As I searched Netflix for a sports documentary, the one film that stopped me from scrolling down was titled "Trophy Kids." After reading the description, I decided to watch it. The film started off with a boy and his father going to the park early in the morning to do some football drills in order for him to get ready for the football season. As the father gave simple orders, his son looked confused. The father looked at him as if he didn't understand him. The father then gave insulting comments on how dumb he looked and kept on discriminating him. The moral of the film is that parents have their children start competing in club sports at a young age in the hopes that they'll gain a college scholarship and go on to compete in the professional leagues.
After the film's end, I have realized that some parents can be overbearing about making sports their children's number one priority in life. A positive outcome of this is that young athletes can become well-known sport recruiters. A negative factor is that some parents put too much pressure on their child to the point they decide to quit after all the progress they've made toward becoming a professional athlete. There are good and bad elements when parents decide to get their kids involved with sports. It all depends on the parent's reactions and behaviors.
One parent that acts like this is LaVar Ball who is well known as being the father of the arguably incredible Lonzo Ball. Lonzo is currently a freshman at UCLA and has become the key player of the basketball team since the start of the season. He is also known as one of the top five players to be picked in the 2017 NBA Draft. His two brothers LiAngelo and LaMelo are currently attending Chino Hills High School and have already committed to UCLA.
With March Madness going on, all eyes are on Lonzo as his father has made him a more recognizable star player. In recent comments by his father, he claims that his son is better than Stephen Curry. He has also made comments that his son can beat Michael Jordan in a one on one match-up in his "heydays." Additionally, he claims his sons can get a one billion dollar contract with any shoe company.
With LaVar stating these comments, it has put a lot more pressure not only on UCLA, but specifically on Lonzo. As parents you need to support your children no matter what. There are parents who support just by watching their kids have fun and others who support by pushing them to become the best.
There are good and bad attributes to LaVar's behavior. The bad thing is that some people might have concerns that he may jinx his son in becoming the best. He also shows too much confidence in thinking his son can be better than basketball legends. The thing is that he can't compare his sons to other players. The good thing, however, is the fact that he believes his sons can become the greatest. One thing I like about him is that he has the bravado to state those comments. It also shows how much he loves his sons.
This year's March Madness may be the year that the Bruins can take one championship home.
