Military Academies and Professional Athletes

[erpowers]

Should kids who have some dream of playing professional sports be allowed to go to military academies. I am mainly against the idea of allowing kids who want to play professional sports to go to military academies. I contend that these kids get to get some of the best military training and education when they really do not want to be in the military. It seems to me that a kid who really wants to be in the military could miss out and not be able to go to a military academy due to a kid who wants to play professional sports. I realize that the military is not losing much by allowing these kids to play professional sports after they attending military academies in that they do have to do certain things for the military. However, I would not have a problem with the military telling these athletes "you knew it was a military academy so do you four years and then you can play professional sports." In addition what if a kid only signs a contract to play for a minor league team. If you would like to read a story on this today's edition of the USA Today has the story on the front page of its sports section.

[jody]

1. Ask Roger Staubach.

:hi:

[bluestateguy]

2. The academies want these people

Because they are free positive advertising for their institutions. David Robinson was the best recruiting tool the Navy could have, and when the basketball team did well, it raised the profile of the Academy.

[Captain Hilts]

3. Robinson also physically outgrew most duty in the navy.

He was a great ad. And he served time in the reserves.

What the military needs to do is STOP using NAPS - Naval Academy Prep School - for athletes. NAPS was designed to reaquaint sailors who pass the entrance test with classroom learning skills. It's NOT supposed to be for athletes that don't meet entrance requirements.

Army and Air Force do the same thing. This practice must STOP.

[bluestateguy]

4. Are you the real Mookie Wilson?

I've always thought you would have been safe at first even if Bucker had fielded that grounder.

[Captain Hilts]

5. That's exactly correct BlueStateGuy!! Stanley didn't break for the bag.

I woulda beaten Buckner to first.

Bum rap on Buckner.

[nickgutierrez]

7. Buckner got a bum rap for several reasons

Not the least of which being that there was still a Game 7 after that happened.

[Captain Hilts]

6. No, I'm not the real Mookie. (nt)