Stereotypes
I feel like one of the biggest stereotypes that I have to fight as an athlete is that the only thing I am is an athlete. I remember growing up and having to listen to my parents constantly preach , “Be more than a athlete”. As with most kids, it went in one ear and out the other as I kept trying to fulfill my dream to play in the NBA. When I was young, school always came easy to me. I’m not saying that I was a straight A student ,but I could maintain a 3.6 without putting much effort in at all. It wasn’t until one day in my senior year that I realized that because of the success that I received on the basketball court, some people viewed me as just another jock. We had some kind of carnival for younger kids at my school, and someone put on my name tag "Jerryd Bayless/Athlete." To most young men and women at that stage in their life,they wouldn’t think twice about such a name tag. When I saw it, though, it bothered me greatly because it was something that my parents had warned me of since I was young. As much as everyone in the world tries to hide it, one of the worst feelings there is is when you disappoint your parents. When I got that name tag, I felt I had disappointed them. I didn’t feel that bad because the tag just had "athlete"on it, but because athletics is only a couple chapters in my life. Not to be cocky or arrogant, but I view myself as a 50 chapter book. I feel this mistaken perception is something that all athletes should take upon themselves to change. It’s interesting; I just left Vegas after attending the NBA players association meeting where I was able to see so many other bright minds that people have stereotyped. Due to the fact that 95% of the time you see us is during a game or something related to it, it’s rare that you get to truly see and appreciate that most of these guys have brilliant minds. From business, to cooking, to writing ;) all of these men have so much more going on for them than sports. I am proud to say that I am part of this era of NBA players because we have gone from having just "athlete" on our name tags to much,much, much more!!!!
JB
jbsblogspot@yahoo.com
9 comments:
Good for you :) Everyone is made up of way more than just what they do for a living. It's like how kids think their teachers never actually leave the school. I really enjoy reading your blogs :)
What about Jerryd Bayless/Author? :)
Well, whatever your endeavors in life are, you'll be great. Lots of love.
Fine. Drain 3's when need be.
You're not being cocky. Everyone is a 50 chapter book, with experiences and knowledge. Keep writing, and good luck in all your endeavors.
"Not to be cocky or arrogant, but I view myself as a 50 chapter book."
I love that you're an nba player and if you wanted to ... you could be very cocky but when you write you constantly remind everyone that you're not trying to be cocky or better than anyone else.
Love the humbleness. :]
I'll definetly look at you as more than just a baller now.
I agree. More athletes should be working to change that perception. Just because you’re a baller doesn’t mean you can’t have interests in other things. Also, I don’t think you’re cocky, you just know what you want. You’re more than just a player and you’ve made that perfectly clear.
You’re my favorite player in the NBA because you are much more than just an athlete and I can tell you appreciate your success. Your hard work is inspiring.
Stay humble... :)
這樣的情感，真是值得人羨慕..................................................
Nice to hear that JB!
"If Bayless had stayed in school, he would have just wrapped up his junior season and likely would have been the best player in the Pac-10 last year instead of sitting on the Blazers’ bench and receiving sporadic playing time.
Bayless said he thinks about that sometimes, but right now he’s just trying to make the best of his situation on a loaded (at full strength) Blazers team.
“It definitely hasn’t been easy,” Bayless said.
I do miss U of A, but I’m here, so I’m going to make the best of this whole situation."
We miss you in Tucson! You'd have been the only 3-time Pac Ten Basketball Player of the Year going for your 4th if you'd stayed, along with being the consensus #1 overall pick in the 2011 NBA Draft.
Do work man.
Learning makes a good man better and ill man worse.............................................................
Post a Comment