Does anyone hate how competitive the world has become?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Look, when the WSJ runs an article like this on an Olympic ping pong player...it's hard not to believe this is the thinking of many Asian families and sports:

Lily Zhang is the queen of American table tennis, a six-time national champ and four-time Olympian in the prime of her career. At only 28 years old, the California native can’t help but dream ahead about playing in front of a home crowd at the 2028 Los Angeles Games.

Her parents are less enthused.

“We always try to convince her to stop playing,” says her mother, Linda Liu. “We just want her to have a normal job.”

The irony is that Linda Liu and Bob Zhang helped mold their daughter into a table-tennis star in the first place. Immigrants from China, they wanted to pass down their native country’s national sport to their offspring. So in a cramped Palo Alto apartment, the ping-pong table pulled double duty.

“It was also the dining table,” Lily Zhang says. “We would just put a tablecloth over it and then eat.”

But to her parents, table tennis was an opportunity to enhance her college applications. “If she played at a high level, it would help her get into a good school,” says Liu, her mother.

At age 16, she competed at the 2012 London Games. Though she lost her first match, her parents declared it a resounding victory. “They’re like, OK, you got the Olympics, you got that on your college apps and now you can focus on studies,’ ” Zhang says.

“You already went to the London Olympics,” Liu said at the time. “That is enough.”

I can’t speak for all Asians but most of us consider sports a hobby. I can understand a mother of a 28yo wanting her daughter to get a “real” job and get married.

My son plays tennis at a high level. School is the priority and comes first.

Nobody plays any sport at a high level if it is just "a hobby". That's what differentiates the hobbyists who play for fun on the weekend from the players who compete at a high level.

You contradicted your own statement.

My kid has been playing tennis since he was in preschool. He also did soccer, swim team, basketball and track. His main sport is tennis. He plays tennis 5-6x per week, is on the varsity tennis team and plays tournaments when he can. He is as dedicated to tennis as a person can get without being all in.

We also know the kids who go to the boarding schools or private school or online school who play tennis all day everyday. We are not that type of family.

Got it...but that's no different than any other sport where you have "hobbyists" who play occasionally for fun, you have kids that play seriously and perhaps may be able to play the sport at say a D3 level (or not), and you have kids that play the sport at a very high level and their goal is the D1 and/or the Professional level.

That's all. It is more than a hobby, but not the highest level.

I never understood this bottom D1, D2, D3 college team or bust stupidity.

I’d rather go to the best school and program for my desired major and play club sports than go to one of the 1000s of no name schools and play on their team.

My coworker was just bragging about a niece from texas going to play at some college in Long Beach I never heard of. Ok. Unclear what the long game or future career is after that. But hey, she’s on a college v ball team!!!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Look, when the WSJ runs an article like this on an Olympic ping pong player...it's hard not to believe this is the thinking of many Asian families and sports:

Lily Zhang is the queen of American table tennis, a six-time national champ and four-time Olympian in the prime of her career. At only 28 years old, the California native can’t help but dream ahead about playing in front of a home crowd at the 2028 Los Angeles Games.

Her parents are less enthused.

“We always try to convince her to stop playing,” says her mother, Linda Liu. “We just want her to have a normal job.”

The irony is that Linda Liu and Bob Zhang helped mold their daughter into a table-tennis star in the first place. Immigrants from China, they wanted to pass down their native country’s national sport to their offspring. So in a cramped Palo Alto apartment, the ping-pong table pulled double duty.

“It was also the dining table,” Lily Zhang says. “We would just put a tablecloth over it and then eat.”

But to her parents, table tennis was an opportunity to enhance her college applications. “If she played at a high level, it would help her get into a good school,” says Liu, her mother.

At age 16, she competed at the 2012 London Games. Though she lost her first match, her parents declared it a resounding victory. “They’re like, OK, you got the Olympics, you got that on your college apps and now you can focus on studies,’ ” Zhang says.

“You already went to the London Olympics,” Liu said at the time. “That is enough.”

I can’t speak for all Asians but most of us consider sports a hobby. I can understand a mother of a 28yo wanting her daughter to get a “real” job and get married.

My son plays tennis at a high level. School is the priority and comes first.

Nobody plays any sport at a high level if it is just "a hobby". That's what differentiates the hobbyists who play for fun on the weekend from the players who compete at a high level.

You contradicted your own statement.

My kid has been playing tennis since he was in preschool. He also did soccer, swim team, basketball and track. His main sport is tennis. He plays tennis 5-6x per week, is on the varsity tennis team and plays tournaments when he can. He is as dedicated to tennis as a person can get without being all in.

