<p>Are there any parents here who’s kids are SERIOUSLY pusuing dreams of pro sports? I have wondered this and the cafe seems like a good place to post. I know tow boys who ‘made it’. One was a football plyer at out high school who was recruited and played for Stanford. It was a very big deal at the time. And interesting because this kid had no football experience until high school. Guess you could call him a 'natural '. Then there is a boy we knew who was in the French Open final. He trained at our club and got loads and loads of free lessons by the pro. (Which always caused tension, I 'll never go to him for a lesson ever again.) So the boy was a French Open finalist and signed with Nike for a 4 or 6 million contract and guess what, the pro was wandering around the bar at our club complaining the kid and/or his parents didn’t cut him in for a penny! And the pro ever gave this kid’s father a job at the club at one point to help them out!
H</p>
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Reminds me of what Clare Booth Luce once said – “no good deed goes unpunished”</p>
<p>backhandgrip…could you tell me who the tennis player is?
And how hold he is?</p>
<p>BHG, my son is not, but many on his team are. Are you just taking a survey, or do have particular questions?</p>
<p>Just thought to share stories. No real question.
No, I can’t give the players name but he was featured in Tennis Mag. recently - make way for the Russians! So many upcoming Russian players in our area. Guess my boys will have had the honor of playing with them when they were piddling District players!
Patient; Well, I’'d like to see some kids from Princeton represented.</p>
<p>By the way, I know the from Princeton. I think she has graduated by now. Won’t reveal her name but haven’t seen anything of her nationally, There are a lot of players who flounder in the nationals, even the finest juniors.Figure it out, we should raise our kids in Europe!</p>
<p>What’s a pro sport? Any for-pay sport that ESPN might broadcast? </p>
<p>My son is seriously into pro poker playing (and quit his regular day job to do this). That’s how he makes his real living. (More than I make in a year.)</p>
<p>However, he also does statistical analysis and writes about pro baseball (and makes some money at that) in his official “day” job.</p>
<p>I thought ‘no good deed goes unpunished’ was originally from Wicked…amazing song</p>
<p>I know of people who have gone pretty far in crew (national team) not starting it until college because it’s a sport that so few people do earlier. I also have a friend who is no longer attending high school and hoping to “make it” as a ballet dancer.</p>
<p>No, eirann, the quote is from the amazing Claire Booth Luce. She was around long before Wicked. :)</p>
<p>Ballet. Making it is relative, too. Someone can be a star ballet dancer in a small company which subsists on grants and meager ticket sales. The best way to make a ballet company profitable is to establish a ballet school affiated with it,-parents and families eager to spend on tickets to see junior’s small part and those endless lessons.</p>
<p>backhandgrip- my D’s boyfriend had dreams of a pro baseball career. He was heavily recruited out of high school but due to some family issues went to a jr college and after 1 season was once again heavily recruited by Div 1 schools and invited to 2 different minor league team training. While weighing his decisions which were leaning towards continuing his education he found out he had a tumor in his leg. He is looking a a 2 yr recovery till he can even play again. Which is a lifetime at age 20. So why the dream way someday still happen it is very unlikely.</p>
<p>How awful!</p>
<p>I am glad they caught it though!</p>
<p>Starting pitcher for the San Diego Padres, Jake Peavy, graduated from my school (its K-12) when I was in 6th grade. Our school has one of the best baseball coach and programs in the state. He didn’t go to college, he was recruited right out of high school. Every year, the senior players get recruited to colleges, but he was the only one ever recruited right into professional.</p>
<p>BHG, no stories for you, sorry :). Maybe in a few years…</p>
<p>patient; Go for it, and good luck! We have many lowly ranked World Players teachiing at our club too though.(Boy, can they hit the ball hard during drills!)
Mom60; Well be there for the boy- his suffering, that is, not being able to play, must be enormous. He’s going to need some mental guidance too- like as soon as he is able, to do some drills somewhere. And somehow get him back in the loop. But there are so many of these stories. Kids do need to put sports in perspective. Maybe he can do it.</p>
<p>Why bring up the tennis player if you won’t even name him? just curious</p>
<p>No Names. Gossip’s my game, but no names.</p>
<p>A kid from my area is signing with a top 10 D-1 football program. I ran into his mom the other day and she was telling me about it. He’s going to be OWNED by this program, virtually every day, all year; just the requisite minimum time off.</p>
<p>His dream is pro football-- so he’s on his way.</p>
<p>My tennis coach has put 3 of his kids in to Stanford…not bad. He did the opposite for me- he changed my grip back when I was 14 or so and basically ruined my game. So I literally started over when I was 15 with my old grip. I’m a top contender in our bay area league, but I could have been so much better.</p>
<p>Are you in a really competitive district? Do you do District, Regional, or National Tournaments? Do you have grass courts in California?</p>