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Luis Larrinaga
Mrs. Tyree
English III, Per. 4
28 February 2014
Foreign Athletes Dreaming to Play College Sports in the U.S
Foreign athletes throughout the world dream of playing college and professional
sports; therefore, they have left behind their families, their culture, and their countries
with the desire to have a shot at a future playing the sport they love. The United States of
America is considered a world sports power; therefore, U.S. colleges should provide
scholarships to foreign athletes to help them develop their talents, to have more
opportunities for success, and to provide U.S. colleges greater prestige.
Playing college or professional sports is a dream for many people throughout the
world (J.1). Providing scholarships to foreign nationals is important because there are so
many immigrants who dream of having an opportunity to play college or professional
sports in the United States, and there are so many Americans who take for granted the
opportunities that their country offers them. There are so many people that want to play
sports in the United States. Therefore, colleges and professional teams have decided to
look for the best players who would give them a winning team. For this reason they
would look in every corner throughout the world to find these types of athletes. Many
coaches are under the gun to win. Many times the coach is approached [by the athlete]
or finds a talented individual who lives outside of the United States. Potential student
athletes should have every opportunity to progress themselves educationally and
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athletically (M.1). Every year international athletes come to play college and
professional sports in the U.S. Americans think that they are taking opportunities from
them, and do not want to welcome their talents (J.2). Americans think that athletes that
come from other countries to play sports in the United States are taking away
opportunities from them; therefore, many people who have talents are no longer
welcomed. Americans feel like they are competing with immigrants for a job or a spot in
a team this fear is called xenophobia. Xenophobia has brought a conflict between
Americans and immigrants. Xenophobia is a fear seen when immigrants compete with
Americans to have a spot in a job or a team (J.1).
The NCAA has established new rules due to the conflict that has been brought by
xenophobia. People asked for changes because they did not agreed with the colleges
giving too many scholarships to foreign nationals to play college sports. The NCAA
allows colleges to grant 25% of their scholarships to International athletes (B.2). Many
colleges have been affected by these changes because almost 60 to 80 percent of their
roster was made up of internationals athletes. The NCAA has established a limit of
foreign athletes in a team. New rules limit the total number of international athletes to
25% of the roster in all sports (B.2). When an international athlete accepts a scholarship
to a Division I university or a junior college, the NCAA has established a certain time or
age to enter the draft. The rules say that after the junior year or after turning twenty-one
years old any athlete in a Division I university is able to enter the draft; otherwise, in a
junior college after the first year any athlete is eligible to enter the draft. International
athletes have been affected because their opportunities have been reduced due to these
changes. If a student accepts a baseball scholarship to an N.C.A.A Division I university,
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he cannot enter The Major League baseball draft for three years, if he attends a junior
college, however he does not forsake any eligibility and can enter the draft after one
season (B).
Many coaches have rejected these rules because these changes have affected
them. In order to have a winning team they must have the best players; they disagree with
having a limit of international athletes in their roster. Foreign nationals also disagree with
these changes because their opportunities to play college sports and to receive a good
education have been reduced drastically. The NCAA should not limit the amount of
scholarships available for foreign student athletes (M.2).
Whether a persons ethnicity is American or not that should not determine how
well a persons skills are in a particular sport. Being a foreign athlete shouldnt have
anything to do with getting-or-not getting a scholarship (M.3). Due to the changes that
the NCAA has made, these young athletes have been preparing themselves to get seen by
scouts, with these rules in mind the coaches from different colleges have not given up on
finding a winning team, therefore they have been recruiting the best players from
different countries. Beverly R. Lewis coach of the university of Arkansas said: We have
a responsibility to U.S athletes, but its also important to be competitive, and if the
quality of an athlete is not available, I would not limit our coaches in terms of who they
can recruit (N.2).
The United States offers a great opportunity for those who are looking for a good
program that combines education and sports, so they can develop themselves in different
ways either academically or athletically. Men and Women come from all over the world
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because the United States is a country that combines university education with sports
development (N).
