I was wondering if anyone happen to be tuning into NewsTalk 990, in Knoxville, this evening on their drive home and happen to listen to them discuss Tony's jump from his jr. year to college.
I felt that it was a big misrepresentation by them of Tony. They never really questioned his ability, but his maturity and social skills. A lot of people do not know that he will be the same age, if not older, than those also entering college. Personally, I feel he can make this jump ability wise and in other aspects. I will not comment on whether i feel he should stay academically. But I was wondering if anybody else tuned in and their thoughts.
Posts: 13 | Location: knoxville, tn, USA | Registered: October 03, 2003
I heard it and thought that the caller was very uninformed on the whole aspect. He didn't know about Tony's age, baseball ability and just assumed that it was not academically wise for Tony to make this move. What perturbed him the most was that a coach of a major D1 school would endorse this because of the academic issues. In other words he felt that the coach (his dad) put sports over the best interest (academics) of Tony.
John and Jimmy didn't really handle the call very well. I've never called the show, but I almost did pick up my cell phone to give somewhat of a rebuttal and explain Tony's situation.
"If you make every game a life and death proposition, you're going to have problems. For one thing, you'll be dead a lot."
I heard the call as well. I was driving back from my son's game in Kentucky and picked up their show north of Maynardville. I was dying to call in as well, but that call was the last of the hour and I knew it would be tough getting through after 6.
The caller knew nothing about Tony's age, abilities, etc. Tony is a unique case, and this is not going to start a flood of highschoolers "going college early".
