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I never planned to write this commentary. I hoped I wouldn't have to. But it became necessary because some readers, rather than use a web site to engage in an intelligent debate on issues, get much too personal. Name-calling might be acceptable in the bleachers but not on my blog.
It has happened in other cases but the most recent, involving my blog on "Public League in crisis," went over the top. In my view, it confirms all of my long-held suspicions about what is wrong with the Internet. I can't speak for other web sites because some bloggers are in business to count hits and page views, attract attention or make money. Not me. I just enjoy a good conversation. If we agree to disagree, so be it. But we can be--and must be--civil about it.
Sammy (whoever he is) isn't civil. And he refuses to engage in an intelligent debate because he has provided not one but two undeliverable e-mail addresses. You can't talk to a box of rocks. When I launched my web site in 2008, at the request of the Sun-Times, I determined I had to accept messages from anonymous e-mailers (who make up most of the Internet) but I wouldn't accept them from e-mailers without a deliverable or return address.
I tolerated Sammy and a few others because, in the past, they were objective and knowledgeable while dealing with other issues. But Sammy has gone off the deep end in the "Public League in crisis" issue, especially with his personal attacks on another reader/contributor, Curtis K. Jackson, who has some deep-seeded opinions about the subject.
Along the way, another reader, David Watson, a former CPS student and current lawyer who has brought up the subject of "Internet defamation." He has attempted to act as an intermediary between the two. The whole issue has gotten too personal, off the subject. We can agree to disagree but this isn't about guns or knives--or at least it shouldn't be. And I won't allow it.
To try to make some sense out of this madness, I re-read my original commentary on "Public League in crisis." The premise was about something I learned from the late Larry Hawkins when I returned to Chicago in 1968 to begin working for the Daily News: Sports is a very important part of the educational process.
In the wake of the Chicago Public Schools' drastic financial crisis--a $700 million budget deficit and the very real possibility that 2,700 teachers will be laid off--another issue had come to light: All Public League sports programs below the varsity level could be dropped, leaving hundreds of coaches out of work and thousands of students on the streets.
So I asked one of the most high-profile coaches in the city, Robert Smith of Simeon, who had just produced his third state championship basketball team in the last five years, to comment on the issue. He responded eloquently and straight forward without pulling any punches. He has grown up in the system and he knows what it can do for young people--and he fears what will happen if it is taken away from them.
Before Hawkins, few educators took sports seriously. They treated it as recess, fun and games. But Hawkins, in his role as director of special programs at the University of Chicago, recalled his career as a coach and teacher at Carver High School and pointed out that sports should be considered an important part of the total educational process. And he taught many CPS disciples, including Lee Umbles, Jim Foreman, Charles Stimpson, Glenn Johnson, Roy Curry, Sherman Howard, Luther Bedford, Don Pittman and J.W. Smith, who spread the gospel throughout the school system.
Even though Hawkins developed some outstanding athletes, including Cazzie Russell, Joe Allen, Pete Cunningham and Ken Maxey, he was more focused on participation for boys and girls and sending as many of them to college as possible.
What many educators failed to realize, before Hawkins brought it to their attention in the late 1960s and early 1970s, was sports were much more than winning and losing. Surveys indicated that sports kept kids in school, kept them away from drugs and off the streets, taught values and morals and discipline and made them goal-setters and overachievers instead of gang members and underachievers.
Sammy and others have suggested that the CPS budget deficit can be solved if former athletes, now making millions of dollars as professionals, gave back to the system. Smith pointed out that Derrick Rose and Nick Anderson have donated money to Simeon.
Even if every former CPS athlete donated money--and, unfortunately, the number of Roses and Andersons are few and far between and embarrassing--it wouldn't be nearly enough to remedy the problem. All the fund-raising and car washes and bake sales won't pay the bills.
What it takes, in my view, is some common sense and integrity in Springfield, in the General Assembly, in the governmental body that dispenses the funds that support the schools and build the highways. Education should be a priority, keeping kids in school, providing the necessary programs to give them a complete and diversified education, not paying for the trials of corrupt politicians.
