This was my fundamental problem with ESPN's documentary, Youngstown Boys. It ignored the true scandal, and true heartbreaking story.
Maurice somehow graduated from an Ohio High School and got into one of our top state universities... and couldn't read.
I went to high school with Reese. He was a senior when I was a freshman.
ESPN made the story about a kid from a rough upbringing who made some bad choices, but had people in his corner, and ultimately has turned it around. (The last part is obviously true, and praise God it is!)
However, the real story about the culture at Warren G Harding (our high school) and then at OSU was how the Athletic departments used and abused top athletes, as long as they were performing on the field.
There was no accountability for these kids, no emphasis on education.
And once these kids graduated or could no longer perform, they were dumped and forgotten about - ill-prepared for life, and actually were groomed with the mentality that you can do whatever you want and get away with it.
The problem is, once you're no longer scoring touchdowns, reality comes crashing down on you hard.
WGH and OSU failed Maurice, and countless other poor kids because all the "schools" cared about was getting the kid on the field, and not preparing them for life by, you know, teaching them to read.
When you look at the literacy rates at the inner city high schools across America, you know this story is reoccurring again and again. We just won't hear these stories because most of these kids won't make it to the National Championship game. They'll just make some great plays in high school, then end up in prison or dead by 25.
Feels like every Oklahoma fan who made the trip has shared this exact sentiment. This is the real world. People are mostly good. We share so much in common. Stop letting culture war political commercials suggest otherwise. Social media isn’t real life.
Championship hardware on display 〽️
The reigning @bigten and National Champions @umichbball show off their championship rings and trophy at the Big House 💍🏆
Three-time MLB All-Star and one of Chicago’s Very Own, Curtis Granderson is celebrating a pair of memorable milestones this September.
Both involve giving back to the Chicago baseball community: https://t.co/3dOEwUm1TD
Father of a girl who became disabled by an illegal migrant trucker: "I reject your guys' sympathy"
Camera then pans to the Democrats
This is a must see:
The Cleveland Browns recently visited a local orphanage. “It’s just so heartbreaking to see all those faces with absolutely no hope,” said one of the orphans.