We also know the kids who go to the boarding schools or private school or online school who play tennis all day everyday. We are not that type of family.

Got it...but that's no different than any other sport where you have "hobbyists" who play occasionally for fun, you have kids that play seriously and perhaps may be able to play the sport at say a D3 level (or not), and you have kids that play the sport at a very high level and their goal is the D1 and/or the Professional level.

That's all. It is more than a hobby, but not the highest level.

I didn’t say highest level. He plays in national tournaments and does not do so well. Although he is at a high level, he is not the best at this high level. He does win all his matches for his HS team. My kid is your second group that you stayed. He may be able to play D3 but the schools he wants to attend are Ivy and T20 schools so he would pick the better college than ability to play on a D3 tennis team.

You do know that there are some top 20 D3 schools…JHU, Chicago…WashU and Emory if you extend to top 25.

Yes, we are aware. I’m not the tennis player. DH is and knows more about this than I do. All my son’s coaches think he can play college tennis and I’m sure Dh wants him to as well.

I, the mom, don’t expect it. It may not show on an anonymous forum but I’m being humble.

Ok great. You don’t expect him to play but you won’t be surprised when he does. Fine.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Look, when the WSJ runs an article like this on an Olympic ping pong player...it's hard not to believe this is the thinking of many Asian families and sports:

Lily Zhang is the queen of American table tennis, a six-time national champ and four-time Olympian in the prime of her career. At only 28 years old, the California native can’t help but dream ahead about playing in front of a home crowd at the 2028 Los Angeles Games.

Her parents are less enthused.

“We always try to convince her to stop playing,” says her mother, Linda Liu. “We just want her to have a normal job.”

The irony is that Linda Liu and Bob Zhang helped mold their daughter into a table-tennis star in the first place. Immigrants from China, they wanted to pass down their native country’s national sport to their offspring. So in a cramped Palo Alto apartment, the ping-pong table pulled double duty.

“It was also the dining table,” Lily Zhang says. “We would just put a tablecloth over it and then eat.”

But to her parents, table tennis was an opportunity to enhance her college applications. “If she played at a high level, it would help her get into a good school,” says Liu, her mother.

At age 16, she competed at the 2012 London Games. Though she lost her first match, her parents declared it a resounding victory. “They’re like, OK, you got the Olympics, you got that on your college apps and now you can focus on studies,’ ” Zhang says.

“You already went to the London Olympics,” Liu said at the time. “That is enough.”

I can’t speak for all Asians but most of us consider sports a hobby. I can understand a mother of a 28yo wanting her daughter to get a “real” job and get married.

My son plays tennis at a high level. School is the priority and comes first.

Nobody plays any sport at a high level if it is just "a hobby". That's what differentiates the hobbyists who play for fun on the weekend from the players who compete at a high level.

You contradicted your own statement.

My kid has been playing tennis since he was in preschool. He also did soccer, swim team, basketball and track. His main sport is tennis. He plays tennis 5-6x per week, is on the varsity tennis team and plays tournaments when he can. He is as dedicated to tennis as a person can get without being all in.

We also know the kids who go to the boarding schools or private school or online school who play tennis all day everyday. We are not that type of family.

Got it...but that's no different than any other sport where you have "hobbyists" who play occasionally for fun, you have kids that play seriously and perhaps may be able to play the sport at say a D3 level (or not), and you have kids that play the sport at a very high level and their goal is the D1 and/or the Professional level.

That's all. It is more than a hobby, but not the highest level.

I didn’t say highest level. He plays in national tournaments and does not do so well. Although he is at a high level, he is not the best at this high level. He does win all his matches for his HS team. My kid is your second group that you stayed. He may be able to play D3 but the schools he wants to attend are Ivy and T20 schools so he would pick the better college than ability to play on a D3 tennis team.

You do know that there are some top 20 D3 schools…JHU, Chicago…WashU and Emory if you extend to top 25.

Yes, we are aware. I’m not the tennis player. DH is and knows more about this than I do. All my son’s coaches think he can play college tennis and I’m sure Dh wants him to as well.

I, the mom, don’t expect it. It may not show on an anonymous forum but I’m being humble.

Ok great. You don’t expect him to play but you won’t be surprised when he does. Fine.

