I teach English to freshmen and sophomores in an inner-city high school and watch each day as students do nothing in class because they are going to the NBA or will become a famous rapper. This in spite of the fact they cannot dribble a ball or carry a tune. Your article is mandatory reading for teachers and students. Stay out of the mainstream and provide diversion and entertainment for the real workers, leaders, and decision-makers. Clearly, professional athletes earn both fame and fortune, but it is unfortunate that a major product of their success has been to divert young people from aspiring to careers that would make them capable of improving society.
Kids know that our society values sports but gives education only lip service.
High school players know that their coaches have power over their teachers. Coaches are paid many times more than professors. As an immigrant from Asia, I never dreamed that this could happen. Given this attitude, if we expect our kids to outperform their counterparts in Taiwan or Japan, say, in mathematics, we are expecting a miracle. Yes, it can be isolating, frustrating, and tiring taking care of kids all day.