Since my son was selected as a Pre Season Under Armour All American but we were not willing to shell out mega bucks to attend the game - does that mean he is not an All American? What would they do if every kid that they selected decided to attend? So your an All American if you pay the money to attend? But if you are selected and decide not to pay the money you are not? So you pay for the tag All American? What do you think Frank?
There are a few Texas names on the list that are highly recognizable. There are many more from Texas that I have never heard of.
I know of one player (who isn't on this list) whose folks paid thousands of dollars in fees and travel expenses this past summer for him to be part of the Under Armour National Team -- after they paid $100 for him to try out for the team. He has yet to receive a scholarship offer from any level college.
Posts: 2136 | Location: San Antonio, TX | Registered: April 11, 2006
Coach May- How much was big bucks, just curious. Also, isn't that true with every showcase. If you are invited or selected, but say, cannot afford it and you pass, the ones that pay and go, get a rating - you don't. Make sense?
Posts: 862 | Location: nor cali | Registered: September 03, 2007
Here is my point. You get a big package in the mail. On the letter it says "Congratulations you have been named an Under Armour Pre Season All American".
Then the letter goes on to tell you that for X number of dollars you can play in the All American Game. If you do not go they do not list you as an All American. If you pay the fee and go you are listed as an All American.
So in fact you Pay to be and All American. Dont tell someone they are an All American then go on to say for X number of dollars you can play in the game.
Either you are or your not. It should not be you are if you pay and play or not if you dont pay. It has no credibility.
Originally posted by Infield08: There are a few Texas names on the list that are highly recognizable. There are many more from Texas that I have never heard of.
Seems as though they missed some of the top Texans like JP, Grossman, Purke, Cosart, Swaggerty, Jungman, Walker Kelly...
Have fun!
Posts: 971 | Location: Left Out | Registered: January 03, 2007
No they didnt miss them. You can bet they all got the same package in the mail my son got. And so did the Lassiters Hanovers Messers Williamsons in NC. They just decided that they didnt want to pay to be named an All American.
Five NC players going. One is ranked. And he is #24 in NC and #681 in the nation. So #1-#23 are not All Americans. But #24 is. And the other 4 who are not in the top 1,400 in PG Crosschecker or not listed at all on BA list are All Americans. Hey get out your checkbook and be an All American!
Reminds of a few years back. I had a kid that was a pretty good hs ss. He went to a Baseball Factory Showcase and was invited to play in an All American game. He came back with a certificate which said "Baseball Factory High School All American". He had a press release in all the local papers announcing this. He didnt even make all conference. We had a pitcher that year drafted in the 3rd round. But he didnt make the All American team.
Bottom line is there is no way these people will ever have any credibility with the baseball world untill they stop this stuff. They are using the All American tag to get kids to shell out money to get this award. It means nothing to the people that matter. But these people paying the money have no clue. Its really sad.
You spend a good piece of your life gripping a baseball, and in the end it turns out that it was the other way around all the time. ~Jim Bouton, Ball Four, 1970
Posts: 5809 | Location: Huntersville,NC | Registered: December 27, 2002
To answer the question, I think the cost for the Under Armour event was $799, plus you bear your own travel expenses, so the total cost was going to be $1,500-2,000, depending on whether Mom & Dad tag along.
By comparison, the AFLAC game pays all expenses of the player, and though parents are on their own, the swag the players bring back almost help you break even.
The summer Cape Code High School Classic charges no fee and provides player hotel, but travel to & from is the player's responsibility, nothing for parents.
This is just the financial scoop. If you were comparing overall experience for the players and families, it's pretty much the AFLAC game and then everybody else way back in the pack.
Posts: 2422 | Location: Virginia | Registered: February 01, 2006
I would really like to see some controls put on some of these companies to eliminate the implied selectivity of these events. The terms "invitation" or you have been "selected" are thrown around at will, and unfortunately people are buying into it at record pace. The bottom line is that anyone can go if they write the check, and when thats the case you've got a questionable talent pool.
Originally posted by rbinaz: I would really like to see some controls put on some of these companies to eliminate the implied selectivity of these events. The terms "invitation" or you have been "selected" are thrown around at will, and unfortunately people are buying into it at record pace. The bottom line is that anyone can go if they write the check, and when thats the case you've got a questionable talent pool.
There are several showcases/events which truly select which players can attend the event, some really only choose the very top players they can get to attend the event and produce a very selective group of players who attend.
Others use the line you have been recommended by ....... and we fell that you qualify to pay this $$$ amount to attend the showcase. Others run qualifying events where you can spend a couple of hundred dollars to see if you will/or are willing to spend thousands of dollars with their organization.
Posts: 988 | Location: CA | Registered: March 12, 2003
I know a kid that went to one of there tryouts or showcase last May, and he did not get a invite. he is a senior and one of the best cathers in the Region.
Posts: 63 | Location: Mt Washington | Registered: February 25, 2006
Read my earlier post. 5 players attended from NC. Only one is ranked with PG crosschecker. Im very familiar with the top players in NC. Out of the top 25 - 1 was listed. Now where are the other 24? I will tell you what happened. They decided not to shell out the big bucks to attend and be named All Americans.
If your going to name an All American team then name it. If your going to name an All American team then do your research yourself , call trusted sources , go watch some kids play etc etc and then name it. If your going to require people to pay for the right to be named an All American then it has no credibility. Is that so hard to understand?
There are several showcases/events which truly select which players can attend the event, some really only choose the very top players they can get to attend the event and produce a very selective group of players who attend
This is true...and most of these better players don't pay a dime or pay a greatly reduced rate. Its time for people to wake up and smell the coffee with many of these events. When there's a marquee name attending, he isn't paying what you are if he's paying at all. In addition, his name will be used as advertising fodder for the next crop of players who come along.