When my kid was in middle school, he was really really good. We considered sending him to boarding school so he could play tennis full time. That summer, he played too much tennis and didn’t seem to love it and then got injured at a tournament. I now realize middle school is just a crappy time for most kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Look, when the WSJ runs an article like this on an Olympic ping pong player...it's hard not to believe this is the thinking of many Asian families and sports:

Lily Zhang is the queen of American table tennis, a six-time national champ and four-time Olympian in the prime of her career. At only 28 years old, the California native can’t help but dream ahead about playing in front of a home crowd at the 2028 Los Angeles Games.

Her parents are less enthused.

“We always try to convince her to stop playing,” says her mother, Linda Liu. “We just want her to have a normal job.”

The irony is that Linda Liu and Bob Zhang helped mold their daughter into a table-tennis star in the first place. Immigrants from China, they wanted to pass down their native country’s national sport to their offspring. So in a cramped Palo Alto apartment, the ping-pong table pulled double duty.

“It was also the dining table,” Lily Zhang says. “We would just put a tablecloth over it and then eat.”

But to her parents, table tennis was an opportunity to enhance her college applications. “If she played at a high level, it would help her get into a good school,” says Liu, her mother.

At age 16, she competed at the 2012 London Games. Though she lost her first match, her parents declared it a resounding victory. “They’re like, OK, you got the Olympics, you got that on your college apps and now you can focus on studies,’ ” Zhang says.

“You already went to the London Olympics,” Liu said at the time. “That is enough.”

I can’t speak for all Asians but most of us consider sports a hobby. I can understand a mother of a 28yo wanting her daughter to get a “real” job and get married.

My son plays tennis at a high level. School is the priority and comes first.

Nobody plays any sport at a high level if it is just "a hobby". That's what differentiates the hobbyists who play for fun on the weekend from the players who compete at a high level.

You contradicted your own statement.

My kid has been playing tennis since he was in preschool. He also did soccer, swim team, basketball and track. His main sport is tennis. He plays tennis 5-6x per week, is on the varsity tennis team and plays tournaments when he can. He is as dedicated to tennis as a person can get without being all in.

We also know the kids who go to the boarding schools or private school or online school who play tennis all day everyday. We are not that type of family.

Got it...but that's no different than any other sport where you have "hobbyists" who play occasionally for fun, you have kids that play seriously and perhaps may be able to play the sport at say a D3 level (or not), and you have kids that play the sport at a very high level and their goal is the D1 and/or the Professional level.

That's all. It is more than a hobby, but not the highest level.

I never understood this bottom D1, D2, D3 college team or bust stupidity.

I’d rather go to the best school and program for my desired major and play club sports than go to one of the 1000s of no name schools and play on their team.

My coworker was just bragging about a niece from texas going to play at some college in Long Beach I never heard of. Ok. Unclear what the long game or future career is after that. But hey, she’s on a college v ball team!!!

I don't disagree with you...but college sports has gotten a little nuts. It's possible your co-worker's niece is going to a competitive D3 volleyball program that basically develops volleyball players into D1 transfers.

So, that "no name" Long Beach school may get 50% of the team onto good D1 volleyball program teams after their freshman or sophomore year.

I don't think any of this is a good thing...but there are some D3 colleges that now identify as farm teams for D1 programs. I personally don't know volleyball, but it's common in baseball.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Look, when the WSJ runs an article like this on an Olympic ping pong player...it's hard not to believe this is the thinking of many Asian families and sports:

Lily Zhang is the queen of American table tennis, a six-time national champ and four-time Olympian in the prime of her career. At only 28 years old, the California native can’t help but dream ahead about playing in front of a home crowd at the 2028 Los Angeles Games.

Her parents are less enthused.

“We always try to convince her to stop playing,” says her mother, Linda Liu. “We just want her to have a normal job.”

The irony is that Linda Liu and Bob Zhang helped mold their daughter into a table-tennis star in the first place. Immigrants from China, they wanted to pass down their native country’s national sport to their offspring. So in a cramped Palo Alto apartment, the ping-pong table pulled double duty.

“It was also the dining table,” Lily Zhang says. “We would just put a tablecloth over it and then eat.”

But to her parents, table tennis was an opportunity to enhance her college applications. “If she played at a high level, it would help her get into a good school,” says Liu, her mother.

At age 16, she competed at the 2012 London Games. Though she lost her first match, her parents declared it a resounding victory. “They’re like, OK, you got the Olympics, you got that on your college apps and now you can focus on studies,’ ” Zhang says.

“You already went to the London Olympics,” Liu said at the time. “That is enough.”

I can’t speak for all Asians but most of us consider sports a hobby. I can understand a mother of a 28yo wanting her daughter to get a “real” job and get married.

