Certain kinda sickness?

[nephron]

I was reading an article on Alessi somewhere on the net, and he explained that he's got an SX track in the front yard and 2 MX tracks behind his house up a bit into the foothills.

Tell me guys and gals (I don't really have an opinion yet--just want to hear your opinions on this)--does it take a certain kind of mental illness to take your kids and do that to them, or is it normal, healthy behavior? I realize that it 'depends' on a lot of things, but think about strictly the scenario of an SX in the front yard, 2 MX tracks out back, home schooling, and the fact that most of this was started and planned before it was known whether or not these kids were any good yet?

Not just the Alessi's...it was (is) the Stewarts, the Carmichaels, etc....think about this: the only FRANKLY and bread 'n butta' and frighteningly, irrefutably successful riders seem to have been 'engineered' from peewee days--all stops out.

The only ones I've met are the Stewart's, and that's a seriously SOLID family (I was one of the guys originally bagging that family up--particularly when Bubba Sr. left Texas stadium during a race). Wonderful people. So relaxed, so kind...Sr. even woke James up from a nap b/t signing sessions at Vegas to sign for just 'some' lady who really wanted his autograph. :cool:

Of course, Carmichael is none the same--quite a different person (and I respect that as well), so 'this' formula doesn't seem to 'ruin' people.

So are they taking the risk of ruining their children for fame and fortune? Are they living altruistically through their children? Are they, like all of us, simply trying to provide a childhood they could never have had otherwise? Is this love, is this selfishness, or is this something in between?

I don't know. Anyone? (I know I can count on Ivan here. :laugh: )

 

[truespode]

Originally posted by nephron
Anyone? (I know I can count on Ivan here. :laugh: )

LOL!

Actually, I have no clue. I guess it may come with opportunity. If you are a parent and you start your kid racing on a PW50 and they ask for a track in the backyard and you have a Bobcat you would probably build it. Maybe as the kid gets better the track gets bigger as the parents put in more time and then the kid gets recognized by some sponsor and money starts to flow in and allows them to buy more land, etc.

Or maybe the mini-dads are correct... damn I hope that is NOT the case.

Ivan

 

[marcusgunby]

My friend tony has a son thats really starting to show promise with his riding-he can zoom across bumps that are as big as his KTM 50s wheels, tony finds it very hard to watch his son try anything new or any bigger jumps.It makes my stomach turn to think what might go wrong and if that was Ross.I know jamie dobbs dad was once furious because they invited a championship rider over to his private track, and he did a triple jamie couldnt do(jamie was on a 80 however) he scolded him alot for not doing that triple, i would much prefer not to see a kid try a triple.

 

[XRpredator]

I'm with you, neph. Seems a tad excessive to me, but I guess the folks are banking on their kids' skills to provide them a comfortable life. I don't dig all the home-schooling, though, because how is it going to prepare a kid for life after MX (either through injury or retirement)? I'm starting to see a little bit of mini-dad coming out in my brother, because my nephew has the skills (and lack of fear!) that could take him a ways. I keep him grounded, though, by calling him Tony Allessi. ;)

There's other things out there besides motorcycles. Kids gotta learn that.

 

[490Dave]

Sounds pretty sick, to me!!!

Where do i sign up??

 

[bclapham]

have a look at tennis first (especially before bagging on Travis)

Jenifer Capriati was on crack by 18. Martina Hingis was world #1 and had to retire though injury by the age of not much older. I think Anna Kournikova is retiting through injury also, but i think she might have a future making movies!:)

 

[Chili]

I think it's a very fine line between being supportive and excessive. I don't agree with home schooling simply to make more time for MX but there are many that are home schooled for other reasons. My son Troy is really getting into his racing this year and wants to practice as much as possible but the nearest track for us is a 45 minute drive, you can bet if I had the land and the ability I would make a track in my yard and eliminate that 45 minute drive 2-3 times a week!

 

[rybo3]

what do these parents do for a living, while they are spending all their time driving to tracks, home schooling, track building and bike maintenance.

 

[XRpredator]

rybo, they live off their kids. :|

 

[SterlingYZ]

That is actually a good question. Bikes, traveling, daily costs of food, and parts not covered by sponsors, ADD UP. I mean, at those ages, in the amateur levels, parents can't live off of their kids, not until they are ALREADY WINNING champs (I realize you were joking Predator). So, are most mini parents independantly wealthy to start with? I read a blurb in a recent magazine about Nicco Izzi, and it said that he and his Mom travel all over the country to race while his Dad works back home. Now don't get me wrong, I love MX more than any other sport, but life, and maturity is a balance of expierence, and knowledge. Are these young racers getting a fair shake at life, or just at racing. What happens when they stop racing and realize they missed most the experiences that make us who we are, a part of our society? Beyond that, what kind of marriages do these lifestyles as miniparents form? I can only imagine. So often I wish what it would have been like if I had the chance to race nationally as a child, then I sit and wonder how many young racers wish they had the chance to experience all of the "normal" life dealings that has helped make me a mature man. All of a sudden, it seems in many ways these life long, fully committed racers are really missing out. I am glad have loved MX since middle school over 15 years ago, but I am MORE glad I have had the priviledge to live a well rounded, healthy life, with loving, nuturing parents. I am not a national champion, but... I have options, something I worry some of these kids don't have. With that said, NOW all I need is to find someone to pay to take me all around the country to race!! Enough with maturity, I WANT TO MOTO!! :)

