>>>>I don't, however, think so much that it's the kids, as it is the parents and coaches. The parents want the kids to succeed. The coaches want to win because their jobs depend on it.
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>>>Good points. It all boils down to "follow the money.." :(
>>
>>Exactly! To boot things are so competitive that kids in grade school (mostly middle school) are being scouted by colleges. Then they get to high school and, if they're really good, their high school games end up on TV.
>
>In the long run, America will be governed by women. Statistically, they more often qualify for college by brains, than by legs. Therefore, they should be, in the average, more academically oriented.
>
>I still don't understand how can sports be so important for academic achievement... and I never may.

One word: Money. Universities (Division I) get millions of dollars from TV contracts. This money goes, in some part, to fund women's sports.

Not a year goes by without some school getting caught for violations of recuiting. Not a year goes by without some coach getting fired despite the fact he had a winning record (see Notre Dame).

This just doesn't extend to the colleges, but to the high schools as well in the form of "Booster Clubs".

It's all about the bucks.