Five Reads For Friday May 8th 2015

Here are my Five Reads for Friday. Warning: the first two are important reads but kind of sad. The last couple are more uplifting and there is even some redemption.

There is more talk than ever before at our school about playing at the next level, which usually means playing collegiately. Some of our students even dream of playing at the prestigious NCAA Division I level. I am glad that more athletes from North Shore are playing or want to play collegiately. But sometimes you need to be careful what you wish for. Playing in the best program for you means playing for a team, a coach and a school where your contributions and effort will be valued and developed, and they get that your first job is to be a student. That has little to do with whether you are at a DI, DII, or DIII program. Sadly there are way too many collegiate programs whose values and culture have little to do with talent development and support let alone education. Here is one article about a type of coach you want to avoid. Beth Alford Sullivan was appointed the new Head Coach Track and Field and Cross Country Coach at the University of Tennessee and almost immediately cut 6 freshman scholarship athletes before they had even competed for the University. Not only were they cut, they were not allowed to use athletic facilities to even stay in shape. As I have heard many of these types of coaches say, "they are paid to win" and to them this was just a business decision. If this is happening in a minor sport like track and field, imagine what goes on in the major sports.
Rocky Flop: The Story of How the Tennessee Track Team Discarded Its Top Recruits -- The Shadow League

Madison Halloran seemed to have it all. She was a top student in the midst of her freshman year at the University of Pennsylvania where she ran on the track team. She had a highly decorated high school athletic career. She came from a very close family. She grew up in a wonderful community, and she was quite photogenic. However, despite the beautiful pictures of her on social media and impressive personal achievements, she began struggling with mental health issues at college culminating with her committing suicide shortly after returning to school from Christmas break. Here is her story.
SPLIT Madison Halloran -- ESPN

From now on, I will give this article to every student who ever asks to miss practice to study. Hint: exercise after studying helps retention.
Hit The Gym After Studying to Boost Recall -- Scientific American

This article is about one of the most famous sports pictures ever taken. Fascinating how it came to be.
Fire Raged They Played On, and the Photo Still Beguiles -- NYT

This week another sports hero disappointed us as it appears likely that Tom Brady had those football deflated to help his performance. I hope Brady comes forward now and takes the wrap instead of just blaming it on the equipment guys. This article, though, is about another fallen hero -- Barry Bonds. Bonds has become a big biker -- who'd a thunk? And now he uses his millions to support women's professional bicycling. Good for him. Maybe there's hope for A-Rod and Lance.
Barry Bonds is Shifting Gears -- ESPN -- Bonnie D. Ford