Eyes Off the Goal: When Sports Rule and School Suffers

Radio Rookie Edward Munoz

What should be the balance between school and competitive team sports? As leagues become increasingly competitive, some kids struggle to invest enough time and energy in the classroom, as well as on the playing field.

Radio Rookie Edward Munoz put everything into soccer, where he was a rising star, but cut classes and rarely did his homework. Edward’s mom knew what was going on and tried desperately to get him to go to class and do his work, but his dad was kept in the dark. He never asked about Edward’s education.

Alejandro Munoz only focused on his son’s soccer playing, devoting 20 hours a week to driving Edward to practice and games. He dreamed Edward would become a professional, just as he had hoped to do as a young man in Peru.

At 14, Edward injured his ankle during practice one day. After a month of rehab, he returned to soccer but struggled with pain and fear of getting hurt again. Even though he played for 3 more years, he was never the top player he’d been. As his grandmother said, “You were a star, but now you’re shattered.” With the hope of becoming a professional fading, and his grades in even worse shape, Edward realized he had to turn something around.

LISTEN to hear how Edward takes responsibility for his future and questions his father for the first time about why he only focused on soccer, and not his education.

STORY HIGHLIGHTS

How Edward chose soccer performance over school performance:

I never felt like I was supposed to be in school. While everybody else was learning and getting smarter, I felt dumb. But as soon as I walked onto the soccer field I was away from everything, I felt free, doing something I loved.  

How Edward’s dad was both his biggest fan and his worst critic:

My dad would spend 20 hours a week driving me to practice and games. He was dedicated to making me into a professional player. I knew my dad would be happy whenever I had a good game. But if I had a bad game my dad would say, “you have the most experience, played for so many teams but you looked like “la peor basura”----worst garbage on the field.”

Eddie still plays pick-up soccer games with his friends
Eddie still plays pick-up soccer games with his friends (Emily Kwong)
Edward interviewing Mary, his advocate counselor
Edward interviewing Mary, his advocate counselor (Andrew Mambo)
Eddie with his producer, Andrew
Eddie with his producer, Andrew (Marvin Ramos)
Edward recording with Jay Allison at WCAI
Edward recording with Jay Allison at WCAI (Andrew Mambo)
In Sunset Park
In Sunset Park (Emily Kwong)
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