04/25/24
June 17, 2003
Infant basketball prodigy signed by Reebok.: I know this is probably old hat to a lot of you but it just got mentioned on Radio 5 over here. I must say I sneered but now I've seen the videos I'm pretty bleeding impressed. Surely this must be the youngest ever "sportsperson" to sign an endorsement deal?
I've seen the videos, and it is impressive. That said, I think it's pretty fucking sick to put this sort of attention on a 3-year old. While everything worked out fine for Tiger Woods (see old Merv Griffith show with him at 2yrs old and impressing Jimmy Stewart and Bob Hope with his driving and putting), more often than not the kid learns to hate the sport he's in. But I have to figure that baby of Graf and Agassi will probably be signed to a tennis deal just on genetics alone...
posted by grum@work at 03:24 PM on June 17, 2003
I love the videos ... the kid is great. Seriously, I imagine this is what a NBA player looks like at three and a half. He seems to enjoy himself ... he looks really happy in the videos. BTW, there are a few basketball superstars who were child prodigies. If you ever read about Iverson or Marbury they were famous from a very young age (around the age of 8). Iverson made his rep in pee-wee football ... how mindblowing is that? I don't see anything wrong with it. It's a lot of fun to watch some supremely talented little kid tear it up in sports.
posted by Mike McD at 04:07 PM on June 17, 2003
Agreed McD! I may have a problem with this sort of thing when I have a kid of my own, but probably not. Freaks, talents, machines, whatever you want to call them, I look it at this as rewarding a kid for something s/he enjoys doing. I don't think there is a better parenting tool than that! (said the guy with no kids) Atleast, I wish I would've been encouraged('Way to go Johnny, endorsement deals, its a stretch, but its there) in areas of interest and ability, rather than prescribed societal expectations. I can see my Wheaties box now, and if not for those damned piano lessons, I could've been a contenda!
posted by garfield at 04:16 PM on June 17, 2003
Oh yeah, those cigarettes I've taken a liking to probably had something to do with it as well.
posted by garfield at 04:25 PM on June 17, 2003
I always like the stories of childhood basketball prodigies who grew up so po' that their moms would make a hoop with their arms and use their own body as a backboard. Folks, that is parental love. I think this is a pretty funny ploy by Reebok.
posted by vito90 at 08:14 AM on June 18, 2003
Shit, meant to post that to basketball. That'll teach me to pull people up for posting things to the wrong topic. *blush*