on Jul 17, 2012 13:17:17 GMT -5
Actually - I never said that you said that all athletes are better than the average human. A person I know IRL said that. However, the attitude that because they pushed themselves at a young age to be athletically successful will likely translate into success as an adult is something that you have stated very clearly here.
|
|
Sum Dum Gai
Senior Associate
Joined: Aug 15, 2011 15:39:24 GMT -5
Posts: 19,892
|
Post by Sum Dum Gai on Jul 17, 2012 13:19:54 GMT -5
Studies back that up though. Kids who participate in sports have higher grades on average and are more likely to go to college.
|
|
Firebird
Senior Associate
Joined: Dec 29, 2010 12:55:06 GMT -5
Posts: 12,448
|
Post by Firebird on Jul 17, 2012 13:20:14 GMT -5
Thyme, if you're going to start a sentence with "Firebird said..." I'd prefer it be an actual restatement of what I said, not your wildly revisionist paraphrase. That's all.
What you said above is akin to me writing "I like bunnies" and you saying in turn "Firebird says that all bunnies are the most awesome things EVER and no other animal is more awesome!!!"
All I'm asking is that you NOT do that. Mostly because it derails the conversation because I have to defend myself against a statement I didn't make.
|
|
midjd
Administrator
Your Money Admin
Joined: Dec 18, 2010 14:09:23 GMT -5
Posts: 17,719
|
Post by midjd on Jul 17, 2012 13:21:51 GMT -5
Correlation /= causation.
Are the overachievers naturally drawn to sports? Or do sports turn mediocre kids into overachievers?
|
|
Firebird
Senior Associate
Joined: Dec 29, 2010 12:55:06 GMT -5
Posts: 12,448
|
Post by Firebird on Jul 17, 2012 13:21:58 GMT -5
Actually - I never said that you said that all athletes are better than the average human.
And not to quibble, but yes - you did say I said this:
Firebird detailed out what all 7 of them now do for a living. They are all perfect and great and all elite athletes are now perfect and great because they are better people than the rest of us.
|
|
swamp
Community Leader
Don't be a fool. Call me!
Joined: Dec 19, 2010 16:03:22 GMT -5
Posts: 45,306
|
Post by swamp on Jul 17, 2012 13:23:22 GMT -5
There is if you're female. Then you were too stupid to do anything else so you coach. If you're male and a former football player that coaches for a college you're treated like a god though. Doesn't make a lick of sense, but that's our societal view of it. Pat Summit was treated pretty well.............
|
|
thyme4change
Community Leader
Joined: Dec 26, 2010 13:54:08 GMT -5
Posts: 40,372
|
Post by thyme4change on Jul 17, 2012 13:23:57 GMT -5
Okay - Dark said...
|
|
thyme4change
Community Leader
Joined: Dec 26, 2010 13:54:08 GMT -5
Posts: 40,372
|
Post by thyme4change on Jul 17, 2012 13:25:29 GMT -5
And, what I said is that you detailed out what they did - which you did a page or 2 ago. And looking at the list of accomplishments of those 7 girls, I can only conclude that they are all doing well and are perfect people. And, given what I know from other athletes, they are all perfect people and better than the GP.
|
|
Sum Dum Gai
Senior Associate
Joined: Aug 15, 2011 15:39:24 GMT -5
Posts: 19,892
|
Post by Sum Dum Gai on Jul 17, 2012 13:26:08 GMT -5
Who knows. However, kids who play sports through their childhood and into high school are more likely to go to college than kids who don't. People with some college or a degree, have lower rates of un/underemployment, than those with no college experience. It's not a huge stretch to say that kids who play sports will do better on average as adults than kids who don't.
I don't think anybody really knows why, but the numbers are there to back a statement like that up. My personal feeling on it is that the self esteem you get from being really good at something is worth more in terms of future success than the discipline you may or may not get from practice.
|
|
thyme4change
Community Leader
Joined: Dec 26, 2010 13:54:08 GMT -5
Posts: 40,372
|
Post by thyme4change on Jul 17, 2012 13:27:15 GMT -5
Wait - are we talking about any 'ol athlete or elite athletes?
|
|
Sum Dum Gai
Senior Associate
Joined: Aug 15, 2011 15:39:24 GMT -5
Posts: 19,892
|
Post by Sum Dum Gai on Jul 17, 2012 13:27:44 GMT -5
True, but she looked like a dude, so my statement stands.
|
|
Firebird
Senior Associate
Joined: Dec 29, 2010 12:55:06 GMT -5
Posts: 12,448
|
Post by Firebird on Jul 17, 2012 13:27:47 GMT -5
Are the overachievers naturally drawn to sports? Or do sports turn mediocre kids into overachievers?
I happen to think that the overachievers are naturally drawn to sports and would have excelled in any discipline, not that sports is a magic formula for people who are mediocre.
That wasn't my argument, however. My entire point was that former elite athletes sometimes stay in their sport as coaches and some go on to do other things and it seems to work out fine for them either way (in general) because they are disciplined, driven people. I don't think the people in the first group lack imagination or the drive to excel in some other field just because they stayed within their sport. Quite possibly, they just weren't ready to retire from the sport they loved and aged out of at nineteen or twenty.
|
|