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| Picture by Scott Strazante, Chicago Tribune |
Last year our traditional opponent, Mooseheart, enrolled several students from Sudan. There was no secret that Mooseheart had done this. There was an article about it in the New York Times in February 2011: Long Arms Reach for the Rim NYT February 19, 2011. The IHSA ruled these boys ineligible for 2011-12 school year, and they sat out sports all of last year. This year, they have started to participate in sports. I saw one of them run cross country at our Sectional. His name is Wal Khat and he finished 3rd in the sectional in a time of 16:54. That is a very good, but not great high school cross country performance.
Sadly the impact of several large basketball players is a lot bigger deal than one cross country runner, and the IHSA reversed its stand and has now ruled all these athletes ineligible after a protest from Hinckley Big Rock High School. Hinckley Big Rock is the traditional Class A basketball power in that area and has so far successfully argued that Moosehearts ability to attract these players from Africa has given Mooseheart an unfair advantage over Hinckley Big Rock that can only attract students from within its school district.
This year we have scheduled Mooseheart to play North Shore on Saturday, December 15th at 3:00 pm in the Mac Gym. We were looking forward to competing against all of their players. But we will see what happens.
I know this is an complicated situation. But my initial reaction is ruling these boys completely ineligible from participating in any sports at Mooseheart seems small minded. I am reaching out to Mooseheart today to say we would love to play their entire team on December 15th. I would love to hear your thoughts on the matter.
Understand both sides, but I side with the kids from Sudan & Mooseheart High School. They've done their time by not being able to play sports in the 2011-2012 athletic year. They're full-time students and the school has proven they're into developing the whole child, not just the basketball side. No kid, not matter what country they're from, should have to sit out more than one year of a co-curricular activity like basketball.
ReplyDeleteHinkley's AD & basketball coach is being shortsighted. Putting possible championship glory ahead of human development. Emphasizing a possible outcome over the process that shapes you more than a championship. He needs to ask his players if they would relish the opportunity to play against Moosehearts' complete team. Most competitive athletes love the challenge of playing against top level competition. It helps them measure and define themselves. Sometimes it helps them go to a place they never thought they could go.
I once wrote a blog called "Defining Moments" - http://bit.ly/eICC04 My GU14 soccer team faced a team in the playoffs that they had lost to in the regular season 6-1. An excerpt:
"Defining moments come about throughout our lifetime. They let us know how much we have evolved, what we are capable of doing and what we need to do to get better. It can be a test, a game, a performance, a speech, etc. Some dread these moments, some embrace them. Ladies - this game is a defining moment in your young lives. You might not remember this game 10 years from now, but it's a challenge that can help shape you in the years to come. This is the one team that I wanted us to play again. A true competitor wants to go up against the best."
I also shared John Wooden's six statements on Competitive Greatness with them. You don't achieve competitive greatness by playing chump teams, it comes from being challenged by other great teams. That's where Hinckley's coach is missing the boat. He's depriving his own team of the possibility of a moment they'll remember for a lifetime, whether they won or lost a possible match-up with Mooseheart. Hope the IHSA comes to their senses and that your school gets to play against Mooseheart's complete team.
Enjoy Wooden's thoughts on achieving Competitive Greatness -
1. Have courage and do not worry. If you do your best, never lose your temper, and never be out-fought or out-hustled, you have nothing to worry about. Without faith and courage you are lost.
2. Have respect without fear for every opponent and confidence without cockiness in regards to yourself.
3. Think all of the time. Study your opponent and yourself all of the time for the purpose of increasing your effectiveness and diminishing his.
4. Never be a spectator while in the game. Be doing something at all times, even if it is only being a decoy.
5. Team Work is essential. Unselfish team play and team spirit is one of the foremost essentials for success when any group are working together.
6. Be at your best when your best is needed. Enjoy the thrill from a tough battle.
Comment from former Mooseheart Athletic Director, Chris Maxedon:
ReplyDelete"I used to be the Athletic Director at Mooseheart! Never, at any point, did we ever try to recruit kids to campus to make the athletic teams better, only to make a child's life better! If they happened to have some athletic ability, that was a bonus. With 120 kids in the high school. you needed all the athletes you could get. I am very disappointed that the IHSA would intervene here. Their by-laws state that transfers from school to school must sit out 30 days. These kids sat out an entire year to get the opportunity to play organized basketball. I hope the boys get to play tomorrow and perform to the best of their ability, win or lose. BTW Coach Ahrens is a GREAT guy and truly cares about bettering kids lives!"
The judges ruling for a temporary injunction will come down at 3:30 CST. We will see what happens.
ReplyDeleteAnd the judge rules, the kids get to play for the time being. They defeat Westminster Christian tonight 53-21. That pushes their record to 3-2. We will see if they are still playing next week.
ReplyDelete