The Last Shot Essay Example

The Last Shot Essay Dan McCarthy Fall Semester 2010 Dr. Rich Miller Essay #2: The Last Shot The dream of creating a greater life for oneself and family through the game of basketball is not restricted to any time or place in American history. As long as there is a court, there lies the opportunity to experience the hoop dream. For the likes of Tchaka, Russell, Corey, and Bill Russell, their paths may have been different, but their struggle for greatness in the ever-shrinking window of the hoop dream is all too familiar. The Last Shot by Darcy Frey chronicles the lives of three basketball players and their struggle on the streets of Coney Island, New York in the early 1990’s. The book covers eight months of the journey of Tchaka Shipp, Russell Thomas, and Corey Johnson as they ward off the temptations of agents, college coaches, and drug lords in the ruthless city of Coney Island. Frey follows these athletes from the conclusion of their junior year at Abraham Lincoln High School through their senior year, allowing the reader to watch their growth as athletes, as well as their trials in attempting to realize the hoop dream. We will write a custom essay sample on The Last Shot specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on The Last Shot specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on The Last Shot specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer For both the Coney Island classmates and Bill Russell, there was a limiting factor that in their time and place prevented them from reaching their full potential of success in the game of basketball. In the case of Corey, Russell, and in a lesser sense Tchaka, it was their intelligence in the classroom. Being raised in an inner-city educational environment such as the one provided by Coney Island is an entirely detrimental experience for those who are looking to experience a higher education at some point in their lives. There were multiple occasions in the story that alluded to the players’ inability to score high enough on their SAT’s as the reason for being unable to play for a Division I team in the NCAA. However, their failure to score a 700, the required threshold to stay eligible for a Division 1 scholarship, was no fault of their own. â€Å"But the requirement has proved to be an insurmountable obstacle to thousands of black players like Russell, Corey, and Stephon with poor educations and no experience in taking standardized tests,† (Frey, 187). Their school system had always put basketball before education, and for most of their lives the Coney Island crew did the same. They are merely a byproduct of a broken system that prevents thousands of talented basketball players in inner cities and beyond from realizing their full potential on the basketball court. Although intelligence was never a limiting factor for the likes of Bill Garrett, he dealt with a crueler discriminating factor that prevented him realizing the hoop dream in his upbringing- the color of his skin. Despite excelling on and off the basketball court, Bill was plagued with the backdrop of 1950’s rural Indiana, where it took a lot more than a double-double for an African-American to be accepted in society. Before Bill suited up for Indiana University, there was a â€Å"gentleman’s agreement not to recruit or play blacks,† (Graham, 92). This prevented many star players before Garrett, including Johnny Wilson, who was named Indiana’s â€Å"Mr. Basketball† in 1946, from experiencing the hoop dream for themselves simply because of their skin color. Whether these athletes were limited by their education, or limited by the color of their skin, their journeys in attempting to realize the hoop dream each had their share of road blocks in a system seemingly built for them to fail. Another harsh reality of the hoop dream is that it is painfully selective of who is fortunate enough to experience it for themselves. Although Tchaka’s, Russell’s, Corey’s, and Bill Garrett’s stories each unfolded differently, they were all dealt with the same harsh realization- that the hoop dream was not theirs to experience. It was how each of these players handled their failure that defined them as basketball players, as well as human beings. In Coney Island, New York, the expectation of basketball players is to reach for the stars, and if they don’t make it then they spiral back down the Earth until they’ve hit rock bottom, just like all of those who came before. â€Å"All of the great Coney Island players, a few surviving all right, but most of them waiting vainly for a second chance, hanging out in the neighborhood, or dead,† (Frey, 227). Precisely was the fate of Tchaka and Russell, who despite having years of playing in â€Å"the Garden† and blossoming as pure talents at Abraham Lincoln High School, they simply did not have what it took to make it in the NBA. Their stories after basketball was put in the rear-view mirror are nothing short of tragic, and leave the reader wondering what if certain events transpired differently for the stars of Coney Island. Although Bill Garrett was also unable to experience the hoop dream as a member of the Boston Celtics, he was able to make the best of his situation as he had done many times before by remaining involved in the game he held so dear. This is where his story veers off from the likes of Tchaka and Russell. His life did not end with his basketball dreams; he instead used the education he earned at IU to make a name for himself off of the basketball court, and led his life in the same manner as he led himself as a forerunner for Indiana basketball. Although there are so many similarities between these players in how they succeeded in their realms, but failed to reach to supreme goal of playing in the NBA, their vast differences in life after the hoop dream is a somber reminder of the much fewer opportunities for success there are for those who were raised in Coney Island, New York as compared to Shelbyville, Indiana. Following in the footsteps of those in The Last Shot, Sebastian Telfair emerged as a phenomenon in Coney Island during the early 2000’s. The story of his transition from high school court menace to NBA lottery-pick superstar is chronicled in the ESPN documentary Through the Fire. And it’s easy to see that the piece was filmed right in the heart of the Coney Island projects, bringing Darcy Frey’s classic to life. There are many scenes from the book that almost come to life before the viewer’s very eyes as we watch Sebastian Telfair’s journey through the fire. The Last Shot focuses heavily on those who failed to realize the hoop dream, and who were left to live in Coney Island. Darcy Frey often referred to the Marbury brothers, who all failed to reach the pinnacle of success that the youngest Stephon achieved in the NBA. However, the pain endured by those who failed before him is not truly investigated like Jamal Thomas’ struggle in Through the Fire. As Sebastian Telfair’s half-brother, he watched his younger brother realize the dream he had for himself, all while continuing to live in the dreaded Coney Island projects. When asked what it was like o return to Coney Island after getting so close to the hoop dream himself, he provided a chilling response that encapsulates the agony of reaching for the stars, and grabbing at nothing. â€Å"As long as I’m here, it’s pain. As long as I’m here, it’s pain,† said Thomas. (Through the Fire) One of the most interesting parts of The Last Shot to read through was Tchaka’s experience at the ABCD camp and his first blatant encounter with college coaches and the â₠¬Å"sneaker pimps. † It was the first time the pressure was heavily on him to succeed and make a name for himself in front of some of the top coaches in the nation. While it was fantastic to read how Tchaka rose from essentially a no-name to a highly sought-after big man by the end of the camp, one could really get a feel for the intensity through Sebastian Telfair’s eyes in Through the Fire. Already headlined as one of the top prospects heading into the Nike camp, Telfair had a lot to prove in front of the big name coaches and agents who would help dictate where he would start his career. Like Tchaka nearly a decade before, Telfair stole the show at the camp, and even gained the attention of Sports Marketing legend Sonny Vaccarro (Through the Fire). Being able to compare and contrast how each player handled being under the spotlight was a real treat, and wouldn’t have been possible without getting a second-hand look of Coney Island by watching Through the Fire. Works Cited Frey, Darcy. The Last Shot. New York: Mariner Books, 2004. Print. Graham, Tom, and Rachel Graham Cody. Getting Open: The Unknown Story of Bill Garrett and the Integration of College Basketball. Bloomington: Indiana UP, 2006. Print. Through the Fire. Dir. Jonathan Hock. ESPN Original Entertainment, 2006. DVD.

