Chasing A Dream

Tiger Woods, LeBron James, Jack Nickalus, Adrian Gonzalez

Bill Gates, Steve Jobs, Mark Zuckerberg, Oprah

What do all of these people have in common?

Yes, they are all famous and they make millions (if not billions), but more importantly they all skipped a portion of their college experience in order to pursue a greater goal.  Each of these individuals made the decision to skip out on college, but nobody seems to be suffering from their decisions.



Why then, does the entire sports world (and beyond) feel the need to comment on the status of the University of Kentucky's basketball program?

We live in a country that at one time supported the idea of an "American Dream." So why now are we trying to define what is and is not an acceptable dream?  Anthony Davis has had one of the most impressive college basketball seasons in the history of the sport.  Why can't he leave school early and pursue his dream of playing in the NBA?  What are people so worked up about?

I cannot stand watching announcers say that the "kids should stay in school."  People like Doug Gottlieb make it seem like there will be such a negative impact on the sporting world if these kids go pro.  I firmly believe that he is wrong.  Such a small percentage of athletes have an opportunity to go pro in their sport.  Why when the opportunity arises, are we telling them to not achieve their dream?

I am a college athlete, playing D3 baseball.  I think I am correct in saying that most of my teammates have an understanding that we will not make the MLB.  But if one of my teammates had an opportunity to skip their senior seasons for an opportunity to play at the highest level, I would support him 100% to chase that dream.

Some people argue that allowing kids to leave school early and enter the pros is setting a standard that academics don't matter.

I argue that if we tell kids that they have to stay in school we are setting a standard that dreams don't matter.  Some of the best and brightest in entertainment, technology, and athletics all pursued their dreams and things have turned out ok.

It's a personal choice as to how you chase your dreams.  I am not going to stand in the way of someones dream.

I was once told, "Sometimes when you reach for the stars, you only grab a piece of the sky."

Let's not limit the ability of athletes to reach, by cutting off their arm.