[sports]

		Putting The Student Before the Athlete
		by Seti Matua

I have been a freelance writer now for several years. It’s no surprise that a good portion of my experience in the world of creative writing and journalism is in the field of sports. To clarify, I write about sports not because I was an exceptional athlete (I was by and large a rather average one in my youth), but rather because of the predominant role that sports has played in my life.

I grew up playing sports. I dabbled in all of them. Football, basketball, baseball, tennis, track, field events, volleyball, rugby, golf, soccer and even the less celebrated sports of badminton and table tennis. Ask anyone who has seen me dribble a ball or swing at one and they will all tell you that I was never very good at any one sport. I was particularly inept when measured against the sporting prowess of my older brother who was born a natural athlete but bore the mantle with reticence. No matter how much I tried to be as good as my brother, my athletic achievements always fell below the measurements and standards set by our peers and others outside the irrefutable safety of our home. Thankfully, my pressure never came from my brother or my parents. Instead, the pressure often came from exterior sources but more often, the demands to excel in athletics were self-imposed.

Some of my closest friends and many more whom I have met covered over the years whose athletic talents far exceed my own will relate an experience similar to my own. Their parents, like my own, spent thousands of dollars and countless hours on the sidelines or in the stands, cheering us on and supporting us at every event that they participated in during their formative years.
As a volunteer coach in recreational and community leagues and as a sports writer, I have witnessed first hand a problematic situation that plagues any parent whether they are Polynesian, palagi, Hispanic or African-American. There is a constant, sometimes maniacal desire to push children to excel in sports. Many times that desire for children to become a “Super Athlete” comes at the expense of a child’s academic achievements.

In some cases the academic accomplishment of a scholastic sibling can be overshadowed and oftentimes overlooked because parents may be more emotionally involved in the pursuits and achievements of an athletic sibling.

A Pacific Eye reader emailed editor ‘Anapesi Kaili recently, imploring her to do some research and provide insight on the enigma of parents who appear to support athletic children more than academic siblings. Many youths who do either do not excel at sports or have more of an inclination towards academia and the arts feel shunned, sometimes ostracized by their parents. In many instances, the parent unknowingly applauds and dotes over an athlete, while unintentionally brushing aside the accomplishments of the academician.

What is it that causes parents, specifically Polynesian parents to place such an emphasis on athletics?

The answer to that question is thorny at best and can only be left to personal interpretation because truthfully, no two families are the same. But there are some similarities in the collective experience of Polynesian athletes and scholars in the fact that our fascination with sports leads to our love of competition, prestige and the fundamental reason why our Polynesian parents or grandparents live and thrive in their adoptive countries – success.
Countless pieces have been written and numerous studies have been conducted on the phenomenon that is sports, specifically, sports in relation to academics. Today more than ever, the allure of athletic scholarships and the accessibility that those scholarships to young people has become a multi-billion dollar-a-year industry.

I took the opportunity to speak with a person who deals first hand with some of this generations most talented athletes. Each year, BYU football coach Robert Anae, like many of his peers, spends a great deal of his time visiting with athletes and their parents in their homes on the recruiting trail in the hopes of offering athletic scholarships to young men with great speed, power and prowess.

“We are gifted physically. We are passionate about things we understand. We place our focus on the things that have proven results and yield the most positive and productive return,” says Anae, himself an All-Conference athlete while attending BYU on an athletic scholarship.

“It is well documented, that it is far more likely that a young Polynesian male will play professional football than any other ethnicity because we have the physical gifts to do so. In order to get to the professional ranks, athletes secure their place in the NFL by performing well in college. Take a look at all of the major college conferences out there and you will see Polynesian faces doing very well. A few years ago, that was only seen on the west coast.”
Anae believes that one of the main reasons parents push their children towards sports is because they, and all of us, grew up being exposed to sports and physical activities from a very young age.
“Naturally, because we grow up spending a lot of our time in gyms, playing sports with older siblings or cousins, we have a tendency to concentrate on sports because it is something that we are comfortable with and it is something that we understand.”

In his experience and opinion, Anae believes that one reason why it may seem that parents expend so much time, effort and resources on their athletes is because of the immediate rewards and visibility that an athlete enjoys in the public eye when they succeed.

“There is an instant gratification, instant credibility when your child does well in front of thousands of fans whether you’re in a stadium or on watching on television. The athletic proficiency of your child becomes a status symbol. Playing for a major college is a big deal to parents.”

In the same breath, Anae cautions that a greater percentage of gifted athletes are falling through the cracks because their passion for the classroom does not mimic the enthusiasm that they display on the field.

“College athletics and academics go hand-in-hand. Some athletes come on campus completely unprepared for the rigorous schedule of academics. If parents and youths could place the same emphasis on schoolwork that they do on the field, we would have dozens more doctors, teachers, lawyers, professionals in general. We as parents may be falling short in that regard because we aren’t preparing our children; we are insulating them from reality.

Coach Anae is the ultimate example of how the visibility of sports often dominates our accomplishments outside of the realm of sports. A graduate of Kahuku High, Anae was an All-WAC offensive lineman and a member of the 1984 NCAA Championship team. His coaching resume includes stints at Hawaii, Ricks College, Boise State, UNLV and Texas Tech before returning to Provo as the current Offensive Coordinator for the Cougars. Many in the world outside of Anae’s intimate circle of family and friends recognize him as a brilliant football mind. Those on the inside of that circle know him as the gentle man with a Masters (Hawaii) and a PhD (BYU) in sociology.

“We need to emphasize to our youths that the same intensity on the field or court or even whatever profession they pursue, should be practiced in theory and application in every day life. That same elation of seeing our youths succeed on the field can also be a point of contention and disappointment when that youth fails in school and ultimately in life because he or she did not compete in the classroom.”

Anae provides these valuable gems for youths who are struggling being ‘second-fiddle’ to their athletic siblings as well as athletes themselves:

“Assume responsibility for your life. Clearly communicate your goals and intentions to your parents. Understanding your passions will give your parents more reason to support you in any endeavor.

“Be accountable. Whether or not you play sports, accountability is the key to succeeding in life. For many years I witnessed parents protecting their kids. Making excuses and placing blame on others when their son or daughter does not excel in school. I am seeing more and more Polynesian kids. Be accountable for your education. Be accountable in everything you do. Your successes and rewards will be much sweeter if you do.

“Have character. I will take any athlete who has character before I take a five-star one because the athlete with character commits himself to doing what we is asked of him. Character plays a big part in sports but more importantly, it plays a big part in your life.”

Coach Anae, like many coaches in collegiate sports advocate education and urges athletes and parents to view athletic scholarships as a means to an end.

“True, there are many Polynesians that will go on to play in the NFL. Its been proven time and again each NFL draft. But its your education that will sustain you in life, not football. Your longevity and career is dependent on how long your legs will carry you. What happens beyond sports depends on your commitment to your education.”

Coach Anae’s advice applies to all young students, whether they are athletes, academicians or artisans. Though often delayed, the rewards from a lifetime of academic and artistic are just as convincing and legitimate as the instantaneous rewards reaped by our athletic brothers and sisters. Take comfort in the words of an influential Swede who said, "Your vision will become clear only when you can look into your own heart. Who looks outside, dreams; who looks inside, awakes." -- Carl Jung