LeBron James:
Teen Super Athlete
Catholic Schools and Sports
By Ron Landfair

“So Dad, what do you think of LeBron James?” my son asked as I had wrote the check for his monthly tuition payment. “It is troubling son, very troubling.” Referencing his appearance on television the night before, he looked quizzically at me, and I added, “It’s a question of ethics son.” “You see,” I said. “Sometimes because you can do something, doesn’t mean that you do it. Sure, this is a very athletically talented young man, but what is the school’s responsibility to him and to it’s mission as a Catholic school?”

My son knew that James was projected as the number one draft choice in the spring NBA draft as a high school senior. What he didn’t know were estimates that the school could make between $500,000 and $1.2 million in revenues and ticket sales, that bobble-head dolls of James sell for $17, that he will no doubt receive a $20 million shoe contract sometime in the spring, that his autograph can go for $140 per signature, that as part of a touring schedule his school received $25,000 for an appearance against the top-ranked high school in the country, telecast on ESPN2, and that as the top draft choice, he will command a contract of approximately $13 million over 4-5 years. His eyes grew larger as I kept rolling the numbers out at him. “Wow, that is a lot of money!” As he left the room he quickly added, “For everybody!”

What is the duty of a Catholic school like St. Vincent-St. Mary to James, his family, the school, and it’s mission? Because it can market him and command revenues unheard of in high school athletics, is it ethical to treat him as some have suggested, as a “cash cow”? In his story on him, writer John Niyo of the Detroit News observed, “If the cover boy of this week's ESPN The Magazine is, as he’s touted, ‘Generation: NEXT,’ then what does that mean for the generations to follow? Or, more to the point, what does it mean for the fading innocence of high school athletics?” Niyo further observed:

When LeBron-mania reached its fever pitch last week, more than 300 items bearing James’ name were up for sale on eBay – it was met with considerable hand-wringing from both sides of the fence. Why ... is there such controversy surrounding an African-American teenager from a poor, single-parent home playing basketball when there seemed to be nothing but praise for, say, the celebrity of 16-year-old Olympic figure skating champion Sarah Hughes? And what of the scores of tennis and golf prodigies?

In truth, this portion of Niyo’s observations is an empty argument, because Hughes achieved her notoriety as an amateur first, on a world-wide Olympian stage. Furthermore, anyone familiar with tennis or golf knows that the best young players in those sports frequently don’t go to “regular” high school, opting instead for tennis or golf academies where they hone their skills through match play and amateur events, while also receiving specialized tutoring. However, Niyo adds:

Richard Lapchick, a prominent voice in the sociology of sports, predicts the unprecedented hype surrounding James will “fundamentally change the way we view high school athletics.” “It has to,” Lapchick told the Miami Herald, “and the change can't be for the good.” Bob Gibbons, a longtime basketball recruiting analyst who has for years been critical of the influence of corporate dollars on high school basketball (observed), “This school in Akron realizes this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity: ‘We’ve got LeBron James!’” Gibbons rates James a better talent than NBA stars Kobe Bryant, Kevin Garnett and Tracy McGrady coming out of high school. “They’re a private, parochial school, so this is a gold mine for them. And they’re exploiting it. They’re capitalizing on an asset. It’s just a business decision.” But for better or for worse, if there’s a name out there like LeBron in the future, there will be more of what we’ve seen. You can call it exploitation or not, it doesn’t really matter: It is what it is.

Such Machiavellian approaches must not and cannot be “what is” in regards to Catholic high schools and their athletic programs. Here as much as anywhere else, “the dignity of the human person” must be an operative reality for all to see. That James may profit enormously from his God-given talent is not at issue -- that the institution does, is! It is always our task as educators, administrators and coaches to present ourselves and our activities in light of the Gospel. Perhaps a reread of the tome by Rev. Richard McGrath, OSA, PhD, entitled “Athletics and the Gospel Mission of the Catholic School” (an NCEA publication) is in order. McGrath notes:

“What Catholic schools are here for cannot be taken for granted. ... Looking at the underlying values which support a Catholic school allows everyone to understand and appreciate its mission.” (5)

Under the section “The Student-Athlete,” he comments:

“Every action taken and every decision made should be viewed in the light of the student-athletes’ best interest. This is a scary thought and a great responsibility. Those involved in Catholic school athletics must consider who and what really comes first.”(9)

McGrath further observes:

“The point of view advocated here is that athletics can serve the Gospel mission in any Catholic school. However, there is nothing automatic about reaching that point, nor is it achieved simply by assuming the good will of everyone involved. The advancement of the Gospel mission of Catholic education is the best reason for athletic programs.”

“The conscientious effort of administrators, teachers, coaches, and parents is needed to keep athletics in perspective. Sports are important but they are not nearly as important as the other things a Catholic school is intended to achieve for the students, families, teachers, and coaches. Excelling athletically with a strong sports program which involves many students, parents, and faculty members generally promotes strong school spirit and is a terrific bonus and a great plus for any Catholic school.”

Catholic theologians often reflect upon how God acts in the world. Perhaps the real question is not how God acts but rather how do we as Catholics act in and upon the world? Its not enough to demand that student-athletes comport themselves as Christians. The same challenge must be administered to the parents, faculty, athletic director and coach, all of whom as adults must be Christ for the student-athlete. If what we do is the result of who we are, then what identity have we chosen for ourselves? Has the mission of Catholic schools been purchased for the expediency and immediacy for the culture of consumerism? Indeed, not just for St. Vincent-St. Mary, but for all Catholic schools the truly ponderous question that McGrath invites us to consider, is “What really does comes first?”

Athletics and the Gospel Mission of the Catholic School
by Rev. Richard McGrath, OSA, Ph.D.
National Catholic Educational Association, 2000.

The book examines how schools can and should use their athletic programs as vehicles to instill the Gospel values in students. The appendices include sample job descriptions, sample interview questions for prospective coaches, a suggested outline for running a pre-season meeting and a sample table of contents for an athletic department handbook

Tel. (202) 337-6232
email: nceaadmin@ncea.org