How to Prevent Caregiver Burnout

How to Prevent Caregiver BurnoutBecause of a variety of reasons, personal caregivers are more involved in their work than they have ever been before. Their increased involvement in their jobs has many studies in mind and is highly cited as a cause for caregiver burnout.Caregivers are typically those who have cared for a loved one and want to continue the care giving as a career. Whether it is a loved one that is in need of constant medical attention or someone who needs daily help with basic chores like getting dressed, caring for an elderly or disabled person may be just what the doctor ordered.The job of caring for a person in need of care may be emotionally draining, physically taxing, and mentally draining as well. Many times, if the caregiver does not take the time to truly enjoy their work and truly enjoy their clients, they become drained and they do not remain at the position they are in. On the other hand, some caregivers enjoy the work and want to stay in the field because they can be self-motivated and they truly enjoy what they do.However, increasing the level of involvement in care giving does not guarantee a greater success rate. As mentioned, the caregiver is continually burning out due to emotional, physical, and mental demands and workloads. This is due to the fact that the caregiver gets totally involved in their work and is involved in the job. The overwhelming feeling of this overwhelming work load can actually lead to personal caregiver burnout.Burnout occurs when too much time is spent on work and the needs of the client are not being met. Those who are skilled at their work became very upset and experience a great deal of stress. In addition, they may take longer to finish their work, spend more time fixing what is wrong with the client, and not have enough time to bond with the client and work with them to handle the problems their client is having.One way to combat caregiver burnout is to ask yourself several questions before you hire s omeone to be your caregiver. Look at how long the caregiver has been caring for someone or what skills the caregiver has acquired to help them care for someone, and if the caregiver has ever experienced any type of emotional burnout.Personal caregiver burnout can also be caused by the intensity of care giving. Often times, if a caregiver is spending their entire life caring for someone, they are burnt out at a certain point.When it comes to personal caregiver burnout, the best thing to do is to look for a trained, licensed caregiver that is able to handle the needs of a client while also caring for themselves and being fully emotionally and physically involved in their work. Becoming well-rounded and emotionally healthy will ultimately allow a caregiver to remain a caregiver for many years to come.

