Despite his reasons, LaVar Ball is not a bad father for homeschooling LaMelo Ball
It appears the sports world is once again calling LaVar Ball one of the worst parents in sports history since he announced that's the Ball-era was over at Chino Hills High School.
Earlier this week, LaVar Ball announced that his youngest son LaMelo Ball would forgo his junior and senior years of High School for homeschooling and one-on-one training. A recent USA Today column from Nancy Armour awarded the Balls' father the worst parent in sports history.
While I too question LaVar's motives for letting his son miss high school, there's no way he is the worst dad in sports. Anyone who has watched the “Ball in the Family” series can tell you that. This is echoed by a lot of people who have spent time around LaVar too.
Full disclosure here, I grew up in Eastvale, Calif. which is only a few miles from Chino Hills. I've kept my eyes on this family since they helped Chino Hills High go undefeated and win a state title in 2015. I'm fully on the Big Baller Bandwagon and I've become a LaVar Ball empathizer since the Facebook series started (Before the series premiered, I even wrote a piece about why you should watch it). Even if it is a framed story, the show really displays how much LaVar genuinely cares for his kids and family.
I've watched every show and heard most of his interviews, while you can question LaVar's takes on NBA basketball, how can anyone question his takes on fatherhood? How can anyone act like they know what's best for any of the Ball Brothers considering LaVar is the one who got the family this far?
Just spoke to LaVar Ball on why he's pulling his youngest son out of HS and home schooling him. pic.twitter.com/nvUprIJnew
— Ramona Shelburne (@ramonashelburne) October 2, 2017
In a recent interview after the announcement, LaVar cited the H.S. coach as the reason why Melo won't keep playing for Chino Hills. The father of the three Ball brothers said the coach was trying to change too many things with the program. LaVar said all the coach has to do is listen to him and the team will go undefeated. He questioned how the team would do without his tutelage.
Further, LaVar said he wanted to train LaMelo to be the best basketball player ever. Ball doesn't want any distractions for LaMelo. He also said that his son won't miss anything being homeschooled since he can always walk down to see his friends. Let's not jump on LaVar too hard here. Is he wrong?
The three Ball Bros put Chino Hills on the map. The team lost like three games in three years since the trio of brothers started playing together. Moreover, LaMelo has literally millions of followers on social media. It's hard to believe that the youngest Ball will have trouble finding friends or a prom to go to. Thus, it makes sense that Melo won't miss anything being homeschooled. Remember, Melo is a far bigger star at age 16 than either of his brothers. Besides the state title as a freshman and the 92-point game last season, Melo is ranked higher in terms of high school scouting. He also appears to have the most outgoing personality. Plus, his older brother Lonzo and father have arrived as public figures. That means Melo deals with more celebrity and exposure than either of his brothers did before their junior season. It makes sense to protect Melo from the distractions of high school.
Don't get me wrong, I've coached and played varsity sports. I understand there's value in playing and working in a high school environment that forces you to operate with players of different skills and personalities.
However, I also understand how hard it is to be a high school athlete when you're a celebrity and extraordinary. We see geniuses and actors opt out of public school all the time because they need more challenges or flexibility. A child star or science prodigy isn't bound to a school play or science fair any more than Melo has to play varsity basketball.
Nonetheless, Melo will inherit other challenges from this move. LaVar had an issue with the last Chino Hills coach which is why he is no longer with the team. What is this teaching 16-year-old LaMelo about dealing with authority that is not his dad? How will he deal with future college or professional coaches? Will LaMelo have trouble socializing? Is Melo's ego going to get too big?
Obviously, enrolling LaMelo in homeschooling is a huge gamble for LaVar. If Melo succeeds it will be because he was a natural basketball prodigy but if he fails people will place the blame on LaVar for applying too much pressure to his kid. Public opinion will place LaVar in the company of overbearing sports dads like Marv Marinovich (The Raiders strength and conditioning coach infamous for training his son and Raiders draft bust Todd Marinovich to become an NFL player from infancy).
Except for LaVar's vision and dream is not only for LaMelo. LaMelo isn't carrying the dreams of his father or the hope of his family on his own. He is sharing it with two older brothers which makes this situation truely unique.
The truth is, Melo is in a unique position from his older brothers. Not only is he the youngest and possibly most gifted but Melo is benefiting from watching his brothers go through the entire college-to-professional process. Therefore, Melo may need the unique setting of homeschooling to deal with his superstardom by association. Other athletes like Michael Beasley and Blake Griffin have opted for sorts of homeschooling so it's not like the youngest Ball is the first ever.
To be fair, we don't even know what role LaMelo, the two brothers or mom Tina played in this decision. It's possible everyone got behind Dad's decision but we don't know if it was all LaVar. Regardless, Dad has not steered the Ball Family wrong yet. Up until this point, LaVar's prophecies are coming true. Lonzo ended up with the Lakers and Big Baller Brand has lines for days. He could be right about pulling Melo away from distractions of High School too. A Forbes article from Bob Cook also points out that it is unlikely a bad sports dad would let his son Lonzo appear in a Footlocker ad roasting his dad Lavar. Moreover, LaVar's decision reflects the evolving world of schooling options for children as well as the relevence of AAU sports over high school athletics.
Ultimately, there is no telling how this decision will impact LaMelo until it happens. Hence, LaVar deserves the benefit of the doubt on this decision to pull LaMelo out of school. As crazy as LaVar sounds, at this point, he is only guilty of making the best decisions for his family. Who is the sports world to decide how he takes care of his kids? Why should we act like we know what's best for Melo or any of the Ball Brothers? Even the Chino Hills principal that LaVar is at odds with and has called out, credited LaVar and his wife for the job they've done with their boys.
Like him or hate him, LaVar has earned respect as a father. For better or worse, he's doing the best he can as most parents would admit to. At the very least, let LaMelo and his two older brothers' futures unveil before LaVar is labeled the worst parent in sports history.
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