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Gold Medalist Shea tells HS he doesn't condemn underage drinking

pyonir

pyonir

Lifer
ESPN.com article



<< Teachers unhappy with Shea's comments on drinking

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Associated Press


WEST HARTFORD, Conn. -- Olympic gold medalist Jimmy Shea surprised faculty and students in a speech Friday at his old high school by not condemning underage drinking.

Shea, whose grandfather was killed Jan. 22 in a car accident that police have blamed on a drunken driver, made his comments to students at Conard High School, where he was welcomed after winning a gold medal in skeleton at Salt Lake City.

"I'm not saying not to drink; I drank a lot in this school," Shea said to thunderous applause from students. "What I'm saying is, don't die. Don't be crippled for the rest of your life, don't lose your arm, don't mangle your face."

Shea, 33, also urged students to go to college and told them to put effort into all that they do.

"Anything can happen. I never thought I could win a gold medal," he said. "But it's not in the medal, it's in the journey."

Students said they enjoyed the speech, but some were surprised by Shea's message.

"It was definitely cool, more like he's got a connection with the students rather than the faculty. He seems like a down-to-earth guy," said student council president Todd Olmstead.

"At the same time, it's kind of a bad example," Olmstead said. "I know the administration is not entirely pleased with that. But kids probably drink no matter what."

He added that Shea's message about drinking and driving was "very powerful."

Some faculty members were disappointed in Shea's comments.

"Overall the tone was good, but it was surprising," said Barbara Sykes, who teaches special education classes and coaches the track team. "As a coach who is trying to be a role model, it's kind of discouraging."

"It kind of undercuts what we're trying to do with the students here," said Christopher Islaub, social studies teacher and field hockey coach. "Kids are gonna do what they're gonna do, but what kind of message does it send when a gold medalist says something like that?"

Principal Chuck Landroche said the energy of the speech was important, but could not condone the entire message.

"Mr. Shea is free to speak his mind, but our approach will continue to be that the use of alcohol and drugs is illegal," Landroche said.

Shea said he was concerned with the safety of the students.

"It's important to me that the kids survive. Kids are gonna do things. I'm just telling them to be responsible, to survive and not get hurt," he said.

Shea's family is the first to produce three generations of Winter Olympians. Shea's grandfather, Jack, won two gold medals in speedskating at the 1932 Olympics in Lake Placid, N.Y., and Jimmy's father, Jim Shea Sr., competed in Nordic skiing in 1964 at Innsbruck. >>



What do you think?


 
Wow, an honest athlete? Is that allowed?

edit: I actually think it was a great thing to say. When I was in high school my older sister told me this "Drinking is no big deal. I don't care if you do it but NEVER drive when you have been drinking" It was good advice then and it still is now. Responsibility is what kids should be learning not the avoidance of it.
 


<< I know the administration is not entirely pleased with that >>

Then they should have given him a freaking script. If they say that he's free to speak his mind, they shouldn't say anything when he does it.

He should have atleast made the point that breaking the law is a bad thing. What's wrong with people now-a-days?

nik
 
As opposed to those that tell of the evils of drinking and doing drugs..then go out the same night and get plastered while smoking the green?

Hey, he's real
 
The whole reason there is a legal drinking age is because of an assumption that those drinking under that age can't do it responsibly. Shea has the right attitude about it, it's an issue of responsibility, and those that see it only as a right/wrong issue because it's a legal/illegal issue don't.
 
I think it's great. What's the point of telling kids not to drink? They certainly won't listen. Instead, give 'em practical advice.
Our attitude towards underage drinking in this country is the reason for most of the problems associated with it. Kids can't be seen drinking, so they go off, party and have to drive home to mom and dad's' house. And since it's forbidden, it's even more attractive to kids.
 
i think its pretty cool. i mean 5 years ago when i was in high school most people i knew were drinking recklassely 3 or 4 days out of the week.. it was pretty bad and at that young age you dont really want to listen to anyone. the only thing you fear at times is the consequences.. Now when this guy makes a speach like that, he is relating to the students, giving them REAL CONSEQUENCES that they can relate to. Kids dont like to listen to people telling them not to do things, its in their(our) nature, but when someone that is seemingly real world down to earth "cool" to kids, they tend to at least listen and think about it
 
There is something wrong with underage drinking?

Actually, I am not so concerned about more accidents, but I know a couple of people who had severe liver problems when they were 18 because of drinking - they must have started when they were 12 or so.

Ouch.
 


<< Pretty irresponsible of him if you ask me. >>



What is so irresponsible about it? I drink, and I'm 19. However, I dont drive when I've been drinking, nor do I handle firearms or knives or heavy machinery. I was brought up getting a beer with dinner or after doing a lot of physical labor. Its no big deal for me to go drinking. I drink on the weekends most of the time, but I have gone a couple of weekends without any alcohol this quarter, and didnt care.
 


<< What do you think? >>


I think the guy's an irresponsible jackass. This is the same jackoff who declared himself a hero after he won his medal. Kudos for winning the medal Jim but, you're no hero. Parents have a hard enough time with keeping their kids away from drugs/alcohol. This guy obviously is nothing more than a child himself. I'm sure all you children think he's "real" and cool. Well there is a reason you can't drive until you're 16, can't vote/ join the military until you're 18, can't drink until you're 21, get hammered on insurance until you're 25, etc. It's because most of you are not smart/mature enough to do these things until you get to a certain age. Now I'm sure I will hear from all the children on this board who are all so responsible and model citizens. Save your breath. The statistics tell a different story. I don't argue with my own children about what I know is right and wrong and I won't argue with you.
 


