Rummpd
08-27-2005, 04:02 PM
A column I had to write recently - feel free to take your shots. I am sure at least one David Robinson feels much the same way.
Regards to all and by the way will be in SA in later Novermber to give a presentation at the medical school. Hope to meet some of you.
Peter
http://www.hoopsworld.com/member/article_8118.shtml (normally takes a subscription
Your situtation is really not the same - Dwight or JR with that of War!--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
By Peter Rumm, MD
"SportsDoc for the Fans"
for HOOPSWORLD.com
Aug 27, 2005, 09:25
In the minds of J.R. Smith and Dwight Howard, "if an 18-year-old can choose to join the military and get sent to Iraq, he should also have the choice of offering his services to an NBA team." The above commonly expressed sentiments were shared in this case by Mr. Scott Stump, a writer for the Asbury Park Press.
On first impression what Mr. Smith and Mr. Howard are saying makes a lot of sense, however, as a former enlisted Army medic and doctor, public health official, and receiver of battlefield casulties this sentiment just doesn't totally fly with me.
Freedom does not just happen, it is an earned responsibility, and I for one am not yet sure that most 16-18 year olds are ready for the plush life of NBA basketball.
Of course our constitution is based on freedom and liberty and many men (and some women) have died protecting the ability of Americans to work and live in an open as society as possible.
Is that not the same? In reality, it is not, for many enter our military these days without few economic or professional options and do the work that others would do if we had a comparable system to an NBA draft or another system to share the sacrifice.
In fact, I recently was at the famous Walter Reed Army Medical Center where I saw a brave African American young officer who had lost an arm and an ear in a blast - was she really doing this to protect the interest of Dwight Howard and J.R. Smith? Maybe in a sense she was, as she almost gave her life willingly (there is not unlike the NBA, a draft today) to protect American freedom and the interests.
In summation of my views however, it really is a stretch to compare the choice, made again often on difficult economic grounds by young men and women of America lower socio-economic classes, to enter freely the hard life and discipline of the U.S. military - with the much more privileged choices of a potential future NBA star. That choice is often between quitting a free ride in school and try to become an instant millionaire. Most importantly, in each choice, if successful, he will still be playing what, when all is send and done, is not only a business but a game.
As I have lived at least the former (the military firsthand) - there is just absolutely no comparison with the lifestyle choice that is being made, or the seriousness of the decision to enter the military, versus the decision that Dwight Howard and JR Smith both made in deciding between two potentially good choices.
These young men, whether at 18 or 20 will still enter a world beyond the economic realm of my lifestyle as a doctor and successful professional - does it really matter if it is delayed a few months or for a few million less?
Another harsh reality one can retort to such young men eager to go into the NBA is that it may for some not be all it is cracked up to be - they may sit on a bench buried, ala Darko Milicic or other young talent, under a coach like a Brown or Karl.
That being said it is nothing like a boot camp, training with live bullets or live grenades, Ranger or Seal School, or war itself.
Recognizing its faults, the military is not without its strong positives! One great thing the military does in particular is to really stress discipline and teamwork. You also are as an enlisted "giving a buddy". You also have a tight squad and support network at least in the best units.
Believe me the Rangers, Seals, Marines, Air Force Air - Sea - Land Rescue Teams, and the renowned Delta Force and Special Forces (as well as many other units) have instituted through harsh training and discipline the type of teamwork that would make any NBA coach proud!
Plus the military really does enforce (and did enforce in me) a lifetime of deep love for country and respect for our institutions that have been tempered by 200 plus years living as an open society that many in the world still envy.
The pride I earned and deeply still feel for my country and its often begrudged military was derived coming up the ranks (from a private first class to being an Lt. Colonel) is expressed in the famous motto of West Point graduates that were expressed by General MacArthur's Thayer Award Speech in 1962:
"Duty, Honor, Country"
"Those three hallowed words reverently dictate what you ought to be, what you can be, what you will be. They are your rallying point to build courage when courage seems to fail, to regain faith when there seems to be little cause for faith, to create hope when hope becomes forlorn."
(For more details on the motto, professional responsibilities, and the challenging lifestyle an officer takes on willingly - please read an eloquent and wonderful book by Rick Atkinson called the "Long Gray Line").
In reality, this motto has become the creed of the entire professional (and today entirely non-drafted) U.S. militia. These brave men and women willingly embrace a life that is one of severe discipline, sacrifice, true teamwork and harsh penalties for non-compliance.
At times, some of these leaders will also have to embrace the idea that an order could make some of these brave heroes die - and now in Iraq as in other places before, this can happen every day. We should all be eternally grateful for their sacrifice and drive to protect us.
This teamwork has to go beyond the realm of the pick and roll, the full court press, or the intricate details of a 2-3 zone; again it is about life and death, trust and sacrifice, and protecting our lifestyle and national interests of our freely elected leaders.
As a young private through my progression to the ranks of a senior officer - I learned that firsthand without teamwork of the highest order and the ability to follow orders, young men and women would die. Along the way, in various places and times, I saw wards filled with those that suffered and many funerals for those who died to protect us.
In the end, one must truly recognize that the daily sacrifices of our soldiers, sailors, airmen and women, and marines go far beyond any sacrifice any player will ever have to make to wait a year - so lets stop pretending that the in reality, incomparable situations or sacrifices, are comparable!
I will also say openly to young men like Dwight Howard and J.R. Smith and other NBA rising stars: Honor them frequently in your professional actions and words.
Recall that many such brave men and women have died throughout the years so that such a discussion can be undertake freely in an open society!
Give freely when asked to give benefits or to travel to see our servicemen and women.
They rightfully deserve that from you, not simplistic comparisons on their situations with yours!
