Following the first round of the NFL draft last Thursday, the lives of many young men were changed forever.
Kyler Murray became the shortest quarterback player ever to be taken first overall, while Devin White defied the odds and became a first round draft pick from the smallest of towns in southern Louisiana. Despite all the miraculous storylines that stemmed from the 2019 NFL draft, the most important statistic people should remember is that this draft featured 18 players who were former high school track and field athletes.
As a young adult, I have often dreamt of raising the next Stephen Curry or Lionel Messi. Spending hours with my son out back on a soccer goal or out front in the driveway getting shots up, all in hopes of pushing them in a specific sport to become a professional. In reality, this is the opposite of how anyone should raise their sports driven child.
Allowing a child to try out different sports and interests is vital to his or her growth. Playing different sports in high school or college allows athletes to experience as much as they can through their seasons. These experiences aid athletes in becoming more comfortable in high-stakes situations and expanding their points of reference for in game situations. With a broader view of athleticism, strategy and competition, this information can become invaluable.
If you don’t believe me that athletes can gain all sorts of great knowledge by playing a plethora of different sports, then take it from some of the most successful athletes in professional sports. Before battling in the trenches for the Houston Texans, three time defensive player of the year, JJ Watt, spent his high school springs and falls on the baseball diamond and on the basketball court. Before becoming a full-time football player at the University of Wisconsin, Watt was a three letter athlete in high school.
Four time MVP and NBA Hall of Famer, Wilt Chamberlain went to Kansas on a scholarship in both track and basketball. Chamberlain later offered careers in boxing and football because of the promise he showed in the sports in high school.
Finally, widely regarded as the greatest athlete that ever lived, Bo Jackson developed his speed, power, agility and hand-eye coordination playing both football and baseball from high school all the way through college. Jackson worked hard and developed his skill so well he went on to play professionally in both the NFL and MLB.
From a simple, non-contact sport such as running, to the most rough and tumble of sports in football and basketball, the greatest of professional athletes honed their skills in multiple sports. Now your kid may not grow up to be Tom Brady or Sidney Crosby, but putting them through the ringer of multiple sports will not only grow them as athletes, but as people as well.
By John Pullano, Opinion Editor
pullanjj18@bonaventure.edu
