Just a day before Kentucky Derby 133, I am once again, reminded of the emphasis put on sports, and how academics has somehow slipped to a lower status. We can see this in the way that professional athletes are treated, the huge paychecks they receive, and how they are called “heroes,” though they are not actually doing anything more than playing a game –even though they may do it very well. Those who achieve academic excellence may get some recognition and good paying jobs, but few are those who will reach the status or wealth of a good pro athlete.
This trend has extended into the animal kingdom. The prize money and status of horseracing’s winners, is huge. A Triple-Crown winner becomes a historical icon. These Thoroughbreds receive the best food, training, and a lot of drugs. In this way, it is much the same as it is with human beings in professional sports.
But what about the academic standouts in the equine world? I once saw a horse that could answer math problems by stamping the correct (number of times for the) answer. This animal worked for a circus, and was not rich nor was he famous. Not only that, smart (male) horses are frequently gelded to make them more docile. This would not happen to a champion racehorse. They are encouraged to breed!
It is time that we pay more attention to our academic standouts, and realize that sports are nothing more than games. There are a lot of smart horses out there, that never become historical icons and that seems a bit unfair.
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