In 2008, my wife and I, as residents of the city of Chicago, paid $3,153.13 in taxes to the Chicago Board of Education. In 2007, the figure was $2,975.62. In 2006, it was $2,731.12. As a taxpayer who supports the educational system, I'd like to know where those dollars are going and why the politicians in Springfield can vote raises for themselves while putting our youngsters on the streets.
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IT DID GET A LITTLE HEAVY-HANDED AT TIMES!
THERE MIGHT BE A STRIKE THIS FALL, HASN'T HAPPENED IN ALONG TIME FOR THE CPS!
Taylor..
Sammy actually noted that the defecit was due to the shortfall from Springfield..you misquoted him there
Phil "Caps Locks" Smith Jr suggested that the athletes give back..while Curtis K Jackson suggested well...as I stated before I will not denounce CKJ as Sammy did, but lets just say Curtis K Jackson didnt offer much..but knocking black leaders
I think that is what Sammy was getting at...Why knock your own people without remedying a viable solution?
Folks nobody is looking at where the money is going. That question is never asked. People always bash the front people instead of looking at the anonymous folks who run this corrupt system. CPS is small potatoes compared to this countries economic situation. We as Americans need to stop looking at short term solutions and look at whose getting fat(rich) off the situation. If these evil folks behind the scenes cared about the kids and their future there would be no problem with CPS sports. We as a country are so much junkies on entertainment it's borderline ridiculous. So if the powers that be can live without the entertainment value of the CPS athletes they will with no problem. It shouldn't have to do with black and white. Today it's more rich and poor but you don't see the suburban sports being an issue with money at all.
I have read every thought on this subject. Basically, I remained on the outside because I don't have enough information to get involved or provide anything.
Sammy, got a little out of line. He seems genuine, I don't know. Curtis seems genuine. Both gentlemen want some changes.
Sammy pointed out that Illinois is 49th in state educational funding. That's true. At the same time Illinois ranks about 5 or 6 in per capita spending per student. Illinois relies heavily on real estate taxes to fund education. Illinois has one of, if not the lowest, income tax structures in the country. I seem to recall discussion about raising state taxes, how did that work out?
I think it's a shame that people cannot carry on a civil discussion on a topic that obviously is important. We cannot blame this on the internet and blogs, politicians have been acting foolishly for centuries.
Finally, when I read this blog I don't ask myself, is this person black/white/hispanic/other. I read the post and make up my own mind concerning agreement or not.
2700 TEACHERS JUST LOST THEIR JOBS, 35 STUDENTS TO A CLASS, SO ATHLETICS SHOULD HAVE NO TROUBLE BEING FUNDED NEXT SEASON!
First let me say that it is unfortunate but the situation between Sammy and Curtis did get very personal and out of hand, on both accounts. For my money, Curtis had every opportunity to 'walk' away from the discussion and he chose not to and consequently, Sammy said some regrettable things in the exchange. Again, I say it is unfortunate because Sammy has been a good contributor to a lot of our discussions and he brings an educator's perspective to the think tank, which is valuable when we discuss matters pertaining to high school sports. So I hope he doesn't allow this to preclude him from commenting on this site.
Jay made an interesting point by saying 'Illinois relies heavily on real estate taxes to fund education.' I recently read something that said that upwards of 90% of all CPS students live below the poverty level. This tells me that the vast and overwhelming majority of the households that use the public school system aren't paying into the system, which probably explains why the CPS is cash-poor. In a depressed economy, the city simply doesn't have the tax-base to sustain itself any longer.
Finally to Phil, I don't think it's an either or situation when it comes to teachers and sports, I think the system will be losing teachers AND sports under its current fiscal situation.
I've only commented a few times on Joe's blogs on this site, butI too read the fireworks from the background between Sammy and Curtis on this blog. Though Sammy got personal, I liked his comments because he had some pretty good facts and seemed to be very passionate about the welfare of CPS. I hope he continues to weigh in on future issues. The funding crisis seems to be something that will not be easily solved unless the governor comes up with something dramatic. There is no simple solution.