"Sportdoc to the Fans"
Gotta Response? E-mail It Here
Regards to all and by the way will be in SA in later Novermber to give a presentation at the medical school. Hope to meet some of you.
Peter
http://www.hoopsworld.com/member/article_8118.shtml (normally takes a subscription
Your situtation is really not the same - Dwight or JR with that of War!--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
By Peter Rumm, MD
"SportsDoc for the Fans"
for HOOPSWORLD.com
Aug 27, 2005, 09:25
In the minds of J.R. Smith and Dwight Howard, "if an 18-year-old can choose to join the military and get sent to Iraq, he should also have the choice of offering his services to an NBA team." The above commonly expressed sentiments were shared in this case by Mr. Scott Stump, a writer for the Asbury Park Press.
On first impression what Mr. Smith and Mr. Howard are saying makes a lot of sense, however, as a former enlisted Army medic and doctor, public health official, and receiver of battlefield casulties this sentiment just doesn't totally fly with me.
Freedom does not just happen, it is an earned responsibility, and I for one am not yet sure that most 16-18 year olds are ready for the plush life of NBA basketball.
Of course our constitution is based on freedom and liberty and many men (and some women) have died protecting the ability of Americans to work and live in an open as society as possible.
Is that not the same? In reality, it is not, for many enter our military these days without few economic or professional options and do the work that others would do if we had a comparable system to an NBA draft or another system to share the sacrifice.
In fact, I recently was at the famous Walter Reed Army Medical Center where I saw a brave African American young officer who had lost an arm and an ear in a blast - was she really doing this to protect the interest of Dwight Howard and J.R. Smith? Maybe in a sense she was, as she almost gave her life willingly (there is not unlike the NBA, a draft today) to protect American freedom and the interests.
In summation of my views however, it really is a stretch to compare the choice, made again often on difficult economic grounds by young men and women of America lower socio-economic classes, to enter freely the hard life and discipline of the U.S. military - with the much more privileged choices of a potential future NBA star. That choice is often between quitting a free ride in school and try to become an instant millionaire. Most importantly, in each choice, if successful, he will still be playing what, when all is send and done, is not only a business but a game.
As I have lived at least the former (the military firsthand) - there is just absolutely no comparison with the lifestyle choice that is being made, or the seriousness of the decision to enter the military, versus the decision that Dwight Howard and JR Smith both made in deciding between two potentially good choices.
These young men, whether at 18 or 20 will still enter a world beyond the economic realm of my lifestyle as a doctor and successful professional - does it really matter if it is delayed a few months or for a few million less?
Another harsh reality one can retort to such young men eager to go into the NBA is that it may for some not be all it is cracked up to be - they may sit on a bench buried, ala Darko Milicic or other young talent, under a coach like a Brown or Karl.
That being said it is nothing like a boot camp, training with live bullets or live grenades, Ranger or Seal School, or war itself.
Recognizing its faults, the military is not without its strong positives! One great thing the military does in particular is to really stress discipline and teamwork. You also are as an enlisted "giving a buddy". You also have a tight squad and support network at least in the best units.
Believe me the Rangers, Seals, Marines, Air Force Air - Sea - Land Rescue Teams, and the renowned Delta Force and Special Forces (as well as many other units) have instituted through harsh training and discipline the type of teamwork that would make any NBA coach proud!
Plus the military really does enforce (and did enforce in me) a lifetime of deep love for country and respect for our institutions that have been tempered by 200 plus years living as an open society that many in the world still envy.
The pride I earned and deeply still feel for my country and its often begrudged military was derived coming up the ranks (from a private first class to being an Lt. Colonel) is expressed in the famous motto of West Point graduates that were expressed by General MacArthur's Thayer Award Speech in 1962:
"Duty, Honor, Country"
"Those three hallowed words reverently dictate what you ought to be, what you can be, what you will be. They are your rallying point to build courage when courage seems to fail, to regain faith when there seems to be little cause for faith, to create hope when hope becomes forlorn."
(For more details on the motto, professional responsibilities, and the challenging lifestyle an officer takes on willingly - please read an eloquent and wonderful book by Rick Atkinson called the "Long Gray Line").
In reality, this motto has become the creed of the entire professional (and today entirely non-drafted) U.S. militia. These brave men and women willingly embrace a life that is one of severe discipline, sacrifice, true teamwork and harsh penalties for non-compliance.
At times, some of these leaders will also have to embrace the idea that an order could make some of these brave heroes die - and now in Iraq as in other places before, this can happen every day. We should all be eternally grateful for their sacrifice and drive to protect us.
This teamwork has to go beyond the realm of the pick and roll, the full court press, or the intricate details of a 2-3 zone; again it is about life and death, trust and sacrifice, and protecting our lifestyle and national interests of our freely elected leaders.
As a young private through my progression to the ranks of a senior officer - I learned that firsthand without teamwork of the highest order and the ability to follow orders, young men and women would die. Along the way, in various places and times, I saw wards filled with those that suffered and many funerals for those who died to protect us.
In the end, one must truly recognize that the daily sacrifices of our soldiers, sailors, airmen and women, and marines go far beyond any sacrifice any player will ever have to make to wait a year - so lets stop pretending that the in reality, incomparable situations or sacrifices, are comparable!
I will also say openly to young men like Dwight Howard and J.R. Smith and other NBA rising stars: Honor them frequently in your professional actions and words.
Recall that many such brave men and women have died throughout the years so that such a discussion can be undertake freely in an open society!
Give freely when asked to give benefits or to travel to see our servicemen and women.
They rightfully deserve that from you, not simplistic comparisons on their situations with yours!
"Sportdoc to the Fans"
Gotta Response? E-mail It Here