Dr Wright's telling remark: Athletes are our future

[Don1]

Track schedule too rigorous for juniors, argues Dr Wright

Dania Bogle

Tuesday, April 06, 2010

DOCTOR of Sports Medicine Paul Wright has charged that the that the Inter-Secondary Schools Sports Association (ISSA) needs to review the schedule of events of the annual Boys' & Girls' Athletic Championships which he claims may contribute to over-work of junior athletes.

"If we are talking like they (athletes) are the future of the country, we have to think like they are the future of the country," said Dr Wright who was addressing reporters and editors at the Observer's weekly Monday Exchange at the newspaper's headquarters yesterday.


He noted that when the schedule of events for the ISSA-run Championships is made, no doctor of sports medicine is on hand to offer advice on what is appropriate and what sometimes leads to high stress events being scheduled too close together.

Clarke, who cited the Class One Boys' 100m and long jump as an example, pointed out that the schedule of the 1996 Atlanta Olympic Games was changed to accommodate Michael Johnson doing the 200m/400m double.

Meanwhile, Dr Wright was stubborn in his view that the four-day Boys' & Girls' championships and the annual Carifta Track and Field Championships which follows the weekend after, are too close.

"We take them to four days of 'Champs' and one week later we take them to four days of Carifta and I don't understand how any parent can do that," he said.

He added that while some juniors go on to become stars on the world stage, many fall along the wayside.

A shift in dates of one of the events to allow athletes a break was necessary, he added.

Wright added that while he watched the Carifta Games which ended in the Cayman Islands yesterday, it was clear to him that the athletes were tired.

Calabar High School track coach Michael Clarke, who adressed the Monday Exchange as well, supported the views of Dr Wright.

[Mosiah]

we emphasize sports over education.

[Historian]

Thanks For Posting This

Meanwhile, Dr Wright was stubborn in his view that the four-day Boys' & Girls' championships and the annual Carifta Track and Field Championships which follows the weekend after, are too close.

"We take them to four days of 'Champs' and one week later we take them to four days of Carifta and I don't understand how any parent can do that," he said. He added that while some juniors go on to become stars on the world stage, many fall along the wayside.

Wright added that while he watched the Carifta Games which ended in the Cayman Islands yesterday, it was clear to him that the athletes were tired.

I had every intention of posting this news report, but got bogged down in discussions in other threads here. Thanks also for highlighting that crucial part of Dr. Wright’s statement.

Now, to expand on the quoted section above, how can anyone not see the commonsense in Wright’s view that Champs and Carifta are too close? The simple truth is that, as in so many other things, there is a lack of planning by those in leadership positions, and of course many coaches, eager to make a name, make a bad situation worse by overworking their athletes!!

(A similar thing, as many of us are aware, happens in the NCAA. However, this doesn’t justify anything, and Jamaican adults have to start protecting our future – that is, our young ones.)

I read a snide remark on the track and field forum next door by a poster who asked why did the Carifta Games organizers have to schedule their events so close to Boys & Girls’ Champs. Since that poster normally knows a lot about track and field, I have to assume that he is aware that Carifta has always been on the Easter weekend, a time which, for obvious reasons, has proved beneficial to track and field fans, regardless of the territory in which the Games is being held. The Boys & Girls’ Champs authorities know this Carifta Games schedule as well, because it has been in place since the very early 1970s!

And speaking of the “forum next door,” views similar to Dr. Wright’s have been expressed repeatedly over the past several years, but nothing has been done by Jamaica’s sports authorities to make effective changes.

[Historian]

Misinterpreting Dr. Wright?

"If we are talking like they (athletes) are the future of the country, we have to think like they are the future of the country," said Dr Wright who was addressing reporters and editors at the Observer's weekly Monday Exchange at the newspaper's headquarters yesterday.

Don1, in defense of Paul Wright, I don’t think he was trying to prioritize sports over education. As much as I share the view that education should be foremost (and I suspect that, as a medical doctor, Dr. Wright shares this view), I suspect that we are misreading the good doctor’s intentions .

In other words, those athletes are indeed the future of our country, as they are among the youngsters who, after gaining scholarships to colleges, are expected to become educated, career-driven adults. Even if they do not, as teens, they will be the future adults making decisions in their homes and/or communities. I think, therefore, that Dr. Wright was focusing on the fact that our teens, who are indeed the future of our country, are being physical abused through this irrational workload. He is in charge of sports medicine, and since these young athletes fall within his portfolio (so to speak), it’s easy to understand the relevance and why he made the statement.

