Down with Athletics by Dr. Robert Wallace on Creators.com

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Down with Athletics

DR. WALLACE: I hate athletics. First of all, I'm not the athletic type. There are those who know me and consider me to be a nerd. But I'm a very intelligent nerd. I'm in the 11th grade and so far I'm a straight-A student, and my plan is to graduate with a straight-A average and then graduate from an elite Ivy League school such as Harvard or Yale. It really bugs me that at my high school the athletes get all the glory and the nerds are laughed at. When I'm making a million dollars a year, most of the school jocks will be working for minimum wage or, if they're lucky, working at an auto repair shop. That goes for the snobby cheerleaders, too. They will marry the jocks and live in a rental house taking care of four plump kids.

As for me, my wife and I will be living in a penthouse, driving Mercedes Benz cars and dining at expensive restaurants. It could be that one of our school athletes might even be our waiter. He would be lucky. I would be a good tipper. Down with athletes, and three cheers for us nerds! Someday we will be running the country! - Nerd, Nashua, N.H.

NERD: I'm impressed with your goals to graduate from high school with straight A's (valedictorian, no doubt), receive your degree from Harvard or Yale and then become a millionaire. These are lofty goals, and I wish you well on your journey toward them.

But I'm sorry you are so fueled by revenge and seem to be as concerned about other people's failures as your own successes. This means you'll never be happy simply with your own accomplishments.

I'm equally sorry that you harbor such negative feelings about sports. This is your loss. While academics should never be compromised for athletics, the two can coexist in harmony. Remember, both Harvard and Yale are members of the National Collegiate Athletic Association. Both of these academically prodigious schools field men's teams in football, basketball, baseball, track and field, and host many other sports. The women's programs provide a full schedule of sports, including basketball, softball, field hockey, tennis and swimming.

Providing students with an excellent academic program is a school's prime function, but extracurricular programs, including athletics, music and drama, provide an outlet for the pressures of the classroom and keep student lives in balance.

Even if you don't participate, watching athletic events can be an enjoyable recreation. Try it!

Dr. Robert Wallace welcomes questions from readers. Although he is unable to reply to all of them individually, he will answer as many as possible in this column. E-mail him at rwallace@galesburg.net. To find out more about Dr. Robert Wallace and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate website at www.creators.com.

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Physical activity and health are important for everyone. But LW1 is right about one thing: the kind of physical activity encouraged in the school system is mostly team sports focused on moving a ball around. There are other sports out there, and also physical activities that aren't considered mainstream sports. Many of them appeal to nerds. Some of the best options include:

- Archery
- Judo, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, or any submission grappling sport (very strategy oriented)
- Distance running
- Bodybuilding (the same focus and attention to detail that makes for a great gamer pays off quickly)
- Boxing, karate, or a striking sport (again, the strategy principle)
- Fencing
- Golf (very intellectual and a lot of math)

Comment: #1
Posted by: R.A.
Fri Jan 13, 2012 7:44 AM

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The negativity exploding from this professed nerd leaves an icky taste in my mouth. He comes across not as a very smart person, but as a very bitter, lonely child who has lots of time to think of revenge.
I was not in sports--my children were not in sports, nor my husband. But as a suggestion of R.A. above, our family has been involved in Tae Kwon Do for 19 years now. 2 of my 3 children chose that as their activity, along with community drama participation in set construction, etc. Also had their heads under the hoods of cars since they could walk, very creative in all areas. Well liked. Only my youngest was an honor student. They worked hard at their jobs, held a variety of them at the same time as they grew up. Babysitting was a top money maker, professional water rescuers, scuba, at 16 local grocery store for all 3 through college, adding a local manufacturing plant adding one for 4 years of college after school. One was also a aquatic center manager. Never less than 3 jobs at the same time. Besides giving 100% to community and church in volunteerism.
Their community conncections won them all a top coveted scholarship given to a senior who put his church and community first.
First, you have to choose something to build some self-esteem. Incorporate your family to start with you--many of the things suggested above are family/friend oriented. My 2nd son is a high TKD Master, bringing students into his gym that fall into areas such as yours, unable to make friends, someone teachers feel are loners, etc. They make referrals and very often more than one of the family (parent/student) come together.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
As it sits, you will not be a successful person in life nor businesses. Schools that you list do not just take the ones with the great grades. They want the well rounded person, both physically and mentally . You come across as very socially inept. Why? Because you blame all for your short comings without any solutions of fixing YOUR problem first. Wishing for horrible things for others you deem your enemy has many mental health negatives attached. I so hope you realize this and get the help you deserve to find a happy life. As it is, women do not want a self pitying person to spend their life with. Those are in people's nightmares, not dreams. All you list as your goals in life are those of a bottom feeder of life, not someone who appreciates what they do and have and are truely happy. True happiness brings joy without question.

I feel so sorry for you. Others in your life will hand down their pity.

Comment: #2
Posted by: Joyce/MN
Fri Jan 13, 2012 8:34 PM

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Down with Athletics

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