About five years ago when a Chicago high school student and basketball player was debating between Duke and the NBA. I couldn't resist, so I called the undergraduate admissions office, and told them they needed to issue a press release. I asked them to say," Mr. Livingston--I believe that was his name-- don't apply to Duke. Go into the NBA because we are not going to accept you here. Duke is fundamentally an academic institution, and we expect our students to get a degree. At most, you will stay at Duke for one, maybe two years, and that is not our objective. Besides missing the finer points of a formal education, you will leave, and demonstrate priorities that we do not endorse." I could tell from their response, that they appreciated my idea, but they had no choice but not to release a similar statement. They would have been fired even though it was best that they say this, and it demonstrated an important truth.
I have no idea what Mr. Irving's money needs are--don't we all have them?--but I think this is a slap in the face to the University and what it stands for, and to the management of Duke basketball. Coach K, you went after too much, and it's clear that Duke has been used. It might be appropriate for Coach K to apologize to the University community.
Basketball is pure entertainment. No one remembers who was the captain of the basketball team 8 years ago, but they would recall the name of the scientist who discovered the cure for aids. Education and what it can contribute to society is priceless. Who will graduate three years from now--Mr. Irving's class-- and discover a cure for cancer, or find a new principle in physics that will allow space travel to become practical, or a cure for diabetes, or make transplants safer and practical? Maybe that person could have been in Kyrie's place.
On a more personal note, education and the singular chance for a college education--what Mr. Irving will now miss--gives the individual the opportunity to learn about our world--history, art, music, science, sociology, and all things that give one the tools to navigate the waters of life with a sense of being a part of mankind. That's not going to be picked up by Mr. Irving as he travels around the courts of the world playing basketball.
On a recent trip to Scotland, my wife and I went to Edinburgh, Scotland, to visit the University. While in a cab ride to the University, I mentioned to the driver, that I wanted to see the University because so many famous philosophers had been there, and created the basis for the ideas that made America's Constitution. He them proceeded to mention David Hume, and John Locke, and then he threw in a few other well known names like Adam Smith. He did not name the captain of the Scottish football team from the 1700s,he was simply an entertainer.
What that pointed out to me was, again, the value of education and it's contributions to the lives of all of us. Oh, yes, we need entertainment, but such a public rebuke of priorities of a great University as Duke is disturbing to me, and should be upsetting to all those who love Duke and what it stands for. "Eruditio et Religio," knowledge and faith, maybe it should be Basketballio, Eruditio, et Religio, as demonstrated in yesterday's announcement from Duke basketball.
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