Good work by the Durham Herald-Sun today. Because, I am a realist/pessimist, I will start with the bad news portion:
“My first two years, it was all basketball, and then baseball came second,” said Brackman, who is on a basketball scholarship. “I think it should be baseball first and basketball second.” Lowe wasn’t eager to discuss the matter with reporters, saying he didn’t feel confident yet that Brackman would play basketball. “No, I’m not,” Lowe said. “Not at all. Right now, we’re just coming down to watch him and support him. I really don’t want to talk about Andrew and basketball. That’s something that we’re going to discuss.”
That doesn’t sound too good for Wolfpack basketball prospects in 2006-07 (without Brack, the Pack’s chances to compete in the ACC slip from slim to none), but it does reflect sound, reasoned judgment on the kid’s behalf. As Wolfpackers, we should all wish him the best in his professional endeavors. And he almost certainly will be a professional baseball player, while having almost no shot at an NBA career.
Now, we can turn to the good news portion:
Ideally for Brackman, that would be in both sports. He said he feels committed to his basketball teammates — “I don’t want to come two years with guys I’ve played with and just ditch them,” he said — and believes a new arrangement could work. This time, though, he’d be working on his baseball during basketball season. Lowe didn’t sound optimistic with reporters, but Brackman has gathered different information from the basketball coach. “He’s fine with that,” Brackman said. “He said if he could have 75 percent of me at 100 percent that that’s better than nothing.”
One must note that Lowe is taking exactly the right approach to this situation. He is not counting on Brack for anything (and it would be foolish to do so). He is also showing support, but giving the kid space. And he realizes that Brack is holding all the cards here. Baseball is what he should focus on. Any commitment he makes to hoops should be structured around his pitching, not vice versa. Rather than creating ill will by insisting that basketball take 100% priority (we heard whisperings about that last February), Lowe is leaving the door open to whatever he can get from Brack. In the end, if he plays (even on a limited practice and/or game schedule), it will be with his whole heart and without a scintilla of resentment. That is good for everyone, IMHO.
Kudos to Coach Lowe, and kudos to Andrew Brackman.
