the author’s kid will likely be a fine D2 or D3 player, and there is absolutely no shame in a kid wanting to do as the author states.
Some kids want more.
My daughter receieved a full ride to an out of state D1 school in lacrosse. With her injury red shirt season, the school in question paid for 5 years, she walked away with her Masters degree in addition to her undergrad. And a semester abroad.
Kind of puts the 2K a year for 5 or 6 years in a different perspective.
I’d be willing to wager that Penn State’s baseball team is almost entirely populated with travel league players. That’s how the kids get exposure to the college coaches, by playing those big tournies.
And I’d love to know what the gratuitous shot at Cal Ripken was all about.
I don’t have any problem with travel ball. I just think kids should play community ball or little league until they turn 13. As for Ripkin - he has taken cheap shots at Little League for years.
I agree with you regarding specialized sports that are not “pickup” game in nature like lacrosse.
But this whole “specialized” teams are typical new age crap.
You have latin 3rd worlders who play in rags and lousy equipment that end up kicking butt in the majors. Why? Desire and lots of playing.
Same with basketball. Do you think black kids in the cities became great because of travel teams or clinics? No way, tons of “playing” and then if one is hungry, individual practice.