So, I think I can understand his use of the phrase “they (athletes) are the future of our country,” a phrase, I might add, that is almost cliche in many countries. It’s coincidental that these particular words were uttered at a time when we here on the Reggae Boyz Forum have been debating the relative importance of sports and education in Jamaican society.

[Don1]

Don1, in defense of Paul Wright, I don’t think he was trying to prioritize sports over education. As much as I share the view that education should be foremost (and I suspect that, as a medical doctor, Dr. Wright shares this view), I suspect that we are misreading the good doctor’s intentions .

In other words, those athletes are indeed the future of our country, as they are among the youngsters who, after gaining scholarships to colleges, are expected to become educated, career-driven adults. Even if they do not, as teens, they will be the future adults making decisions in their homes and/or communities. I think, therefore, that Dr. Wright was focusing on the fact that our teens, who are indeed the future of our country, are being physical abused through this irrational workload. He is in charge of sports medicine, and since these young athletes fall within his portfolio (so to speak), it’s easy to understand the relevance and why he made the statement.

So, I think I can understand his use of the phrase “they (athletes) are the future of our country,” a phrase, I might add, that is almost cliche in many countries. It’s coincidental that these particular words were uttered at a time when we here on the Reggae Boyz Forum have been debating the relative importance of sports and education in Jamaican society.

I understand your points and considered them when thinking about the quotation.

I believe the quote is a Freudian Slip.... not to be taken literally to mean that athletes & athletics are THE future of the country...but...given all the outsized hoopla over our sporting accomplishments.... even sensible people's thinking can become irrational leading to statements like this. Problem is .... ACTIONS or lack thereof are informed by such sentiments.

We demand & expect high...even world class standards from our student-athletes. Conversely we easily accept mediocre standards from our students in academics ..... a self-fulfilling prophecy.

That's a national failing.

[MdmeX]

Quote from Historian

"I read a snide remark on the track and field forum next door by a poster who asked why did the Carifta Games organizers have to schedule their events so close to Boys & Girls’ Champs. Since that poster normally knows a lot about track and field, I have to assume that he is aware that Carifta has always been on the Easter weekend, a time which, for obvious reasons, has proved beneficial to track and field fans, regardless of the territory in which the Games is being held. The Boys & Girls’ Champs authorities know this Carifta Games schedule as well, because it has been in place since the very early 1970s!"

=========================================

That's exactly what I know. Carifta and Easter go together, like bun 'n cheese

[Assasin]

that is the point Mdmx. I don't believe as a society we value athletics more but we accept supstandard in too may disciplines including education. I don't hink it is any different in the US and England for that matter where everybody want to be a basketball player or a football player. Been a decent basket baller didn't stop little Barry from becoming President.

[ReggaeMike]

that is the point Mdmx. I don't believe as a society we value athletics more but we accept supstandard in too may disciplines including education. I don't hink it is any different in the US and England for that matter where everybody want to be a basketball player or a football player. Been a decent basket baller didn't stop little Barry from becoming President.

But little Barry has excellent command of English! W. didn't, but at least had excellent command of Spanish so he he could speak one language well.

[Mosiah]

champs has always been one week before easter. so there! which event will change its schedule?

[Don1]

But little Barry has excellent command of English! W. didn't, but at least had excellent command of Spanish so he he could speak one language well.

If people refuse to face facts...arguing is pointless....unless it's a slow day.

In refusing to face the harsh facts Jamaica will never solve the problem of educational underachievement..... but we'll get nuff sporting glory

[Assasin]

That is true but the fact is in America in my opinion is similar value system. We do have those that command english as well but as Mdmex rightly said we have dropped standard.

My former Schoolmate Kingley Fowly Chin who was top scorer in Dcup, and on my school TT team and was a top quadrile dancer in Ja is now a leading specialist in his field. My friend Derrick Miller who fell in 800 meter race in class 2 got up and ran down the field to come second quick track the next year and is now a very good medical doctor, My Schoolmate Delroy Haye was the cricket captain who made the headley cup final and musician in training is now a teacher at Camperdown and got the chance to present Usain Bolt offical picture on his return from Bejing as he excell in his artwork.

Playing sports and idolising sport stars shouldn't be an excuse but should use to enhance academics.

[Assasin]

And even if we solve the education underachievement we will still be getting sporting glory.

[Sickko]

We? We who? MunroE

[Sickko]

Actually CARIFTA is THREE days and not four and athletes can only do two events and a relay

[Sickko]

Actually the JAAA make up their calendar, especially for the Juniors based on the dates of CARIFTA