African American Sports

Michael Duckler
February 10, 2011
Gary Sailes

Paper Reflection

This film was an unforgettable and an eye opening experience. During this film I learned a lot more than ever knew about what certain decisions athletes go through and what specific options they have to choose to either move fast into their future or hold back and be safe. In other words these athletes had choices to either go to college and earn a degree or take the short road and advance into the National Basketball Association where they will be offered a lot of money. The documentary called “The Black Athlete: Fact or Fiction” introduced three athletes and how they each went different paths then the others. All three athletes while being in high school had a choice to either go to the National Basketball Association or attend college and earn a degree. As the documentary goes on it follows each one of these athletes and the paths they choose. One athlete chooses to go right from high school into the National Basketball Association and his name was Jermaine Oneil. He ended up having a very prosperous career in the National Basketball Association and is currently still playing for a team. The other high school athlete in the documentary chose to go to college and earn a degree and then ended up playing in the National basketball Association for a couple of years and then afterwards did something outside of the basketball organization. The third high school athlete decided to enter into the National Basketball Association Draft and he ended up not getting drafted and since you can’t enroll into the draft twice his basketball career was over. After watching this education documentary I now know the different problems certain athletes have to through. For an example, the decision to go to the National Basketball Association and risking your chance of not being drafted and ending your basketball or career or receiving a degree in college and then attempting to go to the National Basketball... [continues]

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