<<

<< What do you think? >>


I think the guy's an irresponsible jackass. This is the same jackoff who declared himself a hero after he won his medal. Kudos for winning the medal Jim but, you're no hero. Parents have a hard enough time with keeping their kids away from drugs/alcohol. This guy obviously is nothing more than a child himself. I'm sure all you children think he's "real" and cool. Well there is a reason you can't drive until you're 16, can't vote/ join the military until you're 18, can't drink until you're 21, get hammered on insurance until you're 25, etc. It's because most of you are not smart/mature enough to do these things until you get to a certain age. Now I'm sure I will hear from all the children on this board who are all so responsible and model citizens. Save your breath. The statistics tell a different story. I don't argue with my own children about what I know is right and wrong and I won't argue with you. >>




the kids are going to do it anyways; would you rather focus on telling them not to do something they're going to still do, or would you rather focus on telling them to stay safe when they do it? this guy clearly has more sense than a lot of administrators and parents, etc, because he knows what's important and how to emphasize it.
 


<< It's because most of you are not smart/mature enough to do these things until you get to a certain age. >>



Most folks aren't smart/mature enough even when they reach legal age. And a big reason for this is because such things never get properly addressed before they reach that age. They end up having to go and find out on their own, usually fscking up in the process. Teach kids to drink responsibly, they grow up to be adults that drink responsibly. Same with driving, gun ownership, etc.
 
I think he's just a dumb 33-year old man who never grew out of feeling good when high school kids cheer for him and think of him as Mr. Popular.

I bet he went home afterwards, looked in the mirror and said, "Those kids think I'm the coolest. Jimmy, you still got it! 😎"
 
Who gives a crap what this guy says. I'm tired of seeing his mug on TV. Just b/c he won a gold medal doesn't make him an expert on anything. Get your lessons on life from your parents, not some wannabe sports star.
 
<---glad I'm not Dave Sohmer Jr.

I think Shea was wrong. He seems to show by his actions that he has little to no respect for institution in which he was invited to speak. As an American citizen I'm sure Shea is aware of the position faculty take, yet he chose to ignore that position and in fact actively spoke against it. It cannot be easy to be a teacher, it's a shame someone they invited to speak as a role model took that as an opportunity only to prove how cool he was. "I'm a cool alternative sport star I drank when I was your age just like you. I can relate to you" It's unfortunate that most of his audience will fail to see how incredibly egocentric his actions are.
 


<< Pretty irresponsible of him if you ask me. >>



Blah blah blah, whatever, kids are going to do what they want to do unless PARENTS step in, none of this crap of "peer pressure" if you are involved in your childs life then it doesn't matter what some figure skating dork has to say about drinking your kids will know better.

(P.S. I don't know if hes a figure skater or not but I also don't care).
 
You're right that it's the parents who have the greatest responsibility...but people like this guy calling it okay don't help at all...
 
The guy is human. He is an athlete not a lecturer. At least he clarified his statements afterwards.

"I want to make it very clear that I do not condone or encourage underage drinking. However, I refuse to ignore the issue of teenage drinking in high school," Shea said in a written statement. "My comments to students were open and honest, and were based on my own experiences as a high school student."

 
I think speaking to high school students is a little bit different than speaking to a 4th grader or 6th grader. Younger kids are more impressionable and will take messages like don't drink and don't do drugs to heart, if not because it's good for them, then because they are young and look to adults to have all the answers. Once you get into high school, and you are starting to realize that you are a rational, capable human being, (well I know some 30 year olds that aren't but we'll give them the benefit of the doubt) and do not need to soley rely on mom and dad for everything, a message that says "dont drink and drive, it's bad" is not going to drive the point home. High school kids will drink, I did, and I don't regret it. Although I have drank a little heavy at times and done some things I'm not proud of (although nothing illegal or dangerous, more like embarassing 🙂 ) I don't drink and drive, I don't become abusive, and normally just have a good time. I think if I hadn't drank in high school or at least before I turned 21, then I would be at lot more reckless now. I see it in my sister. She never drank in high school, and then in college got thrown into a whole different world. She started getting wasted all the time, smoked weed a little too much for a while, and drank so much that she thinks a guy fvcked her while she was pretty much passed out. I mostly blame her for the latter incident. I've seen her now that she is 21 drinking and she takes it way too far sometimes. I have to babysit her when she comes to visit me and we go out. This may seem like a rant, but the whole point is kids will drink. They see adults doing it, and having a generally good time doing it, so they want to do it since it looks like fun. They always will do it. There is absolutely no stopping it. The thing is they need to learn to control themselves when doing so. That should be the lessons that schools are teaching. I dont think they should say "yeah booze it up tonight, but don't drive", they still should not condone it, but they should be realistic that most teenagers will drink at a party or whatever and try to encourage them not to drive or cause problems. Being responsible needs to be the biggest lesson. The thing I hated the most was the moralistic @ssholes that looked down on people that drank as bad people, or trouble makers. I say get off your high horses and try to help these people you criticize for drinking realize the consequences of bad choices. Don't give them the same message they have seen over and over again. Tell them that they are still going to do whatever tehy are going to do, but to be responsible. By the way, this is a somewhat drunken rant produced by a number of vodka tonics and corona and limes that was delivered from the home of the designated driver who was kind enough to let me stay here until it stops snowing and icing. Wow, no noticeable typos either. BTW: I agree with Sheas message.
 
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