My son plays tennis at a high level. School is the priority and comes first.

Nobody plays any sport at a high level if it is just "a hobby". That's what differentiates the hobbyists who play for fun on the weekend from the players who compete at a high level.

You contradicted your own statement.

My kid has been playing tennis since he was in preschool. He also did soccer, swim team, basketball and track. His main sport is tennis. He plays tennis 5-6x per week, is on the varsity tennis team and plays tournaments when he can. He is as dedicated to tennis as a person can get without being all in.

We also know the kids who go to the boarding schools or private school or online school who play tennis all day everyday. We are not that type of family.

Got it...but that's no different than any other sport where you have "hobbyists" who play occasionally for fun, you have kids that play seriously and perhaps may be able to play the sport at say a D3 level (or not), and you have kids that play the sport at a very high level and their goal is the D1 and/or the Professional level.

That's all. It is more than a hobby, but not the highest level.

I never understood this bottom D1, D2, D3 college team or bust stupidity.

I’d rather go to the best school and program for my desired major and play club sports than go to one of the 1000s of no name schools and play on their team.

My coworker was just bragging about a niece from texas going to play at some college in Long Beach I never heard of. Ok. Unclear what the long game or future career is after that. But hey, she’s on a college v ball team!!!

I don't disagree with you...but college sports has gotten a little nuts. It's possible your co-worker's niece is going to a competitive D3 volleyball program that basically develops volleyball players into D1 transfers.

So, that "no name" Long Beach school may get 50% of the team onto good D1 volleyball program teams after their freshman or sophomore year.

I don't think any of this is a good thing...but there are some D3 colleges that now identify as farm teams for D1 programs. I personally don't know volleyball, but it's common in baseball.

I really don’t understand those people either. They are not going to become some pro.

We know people who went to lesser schools for tennis. They are teaching kids how to play tennis at country clubs now.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Look, when the WSJ runs an article like this on an Olympic ping pong player...it's hard not to believe this is the thinking of many Asian families and sports:

Lily Zhang is the queen of American table tennis, a six-time national champ and four-time Olympian in the prime of her career. At only 28 years old, the California native can’t help but dream ahead about playing in front of a home crowd at the 2028 Los Angeles Games.

Her parents are less enthused.

“We always try to convince her to stop playing,” says her mother, Linda Liu. “We just want her to have a normal job.”

The irony is that Linda Liu and Bob Zhang helped mold their daughter into a table-tennis star in the first place. Immigrants from China, they wanted to pass down their native country’s national sport to their offspring. So in a cramped Palo Alto apartment, the ping-pong table pulled double duty.

“It was also the dining table,” Lily Zhang says. “We would just put a tablecloth over it and then eat.”

But to her parents, table tennis was an opportunity to enhance her college applications. “If she played at a high level, it would help her get into a good school,” says Liu, her mother.

At age 16, she competed at the 2012 London Games. Though she lost her first match, her parents declared it a resounding victory. “They’re like, OK, you got the Olympics, you got that on your college apps and now you can focus on studies,’ ” Zhang says.

“You already went to the London Olympics,” Liu said at the time. “That is enough.”

I can’t speak for all Asians but most of us consider sports a hobby. I can understand a mother of a 28yo wanting her daughter to get a “real” job and get married.

My son plays tennis at a high level. School is the priority and comes first.

Nobody plays any sport at a high level if it is just "a hobby". That's what differentiates the hobbyists who play for fun on the weekend from the players who compete at a high level.

You contradicted your own statement.

My kid has been playing tennis since he was in preschool. He also did soccer, swim team, basketball and track. His main sport is tennis. He plays tennis 5-6x per week, is on the varsity tennis team and plays tournaments when he can. He is as dedicated to tennis as a person can get without being all in.

We also know the kids who go to the boarding schools or private school or online school who play tennis all day everyday. We are not that type of family.

Got it...but that's no different than any other sport where you have "hobbyists" who play occasionally for fun, you have kids that play seriously and perhaps may be able to play the sport at say a D3 level (or not), and you have kids that play the sport at a very high level and their goal is the D1 and/or the Professional level.

That's all. It is more than a hobby, but not the highest level.

I never understood this bottom D1, D2, D3 college team or bust stupidity.

I’d rather go to the best school and program for my desired major and play club sports than go to one of the 1000s of no name schools and play on their team.

My coworker was just bragging about a niece from texas going to play at some college in Long Beach I never heard of. Ok. Unclear what the long game or future career is after that. But hey, she’s on a college v ball team!!!

