One of my favorite Rock and Roll songs is the old Beach Boys classic, “Be True to Your School.” I love the song because it captures a spirit of community and team that seems to have disappeared with youthful innocence.
I believe every high school athlete should have an opportunity to compete. But I also believe with that opportunity to be a part of the team there is a responsibility. In most sports such as football, basketball or baseball, that responsibility goes unquesitoned. If your team has a game scheduled, you show up.
But individual sports such as tennis and golf seem to raise a different set of questions as to where an athlete’s loyalty lies.
Recently Rocky Bayou Christian golfer Sean Einhaus won the District 1-1A individual title, but passed up on the opportunity to play at the regional tournament. It’s likely that Einhaus, one of the top junior golfers in Germany, who is currently an exchange student, would have won the region. He could have followed that with an appearance in this week’s state tournament.
Instead, rather than compete in last week’s region, Einhaus opted to play at a larger junior tournament feature some of the top players in the country.
In my one meeting with Einhaus he impressed me as a sincere and fine young man. And honestly, if I were in his shoes, I can’t say I wouldn’t have done the same thing.
I think the opportunity to be a part of a team could be a great avenue in the experience of an exchange student. Any exchange student, no matter how highly he or she might be ranked in their native country at their sport, should be allowed to play for the school they attend in the states.
However, there are other talented junior golfers and tennis players in the area that have taken a different approach. Most of these athletes chose to compete on their respective junior circuits rather than joining their high school team. They make that decision to substitute their prep career and all of the shared joys and sorrows of a team to get a jump on what they hope will be a professional future.
There is no decision to make as to whether or not they will compete representing their school or themselves. They don’t have to worry about not having an “I” in “TEAM” because they made their choice.
The biggest problem I have with Einhaus’ decision is by opting to play in the bigger tournament he spoiled it for someone else. Maybe another golfer did get to take his place in region. But by the same token, if Einhaus hadn’t played in the district tournament another kid who had worked hard, probably for his team and school, would have had the joy of winning a district championship.
Maybe it’s time to take a stand and keep the “I” out of team.
What do you think?
There may be no “I” in team, but you can spell me.