I bumped a thread I started last year regarding Parker, but will link it in here too because he's the cover boy of the next SI
https://collegebasketballtalk.nbcsports.com/2012/05/15/is-jabari-parker-ready-for-pressure-that-comes-with-si-cover/
The headline asserts he's so unique because of his faith.
Cowhide hit the nail on the ****ing head. His religion shouldn't matter, his race shouldn't matter. Basketball players are human beings first. Human beings are unique and most are unique in their spirituality. It's as if Sports Illustrated is putting him on the cover because he's so passionate about his faith and really good as hoops, as if it's never happened before. It's not news that people have faith in a religion.
Write about the kid because he's got unparalleled skill for someone his age, and had every college in the country recruiting him before he was 16.
Living in Chicago, and being a hoops head as well, I've been well aware of Jabari since he was in 7th grade (no joke). There was a big article on him, Tommy Hamilton (son of Thomas Hamilton - one of the 7 footers on King who Arthur Agee's team beat in Hoop Dreams down state - who's career ultimately derailed for off-court issues) and Alex Foster. They were being described as the three best 7th graders in the state, and played on the same AAU team which some ******* sportswriter dubbed the Dream Team. Hamilton and Foster are both going to be playing in BCS conference for hoops, and everyone who's in this thread is now aware of how far Jabari has come.
So with all the press Jabari has gotten locally, and nationally, all of it usually is centered around how he's such a great, humble, young man with strong faith. I see right through it. It's ****ing ********. It shouldn't be news that there are good people out there. There's an underlying theme that given where he's from, and where he goes to high school, and the sport he plays it's so mind blowing he isn't some thug headed down a destructive path.
I'm an Illini fan and still hoping he can play in Champaign for a year before he goes pro, but I will be rooting for him regardless of where he ends up. As a basketball fan, he's as fun to watch on the high school level as anyone I've seen in my life. I'm sure hoops fans would appreciate stories about how rare it is for a 17 year old with his size, athleticism, skill, feel for the game and current streak of 3 straight state titles (will most likely get a 4th next season).
It's one thing if this article was going to be giving readers some story that happened off the court that is unique - perhaps an adverse situation that few have to go through - but it's another to pawn off everyday instances as unique.
Sorry for the rant. He deserves all the press he's getting as a basketball player. But having read constantly about him in bball circles for this long, and almost every single one is backhanded, I needed to blow off some steam.... And what better place to do it??
