Kevin Hart - An Example For All

I'm addicted to ESPN's Pardon The Interruption. The whole concept is perfect for me - all the sports news of the day delivered in a conversational form with witty banter, in less than 30 minutes. It is GREAT! This week, one of the stories was of this Kevin Hart kid, who, in front of local media, family and friends, chose Cal over Oregon as his college choice for football. Then, as the story developed, and both schools released statements that they had never heard of the kid, he claimed that he as duped by a "middle man" who was his liaison with these schools. Further investigation led the kid to admit he made the whole thing up. "I wanted to play D-I ball more than anything. When I realized that wasn't going to happen, I made up what I wanted to be reality."

If this is the first time you've heard of this story, take a few seconds to watch the video below.

How sad.  I really feel for this kid, and I have to admit I fit into the sector of society that probably pushed him to do this.  We (and by we, I really mean me and all those crazy sports fans out there), put so much hype on National Signing Day and Verbal Commitments, that we push kids and parents to this type of craziness.  It truly is sad.

Following with this theme, the Indiana Hoosiers went to Champaign Illinois to play the Illili in a game that was bigger than the normal Big10 rivalry.  Indiana's freshman star, Eric Gordon, had verbally committed to Illinois last year, only to renege and sign with the Hoosiers.  The crowed booed every time he touched the ball and cheered whenever he screwed up. I found it interesting that they were more focused on booing the opponent than they were cheering on their own team.  Near the end of the double-overtime game, fans threw beads and ice into the courtside section of Indiana fans that included Gordon's parents.  

I have blogged earlier of the passion that sports brings to its fans.  These two examples are the negative aspects of that passion.  I hope, for my kids sake, that I do a better job of teaching how to be passionate in a good way.