Paris steps up, what about Kobe?
AP Photo/Alonzo Adams
For those of you that don't know, University of Oklahama women's basketball player, Courtney Paris, is my new personal hero.
Paris, who is second in the nation in rebounding, said that if the Sooners don't win the national championship this season, she will give back the four years of scholarship money she has received from the University.
That's what I'm talking about!
Too often these days, athletes make ridiculous promises or guarantees with no reprecussions (other than the occasional "gag order" from a coach). Leave it to not only a college athlete, but a female college athlete, to finally step up and make a guarantee that actually means something.
Look at Paris' words and tell me this doesn't apply to Kobe Bryant and the Los Angeles Lakers:
I feel like we're not missing pieces. If we play hard, we execute, we are a great team that can win the national championship. If we don't do that, it won't be because we're not good enough.
So when you're good enough and don't do something, you have to take accountability for that and that's your own fault. We can win a national championship. If we don't, I feel like I didn't earn my scholarship.
Wow, I couldn't have said it better myself.
I think Kobe should step up to the plate and make a similar guarantee to Laker fans across the country. If the Lakers don't win the NBA championship, Kobe gives the Lakers back his 2009 salary.
Sure, Kobe's $21.3 million is slightly more than the estimated $64,000 that Paris' scholarship is worth. But when you think about it, that's only a fraction of Kobe's total net worth, whereas I can't imagine Paris' work-study salary nets more than 64 grand.
People talk about the Lakers' lack of focus, and there's no better motivation than good old fashioned money.
Comments
Give back her scholarship $$$? That's ridiculous ... she doesn't play out there by herself ....
Yeah I think she might reconsider her offer if she puts up 40 and 20 in the championship game and they still lose.
Big OU fan here, and while I think her intentions are admirable, she should look no further than the success of OU basketball throughout the years to see where her promise is gonna end up.
It's not up to players to decide to give back money. Kobe made a lot more money than his salary for his team, the Lakers, which can earn money for many things, including television broadcasts and ticket sales.
Now, if Kobe's team doesn't do so well, the fans feel bad, but they still paid their money. If the team is smart, it will give bonuses to promote good performances. But it's stupid of the Oklahoma player to return her scholarship. It would have been better for her to declare she would open up her own scholarship for some less fortunate people than to give back that money.
Her name, and Kobe's name, dot the record books. They make people envious because they are excellent athletes, and they draw people to the games. They should realize that losing games must occur approximately 50% of the time, and may only in part be decided by the skill of an individual player. Gambling scholarship money on the outcome of basketball games should be illegal.
Though there should be strong incentive to perform beyond the capabilities of normal players, a lot of that comes from within. Copying someone else's charitable decisions isn't going to win any more basketball games.
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