Athletic recruitment environment unhealthy

There is no doubt (as the introduction to many columns, articles, speeches, long-winded rants and intellectual debates have begun) that IU’s athletic history has been storied, successful and at the very least, exciting to watch. \nWe look to the future with high hopes, wanting to continue achieving excellence and always, always, always concentrating on winning. Hence, on what is becoming an intense and embattled national stage, recruitment for college athletics is a primary focus for universities across the nation. And as NCAA sports begin to resemble the pros, superstar recruits are coveted almost as much as the next level’s multi-millionaire players.\nIt is the development of the tooth-and-nail style of recruitment that had IU fans jubilant when Eric Gordon retracted his commitment to Illinois to become a Hoosier after the naming of Kelvin Sampson as head coach. Similarly, the commitment of long-sought recruit Devin Ebanks to join Sampson’s squad announced Saturday is perceived as a huge step toward future success. \nIt is also this competitive market that has most likely left many IU fans down after two key baseball recruits, Brock Huntzinger and Kyle Leiendecker, were selected in a recent Major League Baseball draft after being faced with the decision of whether or not to bypass IU and go directly to the pros.\nThese athletes have made major headlines. But the unseen and perhaps major difficulty with the bar fight-type atmosphere surrounding recruitment is the potential set of dangerous and unwanted effects on young athletes. Consider, for example, the hype that each year surrounds the Little League World Series which has the sports world examining young competitors and attempting to predict their futures. Is it healthy for the likes of Danny Almonte – who in 2001 was exploited by adults to compete in a league he was too old for – and his teammates to be dubbed at an early age “The Baby Bronx Bombers”?\nAn American Academy of Pediatrics study reaffirmed in May 2006 that along with physical dangers such as stunted growth and nutritional problems, some young athletes suffer psychological effects. Such effects are the result of an intense, must-win environment, unrealistic parental expectations, and exploitation of their abilities for extrinsic gain. These findings put a damper on the glory stories that break across tops of newspapers across the country each day concerning the achievement of top athletes. \nIU sports fans are not to be faulted for their happiness that the crimson and cream will now be worn by great athletes such as Gordon and Ebanks. But as the headlines are read about their success and homage is paid to their early training, it might be wise to consider the effects the recruiting market has had on so many athletes who came up just short along the way. Recent public service announcements from the NCCA proudly tout, “There are over 380,000 student athletes, and most of us go pro in something other than sports.” Perhaps coaches, recruiters, athletic directors, parents and fans across the nation should remember that.