I don't disagree with you...but college sports has gotten a little nuts. It's possible your co-worker's niece is going to a competitive D3 volleyball program that basically develops volleyball players into D1 transfers.

So, that "no name" Long Beach school may get 50% of the team onto good D1 volleyball program teams after their freshman or sophomore year.

I don't think any of this is a good thing...but there are some D3 colleges that now identify as farm teams for D1 programs. I personally don't know volleyball, but it's common in baseball.

I really don’t understand those people either. They are not going to become some pro.

We know people who went to lesser schools for tennis. They are teaching kids how to play tennis at country clubs now.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Look, when the WSJ runs an article like this on an Olympic ping pong player...it's hard not to believe this is the thinking of many Asian families and sports:

Lily Zhang is the queen of American table tennis, a six-time national champ and four-time Olympian in the prime of her career. At only 28 years old, the California native can’t help but dream ahead about playing in front of a home crowd at the 2028 Los Angeles Games.

Her parents are less enthused.

“We always try to convince her to stop playing,” says her mother, Linda Liu. “We just want her to have a normal job.”

The irony is that Linda Liu and Bob Zhang helped mold their daughter into a table-tennis star in the first place. Immigrants from China, they wanted to pass down their native country’s national sport to their offspring. So in a cramped Palo Alto apartment, the ping-pong table pulled double duty.

“It was also the dining table,” Lily Zhang says. “We would just put a tablecloth over it and then eat.”

But to her parents, table tennis was an opportunity to enhance her college applications. “If she played at a high level, it would help her get into a good school,” says Liu, her mother.

At age 16, she competed at the 2012 London Games. Though she lost her first match, her parents declared it a resounding victory. “They’re like, OK, you got the Olympics, you got that on your college apps and now you can focus on studies,’ ” Zhang says.

“You already went to the London Olympics,” Liu said at the time. “That is enough.”

I can’t speak for all Asians but most of us consider sports a hobby. I can understand a mother of a 28yo wanting her daughter to get a “real” job and get married.

My son plays tennis at a high level. School is the priority and comes first.

A smart parents knows when to back off when dealing with an adult.

This woman's parents evidently sacrificed to get her to the level she's at and then say, "Well, you've done enough to get into (insert school here.) You can stop now." If the now adult says that they want something different, what are you going to do? And just to give them your vision of what their life should be. This woman is not married sure but I guarantee you she can get some sort of high visibility job with her history. It's a very inspirational story, American dream stuff etc.
- immigrant kid

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Who are these odd Asian posters posting?

We live in McLean and plenty of Asian kids play basketball and run track.

I also live in McLean and I rarely see more than one Asian kid on the McLean HS Varsity basketball roster. I see a lot of Asians on both the fall golf and spring tennis rosters. Asians that are on the track/XC rosters because they failed to make the golf or tennis roster.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am Asian and in my circle of Asian friends, nobody cares about having their kids play soccer, football, or basketball. We only care about golf or tennis. That is because most, not all Asians, consider soccer, football, and basketball a low class, while it takes a lot of money to get good at golf or tennis.

If you look at the golf and tennis roster at Langley, McLean, Oakton HS, they are mostly Asians.

Not just Asians. No one with very smart kids that have a bright academic future without a sports scholarship is putting their kid into football or basketball

What about track & field?

Are asians just avoiding sports with athletic, well-trained Black kids?

No they focus on life long sports with no favoritism

+1
Go to the soccer, baseball, or basketball sections, and you can read all the complaints from parents about their kids not being selected for the team, even though their kids are better, due to favoritism or nepotism. You don't have that problem in tennis or golf because you can't argue against the score.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am Asian and in my circle of Asian friends, nobody cares about having their kids play soccer, football, or basketball. We only care about golf or tennis. That is because most, not all Asians, consider soccer, football, and basketball a low class, while it takes a lot of money to get good at golf or tennis.

If you look at the golf and tennis roster at Langley, McLean, Oakton HS, they are mostly Asians.

Not just Asians. No one with very smart kids that have a bright academic future without a sports scholarship is putting their kid into football or basketball

What about track & field?

Are asians just avoiding sports with athletic, well-trained Black kids?

No they focus on life long sports with no favoritism

+1
Go to the soccer, baseball, or basketball sections, and you can read all the complaints from parents about their kids not being selected for the team, even though their kids are better, due to favoritism or nepotism. You don't have that problem in tennis or golf because you can't argue against the score.

I get it, I agree there are more politics, favoritism, forced intra-competition on tryout team sports.

Would I push my kid away from team sports to individual sports because of that? Not if they enjoy what they enjoy.