Foreign nationals have sacrificed so many things along their life; for this reason,
they know the value of these opportunities. Mr. Harter head coach of the tennis team
from the University of Arkansas said: Foreign athletes are usually much more focused
and direct about both academics and athletes and they are phenomenal role models (N).
International athletes wish to find what many people would call it the "American dream".
Many people have dreamed to find better opportunities in the United States; with this in
mind, people with fewer economic resources are in search of someone to give them these
opportunities. Russell from Western Oklahoma College saw the 19-year-old Simmon
play in sandals on a parking lot in Dominican Republic and offered a scholarship on the
spot. Two years later in 2010 Simmon, a shortstop that was the Atlanta Braves second
round picked (B.3). Colleges that have given out scholarships to foreign nationals have
changed the athletes life in several ways, as a result of these opportunities; foreign
nationals find themselves closer to their dream. Ruben Sosa who came from Dominican
Republic began his collegiate career at Bunker Hill Community College in Boston. After
two seasons, Sosa was drafted in 23
rd
round by the Houston Astros (B.3). When an
International athlete has been successful either in academics or sports, it means that this
athlete has taken advantage of the opportunities that he or she has received. If the
investment is benefiting the player in some way and improving his circumstances,
providing, as I said, educational opportunities, etc. then it can be a good thing. Said
Sandy Alderson, the Mets general manager (C). When a college offers a scholarship to
an international athlete it is based on academics and sports. This athlete has to respond in
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both academically and athletically. If this athlete does not comply with these rules, the
consequence would be that he or she would lose the scholarship. We push the academic
side, its not about sports Person said in an interview in his office. You dont go to
class, you go home. Were trying to get these kids an education. For a lot of these kids,
its an opportunity they never imagined possible (B).
Athletes that have come from different places to play college and professional
sports in the United States are role models for many people around the world; these
players have inspired young men to pursue their dreams. Roberto Clemente in the 50s
played much the same role as had Robinson a decade earlier; it was Clemente who paved
the way for Latin ballplayers into the big game (A.2). For example many international
athletes that have come to the United States have made a radical change in the sports
environment. Todays baseball is dominated by Latin stars, which indisputably owe
their prominence in large part to Clemente (A.2). In the Olympics of 2012 almost 7%
percent of the USA team was made up of foreign-born. It is important to realize that these
athletes have taken advantages of the opportunities that the country has granted them; as
a result, they have had the honor to give the USA team a greater prestige. In the
Olympics of 2012 all members of Team U.S.A. are citizens, more than 40 of the nearly
600 athletes representing the United States are foreign-born (O). Color barriers affected
many foreign nationals because many universities and colleges were based on color;
therefore, it was impossible for a colored person to get a scholarship to play sports. Back
in the 1940s professional sports were all white; for this reason, people from other
countries or with a different skin-color could not be drafted to a professional league.
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When the color barrier was broken in the 1960s, it had as a result the arrival of
many international players. The break of the color barrier had a great impact on people
with a different skin-color because their dream of getting a scholarship to play sports
became a reality. Almost 30% of Major League Baseball players on 2005 rosters were
born outside the U.S., with the number leaping to more than 50% in the minors (Q).
International players have accomplished to leave a footmark throughout their sports
career, having as a result, the respect from many people. Veras, an outfielder, who
immigrated to Methuen, Mass. from Dominican Republic was named the 2011 player of
the year in Division II. The Florida Marlins drafted him in the 15
th
round (B).
Many colleges and universities decided to keep recruiting people from other
countries. Due to this decision, many young athletes have been favored with more
opportunities to reach their goals. In 2005 under Westerns rosters have been as much as
90% Latino. Western college has extended his recruiting to Venezuela, Puerto Rico, the
Virgin Islands and Curacao (B). Foreign nationals are always improving themselves.
They always give 110% in everything they do to make history and change the way that
other people look at them. Yao Ming of China became basketballs most ultimately new
celebrity athlete in 2002 when joined the Houston Rockets. The first foreign athlete ever
to become a number-one draft pick in the National Basketball League (NBA) (I).