How to Write a Multi-Paragraph Essay

How to Write a Multi-Paragraph EssayIf you want to learn how to write a multi-paragraph essay, it will help to have some help. The problem with most people is that they cannot write more than one or two paragraphs at a time and have no idea what to do when they get stuck.Most topics and examples from 'How to Write a Multi-Paragraph Essay' will be written in the first person. This can make your writing feel a little strange. There are some simple ways to make this easier.When you write first, use first person pronouns like I, we, and you. You can also use third person pronouns like you or me. This will make your writing flow better and make it easier to understand.When you have a first person paragraph, make sure that you use the present tense for all of your sentences. Write it as if you were actually talking. For example, instead of writing, 'He walked across the room,' you could write, 'He walked across the room.' This makes your sentences easier to read.Sometimes, when you are wri ting in the present tense, you can include a question in your sentence. For example, you can say, 'What was his goal?' You can also ask a question in the sentence before the subject.It is easier to write a multi-paragraph essay if you have a subject to center the paragraph around. For example, instead of writing about your work situation, you can write about your vacation. The subject will keep your paragraphs flowing and give them a sense of direction.The structure of a multi-paragraph essay will be the same as a normal essay, but itcan take longer to complete. This is because you will be writing each paragraph on its own. Try to write each paragraph as fast as you can so that you can get it down before your brain has a chance to get busy.Writing a multi-paragraph essay is not a difficult thing to do, but it can seem like it is for many people. Learn how to write a multi-paragraph essay by learning about the different styles of writing. When you get a little more experience, you wi ll be able to read and rewrite your own work as if it were a single paragraph essay.

Research Paper Topics For Those Who Want to Go Back to School

Research Paper Topics For Those Who Want to Go Back to SchoolThe biggest research paper topics for a college student, aside from choosing a major, are college applications and scholarships. However, in today's time, it seems that the popularity of online college degree programs has exploded, which has led to more funding and more universities making online classes and other online degree programs available.With more college students going to college online these days, more research papers are being written on the subject of online college degree programs. So, if you are a student interested in pursuing your studies online, but would still like to know what research paper topics you should be focusing on, here are some of the top research paper topics for those who wish to go back to school.One of the first things you should consider when deciding on research paper topics for yourself is whether or not you can attend classes at all. If you cannot, then your best option would be to stu dy part time, which would also help you fit your school's schedule. If you are still young enough, you may also have the option of taking some advanced or professional courses, such as a master's program, a Ph.D. or something related to business.Another important research paper topics for those who want to take online classes is what type of classes to take. It would be ideal to choose a college or university that offers traditional subjects, but also classes that allow students to pursue other interests as well. Students who would like to get a degree in medicine, engineering, etc., might benefit the most from having classes that are math-based, such as calculus. For those who would like to do the theoretical work in college, but would want to apply it to practical matters, such as being an architect, then an environment-based class might be just the thing.In addition to these traditional subjects, research paper topics for the future student include careers-related subjects, such as human resources, law, accounting, finance, sociology, education, etc. This is where you need to be sure that your online college degree is truly focused in the subject of your choice, and it does not end up being 'online sociology' or some other 'minor' subject. This way, you will avoid having a dead-end job after graduation.Another important topic to study when deciding on an online college degree would be how the online class works. Are there requirements to complete certain parts of the course? Some schools will require specific exams or tests to be taken to be eligible for the course, which could include tests of mathematical skills or even tests that have to do with writing.If you are planning to attend online classes for the first time, it is important to learn some of the research paper topics before you decide. In doing so, you will be more informed about what is required of you. This way, you will avoid wasting time on subjects that you are unprepared for.