Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, September 29, 1993 TAG: 9309290063
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: BY KAREN BARNES STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: BOONSBORO LENGTH: Medium
And sometime within the next several months, the 24 members of Cynthia Baird's sixth-grade class at Boonsboro Elementary School will be in Sports Illustrated for Kids.
The energetic 10- and 11-year-olds responded to a debate topic suggested by the nationally distributed magazine: "Should Professional Athletes be Allowed to Talk Trash?"
The question split the class.
"I said no, because it's unnecessary," Erica Norberg said. "It can take down a player's esteem, and kids use them as role models."
But Amy Butler took the opposite stand, saying, "Yes, because as long as they keep it on the court or field where they are, no one can hear them, and it's OK."
Baird's class and another class debated the topic, and she sent in the answers. The class learned of its inclusion in the magazine last week and had its official portrait shot Tuesday morning.
"We heard about it one morning, and we were shocked and excited," William Foster said. "Sports Illustrated should go to big cities, not out here."
Most of the class members raised their hands when asked if they play sports. They discussed how they handle such situations when they are competing.
"I swim, and when I don't make the time I was wishing for, I just put my head under a towel and think about something else," Ryan Nash said.
Soccer player Sarah Johnston said she kicks other players' shins if they steal the ball from her. Brandon Eagle, a football player, suggested pushing other people around, because the pads protect them.
Answers to the debate question ranged from Beau Kidd's opinion, "No, because they should play the game, not talk it," to Taylor Willis, who drew upon her softball experience. "When I play softball, my dad talks to me like `Bend your knees,' and that makes me play better," Taylor said.
Carrie Tomlinson, a cheerleader, theorizing that players simply answer the fans' shouts, voted yes. Other responses yielded some interesting ideas.
"Yes," Brandon Eagle said, "because it might help other players get angry and play better." But parents might get angry if their children's role models talk trash, Crystal Mays said.
Although the class's enthusiasm for the topic is strong, the excitement about being in the magazine is greater. "We were all excited," Karen Karetski said. "We couldn't stop thinking about it."
Along with the anticipation is a dash of nerves. "All our friends will see it, and I'm a little nervous," Sarah Johnston said.
But Beau Kidd has plans for his copies. "This would be a great stocking stuffer," he said.
by CNB