Simon's decision stay in school is best choice

Though admittedly I am not the most dedicated UA basketball fan, I must share my general disagreement with Scott Bricker's commentary on Tuesday entitled "Simon returns for all the wrong reasons."

Bricker asserts " ... it is unfortunate that Simon's motivations for returning were not to finish school." Furthermore, he says "[l]et's hope that Simon and others begin to realize that they ought to stay in school ... not in basketball ... " In response to both of these statements, I pose the following question: "What IS the primary motivation for which most individuals attend or want to attend college?" I suggest that not many of us would opt to forego a viable opportunity to pursue our desired professions directly, based solely upon the notion that getting a degree is "the right thing to do." In truth, most of us are here because of the presumption that we need the academic knowledge and/or the conferring of a degree in order to qualify for the next stage in our careers. Otherwise, we would already be in that next stage, as Simon has the option to do.

As a former teacher and coach of some now-collegiate athletes, I have done more than my share to encourage athletes not to assume that sports will be their life-sustaining career. I will be the first to say that education is indeed important, both to the individual and to the society (s)he is a part of. So too, however, is the opportunity to weigh one's options in life and make the decisions that are best for that individual at that point in time. I applaud Simon for seemingly having looked at his options and consequently deciding what was best for him.

Evidently the education Simon has received thus far has been enough to allow him to do what I hope we are all striving for - to not be just a product of the systems to which we belong, but to use them effectively and interactively for our benefit. Simon was fortunate enough to have two options, neither of which would forever preclude the other. For this reason, whatever his choice, his "fans" should at least support him as much as when he helped bring home the championship. Best of wishes to you, Miles, in your future endeavors ...

By Danette L. Holmes (letter)
Arizona Daily Wildcat
May 2, 1997