Here is a Rick Reilly article that is very interesting. It is about Caleb Campbell who played football at the US Military Academy - West Point and then was drafted by the Detroit Lions to play in the NFL. One problem, when you serve in a military academy you are supposed to fulfill military service. Apparently the US Army told Caleb since he was an "exceptional" athlete he could waive his military commitment and join the Lions. The other military services balked at this and said it gave the US Army an unfair advantage in recruiting.
The crazy part is - I think the US Navy shortened David Robinson's military service by at least 3 years because he was too tall. He was able to join the Spurs 3 years early to play in the NBA. Now, if David Robinson was too tall shouldn't he have been declined entry in the Naval Academy in the first place? I also believe that the Navy let Napoleon McCalcum (sp?) serve in the reserves (not regular military) after he graduated, and then stationed him in CA where he could play football for the Raiders full time. It sure does seem like a double standard here.
Now, my personal opinion is that Caleb should have to serve in the military before he is "free" to play football or do whatever. Just because he is an exceptional athlete does not mean he should get special treatment. What if there was an exceptional cancer researcher in the academy - should we let him/her out of their military commitment to go to work in the real world? Also, who defines exceptional?
To Caleb's credit - he has taken this like a fine upstanding young man and graduate of West Point - he is ready to serve his country and ready to fulfill his obligation he agreed to.
I feel bad for Caleb who is caught in the middle - but it should not have ever come to this, the Army should never have tried to make that decision. I would bet that it is not over either - that there will be another decision shortly now that the press is involved.
You decide for yourself what is right and wrong in this case
http://sports.espn.go.com/espnmag/story?id=3520706">
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2 comments:
David Robinson was not too tall when admitted to the Naval Academy. He grew while there.
You're leaving out the most important detail as far as Caleb is concerned. Caleb, like all other cadets, had an option two years into his West Point career to transfer to another university. The Army promised Caleb that this "new rule" would allow him to complete his time at West Point and play in the NFL while serving as a recruit.
Caleb made a life altering decision based on a promise from the Army that they has now renigged on. Knowing Caleb personally, he probably would have still chosen West Point at that point but it's still unfair that he was promised something that the Army has taken away.
If the Air Force and Navy want to cry about the Army's insterpretation of "the rule" that's fine. If the Army want's to interpret the rule the same as the other branches from here on out, that's fine. But it is unfair to take back the promise to those young men who made decisions based on that promise.
The Army and West Point are supposed to be about honor and integrity. Where's the honor and integrity in breaking your promise to a committed, dedicated young man?
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