Let's look at the CBS Sports, Gary Parrish article 'Jerron Love is top 8th grader, says his dad' posted on CBSSports.com soon after the release of the Wall Street Journal publication by Scott Cacciola 'Can't Miss Basketball Prodigy- Just Ask Dad'.
Gary Parrish gives credit to Mr. Cacciola for a great story and then offers this advice, "I would encourage every father of a young basketball player to read it (Can't Miss Basketball Prodigy -Just Ask Dad) because it's a nice guide to how not to handle a boy's amateur career."
I'm not offended nor is something wrong with what Mr. Parrish wrote. He actually touched on an interesting topic.
Mr. Parrish takes excerpts from WSJ , 'Can't Miss Basketball Prodigy- Just Ask Dad'.
"[The website] Middle School Elite celebrates Jerron Love as a 5-foot-7 playmaker and the country's top eighth-grader. His potential? Limitless. Just ask the guy who runs the site—his dad. "I'm the Wizard of Oz, the man behind the curtain," Jerry Love said.
I said, "I'm the Wizard of OZ, the man behind the curtain" jokingly to Scott when we met. But, Clark Francis is the Wizard of Oz behind the curtain.
Mr. Parrish says, "If you didn't catch that, here's the deal: A man named Jerry Love started a website that ranks middle school basketball players, and he's declared his son, Jerron Love, the nation's top-ranked eighth-grade prospect.
You're correct, I ranked my son country's top 8th grader. Do you suppose he's No.50?
"This is ridiculous on lots of levels not the least of which is that his son is a 15-year-old eighth-grader and shorter than me"
You're saying Jerron's older than most 8th graders and has difficulty competing because, he's "shorter" than you (Mr. Parrish).
Size doesn't matter! It's absurd that there's hardly no on-line national representation for grammar school student-athletes.
Mr. Parrish continues "and it'll almost certainly do more harm than good." In other words, "don't train too serious and definitely don't exploit it. Let us do it, if at all."
Mr. Parrish goes further, " Love is now a national name and not for good reasons." We hope, Jerron Love, being a "national name" will inspire others to reach for their goals.
"He'll have incredible pressure on him throughout high school and most likely be a "failure" relative to the expectations his father has placed upon him." "Failure" is an inability to perform. So you can't mean Jerron. Besides I never said Jerron was college basketball or NBA bound.
"And for what? Because the dad wanted to hype his son?" said Mr. Parrish. Instead of the word "hype" I prefer "early exposure" to spare youngsters from showcasing in obscurity.
"Eighth-graders don't need hype. They need parents who love them and teach them and shield them from things like this." I loved them, taught them and shielded them from the nasty politics of some youth scouting and ranking services.
"If the kid's legitimate, we would've all found out in proper time." When exactly is the proper time? We believe legitimacy is "emphasizing skills" as taught by James Naismith, who stood 5'10" 1/2.
"But nobody needed a website started by Jerry Love to tell us Jerron Love is the best from sea to shining sea." I'd have to disagree, speaking for hundreds of thousands of readers following Middle School Elite. I believe we do more good than harm.
"Guess who needed it less than anybody? Jerron Love" Really?? Now our struggle is for players like Demetrius Walker and Andre Allen.
"Make no mistake, I wish the kid luck. You call it "luck", I call it "life".
"But I'm not optimistic, and his father isn't helping. Lastly, thanks Mr. Parrish for your pessimism. I'm pretty sure Jerron would be delighted to play you one-on-one. LoL
Stay tuned as we bring you remarks from ESPN Eamonn Brennan 'Today in Depressing Hoop News' concerning the WSJ article 'Can't Miss Basketball Prodigy-Just Ask Dad.'
