Tripp Roakes, South Charlotte Sports Report, Steps Up

Many people in Charlotte are discussing the problem of eliminating middle school sports. Our own Tripp Roakes is trying to do something about it.

The local Fox news did a report about eliminating middle school sports and Tripp stepped up to the plate:

"If Tripp Roakes can help it, this won't be Austin's last middle school try out. Roakes is the president of the South Charlotte Sports Report. On Wednesday, he published an editorial that reads, in part, "In a city that can raise tens of millions of dollars for a Democratic National Convention, we can't afford a $1.2 million dollar middle school program?".........

To watch the video and to read more about what Tripp has to say, check this out:http://www.foxcharlotte.com/news/nc...e-School-Sports-Can-It-Be-Done-116374574.html

It's nice to know when people are complaining about this issue, there is someone like Tripp trying to correct it.

Sadly, the school superintendent wouldn't spare a minute to respond to his emails. Obviously he doesn't seem to care or understand the importance of school sports and the role it plays in developing young men and women.

 

School sports are very important to the development of kids. The reason the school system cut middle school sports is to make political statement. They know by cutting sports and teachers, they get our attention. They then ask the community for additional dollars to support the system.

I'm sure dollars are not allocated to the best interest of the students first! Students come after protecting the teachers union, rules and reg, tradition, administrative overhead and social reengineering projects.

I know this sounds crazy, but based on my experience coaching kids for over 30 yrs including at the middle and high school level, I think elimination of middle school sports is better for our kids.

Case in point - each year 60-80 kids try out for 7-8 grade sports team. Only 8-15 make the team and the rest quit and never play again. Additionally, the school appoints a teacher to coach the kids at minimal pay and aggravation dealing with the parents, rather than looking to the community for the best coach possible.

Continuing to play via a club or rec program, these kids are better prepared for HS sports or worse case they play another couple of years vs being cut in middle school. Seems like a win / win?

For those who bring up the money issue, i.e., club/rec vs middle school sports - I'd say "what are your priorities? If you are creative and get involved, there is a program for your child."

 

Hats off to you, Mr. Roakes!! As a teenager would say: "Attendance at middle school sports sucks"! Perhaps we, as parents, can begin to show support by attending the games and showing support. I, for one, will be at every game even if I don't have a child playing.
I know Mr. Gorman has said that he sees little evidence of adult and parental support at middle school games. We better do the same thing for our HS sports.

 

middle school game schedules

Most middle school baseball fields do not have lights.
- many high school fields don't either -

For many - getting off work at 3pm to attend middle school baseball games is just not possible.

Does meck county ms baseball play on Saturdays?

 

Mr Gorman hasn't been to some of the middle school basketball or football games in South Charlotte if he is saying that. I have seen far more people at some middle school games than high school games this year.

If he really said that, its an idiotic statement to make. Maybe he should have gone with me Tuesday night to the AK-EM Playoff basketball game, there may have been 75 people at most in the gym.


I have been to some high school games this year where many of the kids parents arent even there, now that is sad to me......

 

There's your answer... play on Saturdays! One site with 3 teams would cut travel and increase attendance/concession sales.

 

This is real simple. If all the Carolina Panthers and the Charlotte Bobcats players were to donate $10,000 (chump change and tip money to them) to CMS Middle School Sports, that alone would be close to $700,000. Now ownership of both teams get together and match that and there is your money, $1.4 million (and it's all a tax write-off). What a great opportunity to create some positive press, they both need it, and make a great contribution to their community. I think it would be safe to say that 100% of the players on both rosters, and both majority owners, played middle school sports on at least one team, most more than one. How many of these professional athletes would be where they are today if there had been no middle school sports in their communities when they were growing up! My guess would be that some of them would have fallen into the traps (crime, drugs, and gangs, just to name a few) that our youngsters will have more idle time to get into without having the guidance and structure sports afford young athletes. Not all kids have strong involved parents and often the only structure they have is a coach and a team to learn some of life's most important lessons. With the rising costs of all Rec league sports, they will not be a viable option for many kids either. All athletes have a duty to GIVE BACK to their sport in some fashion. What better way for the Panthers and Bobcats and ownership groups to send a message to the Charlotte community that they care about the youth in our great city!

 

Hello to ASU86: I do not agree with you when you say: " All athletes have a duty to GIVE BACK to their sport...."
Those athletes have the right to choose where they make charitable contributions, whether to schools, church, United Way, etc. ...but let's not try to say they have a duty to give their money to a specific cause. I do agree that would be nice but who are you to decide that is their duty?
Hurry up regular season; we can't wait.

 

Bottom line: I give Tripp Roakes a salute. Someone finally seeing something that isn't right and stepping up to the plate to do something about it.

 

Peter Gorman needs to show some leadership...

and at least reply to Tripp's email. It's clear Gorman feels band and art are important and sports are not. I think they are equal. As for judging that MS sports must not be important because there are not enough seats in the seats, that is hogwash. How many people sit in on their children's Science classes? How many make to math each day, each week, once/ month? Does that make it unimportant?

I really find this topic ridiculous.