boonecountygirl
Wiley Coyote
hal
Herman Cain
Mark Pellin
Air Time For CMS
Michael Jordan and the Bobcats drove the funding lane Monday with a slamdunk of a PR move, cutting one whopper of a check to help Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools fill its pay-to-play equity gap for middle school sports. WCNC runs down the details here:
CMS Schools Superintendent Dr. Peter Gorman said, “This gift will mean students can play, not just those families that can afford an athletics fee, but all students. It means equal opportunity and access.”
Team owner Michael Jordan and the Bobcats donated $250,000 to middle school sports.
“It’s really about who we are as an organization, about Michael wanting to connect back to his home roots in north Carolina. It’s about providing an opportunity that he had as a young person going through middle school and having the opportunity to play three sports,” said the teams COO Fred Whitfield.
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The money makes sure middle schoolers on free and reduced lunch will not have to pay to play.
Last year half of all middle school students qualified for that program.
More power to Jordan for pitching in, but his largess is already begging the question: What about next year? Here’s a crazy notion. How about if every kid who wants to participate in school athletics (it’s a $50 hit per sport in middle school; $100 in high school) finds a part-time job, and at that price it could be an ultra part-time one, to foot the bill? Even with the sluggish economy and high unemployment, there are yards to be cut, leaves to be raked, pets to be walked. You get the idea.
If a kid wants to play a sport bad enough to rack the time and effort to make the team, he/she should be equally willing to pay the price off the field for the chance. Last time I checked, playing sports was a privilege, not a right.
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Mark, I understand your point, and yes–kids should be out there earning money to pay for the things they want or want to do.
But, I’m sure a lot of kids were unprepared for the “pay to play” and didn’t plan on having to fork out the fifty dollars. You are right, next year there probably won’t be a middle school “bail out” like this, but the kids will know that it’s in place and can plan accordingly.
The question that needs to be asked is what about the high school players this year? They didn’t get a bail out, so here’s the chance for other local businesses to help a local school, or schools, get through this year. I’ll bet there will be room for a huge sign at the stadium with the sponsers’ logo/information on it……..heck I’d sell space on the kids’ uniforms if I had to….
Kudos to MJ and the Bobcats for continuing in the spirit of local businesses supporting tyouth sports.
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Actually, it is against to law for most middle school children to work for pay. Thank you Federal Busy Bodies of America!
Go MJ!
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Good point about the timing, Pat. Also a nice idea for ad space on uniforms; but recall when Gorman first arrived, he nixed an offer from Nike, who wanted to sponsor Independence HS football in exchange for some corporate branding. Can’t recall the exact figure, but I think it was in the six-figure range. Not sure if CMS brass has had a change of heart on that front, or not. I think there are already a couple schools that have stadium features – press box, score board, etc. – sponsored by local businesses with prominent ad displays.
Kim – I was thinking more of off-the-books, odd jobs around the neighborhood or on the fly; but a you raise a valid point – wouldn’t want the IRS coming after any MS ballers.
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I’m so naive it shames me sometimes. When I first heard of the gift, I thought great, none of the athletes will have to pay–but no, only those on F/RL are going to get the gift. F/RL where there may be as much as 50% fraud from those that apply and get that designation.
Wouldn’t it be more equitable and fair to take the money and use it for ALL athletes–and half the cost each to $25 for middle school and $50 for high school? For those still challenged work out some loan and repayment from a fund created with the gift…..
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Call me crazy, but my brother was heavily involved in fort mill high schools marching band and those kids were constantly doing fund raisers to pay for trips, uniforms, instruments, etc. Seems like selling some fruit baskets would be a quick way to earn a meesly $50 or $100 dollars.
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Everyone has raised good points on this issue, fundraisers, selling fruit baskets, spreading the “gift” to all the students across the board. Sigh, we should be in office….hint…hint…hint…
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