Jan 04 2009
Kevin Hart Still Doesn’t Get It!
In a follow up story on ESPN’s Outside the Lines today, it was reported that Kevin Hart whose defamed star shown briefly last February when he duped his family, high school coach, his high school and community into believing that he had been offered a scholarship to play football for Cal-Berkley when they hadn’t even talked with him, still hasn’t got the message of what it takes to be a college football player at any level. It could be argued that the fallout from his sad attempt at notoriety has damaged his senses but to further diminish his chances at playing college ball by choosing to miss too many classes to be on the field consistently while attending a junior college this past fall perhaps points to character issues that will plague him his entire life unless they change.
It should be noted that this story is only a more bizarre example of a common occurrence in recruiting. Players, parents and coaches on a far too regular basis violate the rules. The motivation is simply money with a dose of fame added in. It’s a bad combination, particularly if character is lacking. The mantra of doing whatever it takes, legal or not, seems to be becoming the norm rather than the exception.
Kevin, coaches said that you lacked the speed and upper body strength to be a D-1 recruit. If you are skipping classes, you also lack the academic commitment necessary to remain academically eligible in a big school environment. If you do the weight, speed and academic commitment work necessary, only then can you talk about fulfilling your dream of a D-1 spot. If you don’t, you’re false sense of entitlement won’t get you there. Elite players have to be good enough to earn it. Develop the character that motivates you to earn instead of just expect and it will serve you well. This lesson learned could help us all, couldn’t it?
