The Bocker.com

Growing up in Westchester (White Plains to be exact), local sports fans learned quickly that when it came to Boys High School Basketball, there was Mount Vernon and there was everyone else.  This week, Mount Vernon Basketball again stood alone in Westchester, though it was not to celebrate a Section Championship or announce college scholarships for a graduating senior, but to begin a fundraising drive to save Mount Vernon High School Sports.

The citizens of Mount Vernon, generally poor and unsatisfied with poor performing public middle and high schools, voted against the proposed budget for the upcoming school year.  Since schools have only legal obligations to teach subjects like Math, English and Science, areas like the arts and extracurricular sports were the areas that could be cut most drastically.  Thus, Mount Vernon Athletics, including its vaunted basketball program, are without funding for the 2008-09 school year and need to privately raise $950,000 to make school sports a reality.  Here is a news story about the issue. 

Already a school district known for school violence and low test scores, especially on the high school level, there is little doubt that the loss of Mount Vernon Basketball will only create a less desirable environment for education.  Some argue that school sports are unimportant and that they are overemphasized, often at the cost of learning.  That is partially true, but at a school like Mount Vernon High, where there is little to be positive about, the achievements of the Basketball Program shone out.  It was a reason to feel proud to be a resident of Mount Vernon and a student at Mount Vernon High School.  Now, the possible death of the program will be another failing of both the city and its school system.

Fundraising events for Mount Vernon sports began this week, with the basketball players in full uniform collecting money from cars along a main Mount Vernon street.  They collected $18,000.  Furthermore, Mount Vernon Alumnus and current NBA Star Ben Gordon has planned a fundraising weekend including a concert and an event at Mount Vernon’s Hartley Park to aid in the effort to save MVHS sports.  However, the nearly $1 million price tag seems quite far off.

The fact that Mount Vernon’s athletes have been reduced to begging passing drivers for money in order to have a season is discouraging and sad.  A school year without sports would be just another example of an urban community failing its public school district and vice versa.  Hopefully, the Knights will find enough gracious people to fund their season.  Otherwise, Mount Vernon’s quest to defend its section title and win its 9th New York State and its 5th New York Federation Championship will end before a sneakers touches the court.