-Sterling

 

[Barbarian]

I can see where you're coming from. As much as I like riding, it's an individualistic sport, and too much focus on it can make a person selfish. Balance in life is so important. My kids will have the oportunity to ride a lot, even race now and then if they want to, but not all the time.
I want them to hang out with other kids doing normal stuff, not become spoiled moto-brats living in their own little world all the time.
The only way I might reconsider was if a kid showed so much talent that I thought he might could actually make it. But even then it will just be local races untill he can beat all of the local experts. He'll have crusty bikes and gear that are functional but not pretty. None of this traveling around and blowing all my cash and time ****.

 

[markthomps]

Some parents do "plan" their kids' future this way in a lot of sports. It's the rule nowadays, no matter what the sport is. Can it warp the kid? Sure. Can it also produce champions? Yeah again. If a kid has talent in any sport, and you're a good parent, you try to nuture it and open up all the possibilities that talent offers (and it can be musical or mathematical talent, not just sports). But do some parents live vicarously thru their kids and spoil everything? You damn betcha. The problem, as with most things in life, is finding the correct balance and drawing the line. Besides, who wants to be normal?

 

[Milk]

I kinda grew up in a similiar situation.

I starting playing baseball at the age of 4. I showed a lot of promise. By the age of 8, I had every team calling my mom wanting me to play for them. I wasnt home-schooled, but I did miss out on a lot of activities that normal young kids and teenagers get to do. I never was able to have a spring break vacation. I was normally in three different leagues and I played 2 or 3 games most week nights and had tournaments on every weekend, and practiced on the days there were no games, but I always managed to make good grades and stay on top of school. This lasted until I was 18, and then I went to college on full scholarships to play as well.

Never once did my mom push me to play. We did it because I wanted to do it, not her. I enjoyed it. She enjoyed it as well, but she wasnt like the "mini-dad's" you find at the track. My dad left me and my mom and brother when I was 5, and he didnt contribute to us financially one bit. My mom would pay my dues and buy my cleats and gloves, give me her last dollar to get a coke after the game with the guys, and sit in the parking lot and wait for the gate to close, just so she could come and watch me. She sacrificed a lot so I would be able to do something that I loved to do.

Im sure in the back of her mind, and a lot of other people's, she envisioned me playing pro ball and maybe making it a little easier for her to live. I would have loved to have been able to give her that comfort for all of the sacrifices she made for me, but it wasnt to be. I was able to give a little back, but not nearly what she has invested in me.

I think I grew up to be an ok guy. Im not a social derelict, but I do have my quirks, as some of you know. I was paid a lot of attention from the time I was 7 or so, until i was around 23. Im no better or worse for it I dont think. I sure did have a lot of fun doing what I loved though, and I think most kids that are being discussed, are getting to do that as well.

I also think that the kids that are "naturally talented" at something arent the ones that are being yelled at by their moms and dads to go faster, go bigger, and win.

Theresa little chunk of ole Milks life. Maybe it helps. Maybe it doesnt. :)

 

[travisg]

I don't necessarily agree with the homeschooling because I feel kids need to learn how to interact with other kids. But then you also have to consider abilities of homeschooler, school districts and structure of home school program. In response to the racing it has to be the child's choice. If the child is not initiating the desire to race, travel, miss on other sports than it is no different than the parents at the little league games that make complete idiots and completely embarass there kids. And we have all seen these same parents at the moto cross tracks. It would be nice if my kids chose to ride and I could provide the opportunites (tracks, bikes adn traveling).

 

[truespode]

After seeing a lot of kids lately who are coming from the public school sector I'm considering preparing to home school our kids when we have them. I'm already trying to plan for when my wife can quite work so we can build an infrastructure around them.

I will want my children to have the opportunity to interact with other children but from what I've seen in public schools I do not want the public school system to be the primary educational tool for my children (and my sister-in-law is a school teacher and a really good one).

Ivan

 

[WhKnuckle]

I remember David Bailey saying he was "tired of seeing 4 year olds in a semi at Loretta Lynn's". I really wonder how a kid would do in the sport if he wasn't allowed to ride big races until he was 13 or so - and he was mature enough to handle some pressure without developing the paranoia that some kids have (note Alessi talking about having a "lot to lose" being around public schools and the dangers from other kids in a recent RacerX interview). In addition, some of those kids have an awful lot of injuries before they're fully grown - nee Travis Pastrana.

It really is a shame that some parents invest so much of their dreams in their kids, although I'd agree that at least they spend time together. Maybe they should make kids get to 18 before they could get a pro license.