Sure if I badmouth certain sports or programs or people my kids will parrot back the same, in the younger years.

Anyhow, it’s the same lesson in grit, resilience, tough skin, mental toughness, etc.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Look, when the WSJ runs an article like this on an Olympic ping pong player...it's hard not to believe this is the thinking of many Asian families and sports:

Lily Zhang is the queen of American table tennis, a six-time national champ and four-time Olympian in the prime of her career. At only 28 years old, the California native can’t help but dream ahead about playing in front of a home crowd at the 2028 Los Angeles Games.

Her parents are less enthused.

“We always try to convince her to stop playing,” says her mother, Linda Liu. “We just want her to have a normal job.”

The irony is that Linda Liu and Bob Zhang helped mold their daughter into a table-tennis star in the first place. Immigrants from China, they wanted to pass down their native country’s national sport to their offspring. So in a cramped Palo Alto apartment, the ping-pong table pulled double duty.

“It was also the dining table,” Lily Zhang says. “We would just put a tablecloth over it and then eat.”

But to her parents, table tennis was an opportunity to enhance her college applications. “If she played at a high level, it would help her get into a good school,” says Liu, her mother.

At age 16, she competed at the 2012 London Games. Though she lost her first match, her parents declared it a resounding victory. “They’re like, OK, you got the Olympics, you got that on your college apps and now you can focus on studies,’ ” Zhang says.

“You already went to the London Olympics,” Liu said at the time. “That is enough.”

I can’t speak for all Asians but most of us consider sports a hobby. I can understand a mother of a 28yo wanting her daughter to get a “real” job and get married.

My son plays tennis at a high level. School is the priority and comes first.

Nobody plays any sport at a high level if it is just "a hobby". That's what differentiates the hobbyists who play for fun on the weekend from the players who compete at a high level.

You contradicted your own statement.

My kid has been playing tennis since he was in preschool. He also did soccer, swim team, basketball and track. His main sport is tennis. He plays tennis 5-6x per week, is on the varsity tennis team and plays tournaments when he can. He is as dedicated to tennis as a person can get without being all in.

We also know the kids who go to the boarding schools or private school or online school who play tennis all day everyday. We are not that type of family.

Got it...but that's no different than any other sport where you have "hobbyists" who play occasionally for fun, you have kids that play seriously and perhaps may be able to play the sport at say a D3 level (or not), and you have kids that play the sport at a very high level and their goal is the D1 and/or the Professional level.

That's all. It is more than a hobby, but not the highest level.

I never understood this bottom D1, D2, D3 college team or bust stupidity.

I’d rather go to the best school and program for my desired major and play club sports than go to one of the 1000s of no name schools and play on their team.

My coworker was just bragging about a niece from texas going to play at some college in Long Beach I never heard of. Ok. Unclear what the long game or future career is after that. But hey, she’s on a college v ball team!!!

I don't disagree with you...but college sports has gotten a little nuts. It's possible your co-worker's niece is going to a competitive D3 volleyball program that basically develops volleyball players into D1 transfers.

So, that "no name" Long Beach school may get 50% of the team onto good D1 volleyball program teams after their freshman or sophomore year.

I don't think any of this is a good thing...but there are some D3 colleges that now identify as farm teams for D1 programs. I personally don't know volleyball, but it's common in baseball.

What’s the point of that?
College should be about studying, new friends, new city, more networks, internships, spring break travels, career services.
Not transferring from one bottom sports program to another.

[Anonymous]

And getting married!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Look, when the WSJ runs an article like this on an Olympic ping pong player...it's hard not to believe this is the thinking of many Asian families and sports:

Lily Zhang is the queen of American table tennis, a six-time national champ and four-time Olympian in the prime of her career. At only 28 years old, the California native can’t help but dream ahead about playing in front of a home crowd at the 2028 Los Angeles Games.

Her parents are less enthused.

“We always try to convince her to stop playing,” says her mother, Linda Liu. “We just want her to have a normal job.”

The irony is that Linda Liu and Bob Zhang helped mold their daughter into a table-tennis star in the first place. Immigrants from China, they wanted to pass down their native country’s national sport to their offspring. So in a cramped Palo Alto apartment, the ping-pong table pulled double duty.

“It was also the dining table,” Lily Zhang says. “We would just put a tablecloth over it and then eat.”

But to her parents, table tennis was an opportunity to enhance her college applications. “If she played at a high level, it would help her get into a good school,” says Liu, her mother.