You know, last night me and wife, a corporate intellectual property attorney, discussed many topics and she brought up a case a fellow lawyer was working on involving the issue of blogging.
He said: "Most bloggers typically demonstrate the same unatttractive qualities- lack of credibility, the cowardly ability to point fingers and usually show a lack of respect for the truth."
I say this, and I say this as my last words...
I do not know Curtis Sr., and I do not know what he actually does professionally. Having said that, I do know that a few sports attorneys, my wife and I mutually know, claim that he is regarded as one the most influential men in basketball's subculture of scouts, commentators and basketball mag contributors in the country. Its as though he is some kind of "robin hood" type figure within the grass roots basketball circles.
Now, I also have to say that I wish he would have said more "specically" about his thoughts on the possible solutions to CPS sports budget problems. But, I spoke to a New York and Chicago based literary agent this morning at my church who knows Curtis pretty well (as to his recent works). I asked her flat out, what's the deal with this guy, and she said:
"I can't comment on his work, due to a confidentiality agreement I signed prior to reviewing his work as agent being considered to rep him. But, I can tell you this, he knows basketball, he knows about the underground business of basketball, and he has a serious piece (manuscript). Whoever gets involved with it, will quickly think about the movies He Got Game, Hoosiers and American Gangster all wraped in one with an obvious inclusion of the West Coast, East Coast and Midwest basketball influences."
I asked my wife also to review the each and every blog comment by Curtis Sr. and Sammy on the subject that was started by Taylor, and then I wanted to get her thoughts. Here is what she thought:
"From a judicial standpoint of view as to making points, you have to think "Rotten Fruit From A Rotten Tree", because in Court, Sammy's arguments or comments lacked evidentary value and he violated the rules and process to have them heard and considered for posting. You also have to think that its possible Taylor may have been even in on it, by failing to act as a responsible to enforce his own stated rules. I guess what I'm saying is, Curtis seems to see Sammy for what he was, a guy who appears to be great at quoting stats, showed no record of any examples of acting on his own to make a difference, and incapable of presenting a case without his emotions deflating him as a professional. Finally, anybody can take shots at someone from behind the curtain of a blog site. But can you, or will you stand eye -to-eye with someone and state your case. Curtis offered several times, but Sammy would not, so I have to think he could not". Case closed.
I have to agree. Carl, your appeal is denied (joking), case closed.
Pleez, as much as I can appreciate you finding and quoting individuals who know and speak highly of Curtis, I believe to the rest of he is just another blogger on this site. As previously stated, what transpired between Curtis and Sammy went too far. Sammy said some things that crossed the line and I am willing to bet if given the opportunity Sammy would admit to that. However, if Sammy did something wrong, it was wrong on its merits, not because it was done to Curtis.
I don't want us to get off track here. This is a site where we have intelligent discourse about a variety of topics and there are no sacred cows here. I am not quite sure why you feel the need to share Curtis' resume with us. I hope it is not to attempt sell us the impression this his views are somehow more valid than anyone else's out here. I read this site regularly and most who contribute here bring substative and thoughtful viewpoints to every topic of discussion.
Again, what happened between the two men was unfortunate and if someone's feelings got hurt, well that's unfortunate as well. But it is over and it is time to move on from it. Let's not attempt to turn this into something that it is not. This is not a court of law and it is not a 'coddle-site' either. Hopefully BOTH are willing to accept their respective responsibilities for the 'skirmish' and are able to get on with it.
Darnell,
I appreciate your comments, and you should keep in mind I am not trying to advocate for Curtis Sr, so I disagree with you on that point. Because, his community work does that enough for me, but your thoughts are appreciated.
However, I will say for the record that I heard from Curtis Sr. (through a mutual friend) and he said he has moved on, he is just enjoying his time vacationing with his family, and is looking forward to production of his work and working the promotions of it when he gets back to the states.
So, I take it he is all good and getting his second wind for the grind to come.
Again, Darnell your comments are respected.