At age 16, she competed at the 2012 London Games. Though she lost her first match, her parents declared it a resounding victory. “They’re like, OK, you got the Olympics, you got that on your college apps and now you can focus on studies,’ ” Zhang says.

“You already went to the London Olympics,” Liu said at the time. “That is enough.”

I can’t speak for all Asians but most of us consider sports a hobby. I can understand a mother of a 28yo wanting her daughter to get a “real” job and get married.

My son plays tennis at a high level. School is the priority and comes first.

Nobody plays any sport at a high level if it is just "a hobby". That's what differentiates the hobbyists who play for fun on the weekend from the players who compete at a high level.

You contradicted your own statement.

My kid has been playing tennis since he was in preschool. He also did soccer, swim team, basketball and track. His main sport is tennis. He plays tennis 5-6x per week, is on the varsity tennis team and plays tournaments when he can. He is as dedicated to tennis as a person can get without being all in.

We also know the kids who go to the boarding schools or private school or online school who play tennis all day everyday. We are not that type of family.

Got it...but that's no different than any other sport where you have "hobbyists" who play occasionally for fun, you have kids that play seriously and perhaps may be able to play the sport at say a D3 level (or not), and you have kids that play the sport at a very high level and their goal is the D1 and/or the Professional level.

That's all. It is more than a hobby, but not the highest level.

I never understood this bottom D1, D2, D3 college team or bust stupidity.

I’d rather go to the best school and program for my desired major and play club sports than go to one of the 1000s of no name schools and play on their team.

My coworker was just bragging about a niece from texas going to play at some college in Long Beach I never heard of. Ok. Unclear what the long game or future career is after that. But hey, she’s on a college v ball team!!!

I don't disagree with you...but college sports has gotten a little nuts. It's possible your co-worker's niece is going to a competitive D3 volleyball program that basically develops volleyball players into D1 transfers.

So, that "no name" Long Beach school may get 50% of the team onto good D1 volleyball program teams after their freshman or sophomore year.

I don't think any of this is a good thing...but there are some D3 colleges that now identify as farm teams for D1 programs. I personally don't know volleyball, but it's common in baseball.

I really don’t understand those people either. They are not going to become some pro.

We know people who went to lesser schools for tennis. They are teaching kids how to play tennis at country clubs now.

And the problem with that is??

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Look, when the WSJ runs an article like this on an Olympic ping pong player...it's hard not to believe this is the thinking of many Asian families and sports:

Lily Zhang is the queen of American table tennis, a six-time national champ and four-time Olympian in the prime of her career. At only 28 years old, the California native can’t help but dream ahead about playing in front of a home crowd at the 2028 Los Angeles Games.

Her parents are less enthused.

“We always try to convince her to stop playing,” says her mother, Linda Liu. “We just want her to have a normal job.”

The irony is that Linda Liu and Bob Zhang helped mold their daughter into a table-tennis star in the first place. Immigrants from China, they wanted to pass down their native country’s national sport to their offspring. So in a cramped Palo Alto apartment, the ping-pong table pulled double duty.

“It was also the dining table,” Lily Zhang says. “We would just put a tablecloth over it and then eat.”

But to her parents, table tennis was an opportunity to enhance her college applications. “If she played at a high level, it would help her get into a good school,” says Liu, her mother.

At age 16, she competed at the 2012 London Games. Though she lost her first match, her parents declared it a resounding victory. “They’re like, OK, you got the Olympics, you got that on your college apps and now you can focus on studies,’ ” Zhang says.

“You already went to the London Olympics,” Liu said at the time. “That is enough.”

I can’t speak for all Asians but most of us consider sports a hobby. I can understand a mother of a 28yo wanting her daughter to get a “real” job and get married.

My son plays tennis at a high level. School is the priority and comes first.

Nobody plays any sport at a high level if it is just "a hobby". That's what differentiates the hobbyists who play for fun on the weekend from the players who compete at a high level.

You contradicted your own statement.

My kid has been playing tennis since he was in preschool. He also did soccer, swim team, basketball and track. His main sport is tennis. He plays tennis 5-6x per week, is on the varsity tennis team and plays tournaments when he can. He is as dedicated to tennis as a person can get without being all in.

We also know the kids who go to the boarding schools or private school or online school who play tennis all day everyday. We are not that type of family.

Got it...but that's no different than any other sport where you have "hobbyists" who play occasionally for fun, you have kids that play seriously and perhaps may be able to play the sport at say a D3 level (or not), and you have kids that play the sport at a very high level and their goal is the D1 and/or the Professional level.

That's all. It is more than a hobby, but not the highest level.

I never understood this bottom D1, D2, D3 college team or bust stupidity.

I’d rather go to the best school and program for my desired major and play club sports than go to one of the 1000s of no name schools and play on their team.

My coworker was just bragging about a niece from texas going to play at some college in Long Beach I never heard of. Ok. Unclear what the long game or future career is after that. But hey, she’s on a college v ball team!!!

I don't disagree with you...but college sports has gotten a little nuts. It's possible your co-worker's niece is going to a competitive D3 volleyball program that basically develops volleyball players into D1 transfers.

So, that "no name" Long Beach school may get 50% of the team onto good D1 volleyball program teams after their freshman or sophomore year.

I don't think any of this is a good thing...but there are some D3 colleges that now identify as farm teams for D1 programs. I personally don't know volleyball, but it's common in baseball.

What’s the point of that?
College should be about studying, new friends, new city, more networks, internships, spring break travels, career services.
Not transferring from one bottom sports program to another.

So new rule: everyone should do college according to you? If you don’t get sports, removing the doubt, playing at high levels, then you just don’t get it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Look, when the WSJ runs an article like this on an Olympic ping pong player...it's hard not to believe this is the thinking of many Asian families and sports:

Lily Zhang is the queen of American table tennis, a six-time national champ and four-time Olympian in the prime of her career. At only 28 years old, the California native can’t help but dream ahead about playing in front of a home crowd at the 2028 Los Angeles Games.

Her parents are less enthused.

“We always try to convince her to stop playing,” says her mother, Linda Liu. “We just want her to have a normal job.”

The irony is that Linda Liu and Bob Zhang helped mold their daughter into a table-tennis star in the first place. Immigrants from China, they wanted to pass down their native country’s national sport to their offspring. So in a cramped Palo Alto apartment, the ping-pong table pulled double duty.

“It was also the dining table,” Lily Zhang says. “We would just put a tablecloth over it and then eat.”

But to her parents, table tennis was an opportunity to enhance her college applications. “If she played at a high level, it would help her get into a good school,” says Liu, her mother.

At age 16, she competed at the 2012 London Games. Though she lost her first match, her parents declared it a resounding victory. “They’re like, OK, you got the Olympics, you got that on your college apps and now you can focus on studies,’ ” Zhang says.

“You already went to the London Olympics,” Liu said at the time. “That is enough.”

I can’t speak for all Asians but most of us consider sports a hobby. I can understand a mother of a 28yo wanting her daughter to get a “real” job and get married.

My son plays tennis at a high level. School is the priority and comes first.

Nobody plays any sport at a high level if it is just "a hobby". That's what differentiates the hobbyists who play for fun on the weekend from the players who compete at a high level.

You contradicted your own statement.

My kid has been playing tennis since he was in preschool. He also did soccer, swim team, basketball and track. His main sport is tennis. He plays tennis 5-6x per week, is on the varsity tennis team and plays tournaments when he can. He is as dedicated to tennis as a person can get without being all in.

We also know the kids who go to the boarding schools or private school or online school who play tennis all day everyday. We are not that type of family.

Got it...but that's no different than any other sport where you have "hobbyists" who play occasionally for fun, you have kids that play seriously and perhaps may be able to play the sport at say a D3 level (or not), and you have kids that play the sport at a very high level and their goal is the D1 and/or the Professional level.

That's all. It is more than a hobby, but not the highest level.

I never understood this bottom D1, D2, D3 college team or bust stupidity.

I’d rather go to the best school and program for my desired major and play club sports than go to one of the 1000s of no name schools and play on their team.

My coworker was just bragging about a niece from texas going to play at some college in Long Beach I never heard of. Ok. Unclear what the long game or future career is after that. But hey, she’s on a college v ball team!!!

I don't disagree with you...but college sports has gotten a little nuts. It's possible your co-worker's niece is going to a competitive D3 volleyball program that basically develops volleyball players into D1 transfers.

So, that "no name" Long Beach school may get 50% of the team onto good D1 volleyball program teams after their freshman or sophomore year.

I don't think any of this is a good thing...but there are some D3 colleges that now identify as farm teams for D1 programs. I personally don't know volleyball, but it's common in baseball.

I really don’t understand those people either. They are not going to become some pro.

We know people who went to lesser schools for tennis. They are teaching kids how to play tennis at country clubs now.

The many I know have trust funds or intend to go work at their grandfathers regional or local firm so they could care less what college they go to to play sports or graduate. They just move back to their multigenerational hometown and do their thing.