People from other countries face discrimination when they come to the United
States. This problem has always been present in jobs, in education, and in sports. All
African- Americans and most Afro-Latinos played in their own league buried deep in the
shadows of North America white mans sports (A.1). International athletes face
discrimination in their teams, because of where they come from or because of the color of
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their skin, or just for the simple fact that they are different from the Americans. The
Hispanic and International athletes suffered not only racial attacks from fans and sports
writers, but also segregation in housing, uniforms, equipment, and travel conditions.
Many of these conditions improved noticeably during the 1940s with the competition for
ballplayers that was exerted by the Mexican League (F.2). The amount of international
athletes playing college and professional sports has climbed over time. After the color
barrier was broken in the 1940s, things became much easier for athletes of all colors and
nationalities and their representation in the major leagues and in different sports quickly
climbed (F). Many people oppose giving scholarships to foreign nationals because they
think they are taking opportunities from them. Colleges and U decided to award
scholarships to the best athletes. Western Oklahoma State College baseball program has
blossomed despite some initial hostility from the community. Some of its members were
opposed to the colleges awarding scholarships to athletes out of the area or out of the
country (B). People are people. It does not matter where they are from, or their skin-
color. The player that performs the best work should be recruited because colleges are
looking for those types of players in honor to have a winning team. People make a big
deal if other people are foreign or different. People are people. Universities and coaches
are only looking for people who will give them a winning team (M.4).
Issuing a visa is extremely important for many people. This can also be an
obstacle for foreign nationals because the embassy of the United States asks for many
requirements. Sometimes even that foreign nationals have the support from the college or
university they will go to, the embassy would not let them issue a visa. Foreign athletes
have had trouble issuing a visa to come to the United States to play college sports or
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professional, the problem becomes when there are differences between the two countries
(A.3).
International athletes wish to find opportunities that would help them to
accomplish their goals. Many people have come to the United States looking for better
opportunities. Foreign nationals hope to get a scholarship to play college and professional
sports in the United States. If the United States provides scholarships to foreign athletes;
as a result, The United States would gain greater prestige. The United States of America
is a country that can and should provide help and support to foreign nationals and anyone
that wants to succeed.















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Works Cited
Bjarkman, Peter C. "Retiring Clemente's '21': true recognition for Latinos in the
majors." The National Pastime Annual 2007: 9+. Student Resources in Context.
Web. 15 Jan. 2014.
Borgese, Anthony. "Labor and immigration issues in sports." The Sport Journal 12.3
(2009). Student Resources in Context. Web. 16 Jan. 2014.
Britton, Grace, et al. "Should the NCAA impose a limit - for example, 50 percent - on the
portion of total scholarships available for any sport that can go to foreign
athletes?" JOPERD--The Journal of Physical Education, Recreation & Dance
67.9 (1996): 10+. General OneFile. Web. 4 Feb. 2014.
Burge-Hall, Valerie, and Takahiro Sato. "International student athletes' experiences at a
historically Black College and University." VAHPERD Journal 29.4 (2008): 16+.
Academic OneFile. Web. 4 Feb. 2014.
Castillo, Jorge. "Latino Players Find Home on the Prairie." New York Times 12 Oct.
2011: B13 (L). Student Resources in Context. Web. 15 Jan. 2014.
"ESPN Deportes and ESPN Celebrate the 25th Anniversary of Hispanic Heritage Month
with Special Show." PR Newswire 13 Sept. 2013. Student Resources in Context.
Web. 15 Jan. 2014.
Kanellos, Nicolas. The Majors. Hispanic American Almanac: A Reference Work on
Hispanics in the United States. Ed. Sonia Benson. 3
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ed. Detroit: Gale, 2003.
Student Resources in Context. Web. 14 Jan. 2014.
Kaplan, Ron. "Translating for the Old Ball Game." Verbatim Summer 2006: 25+.
General OneFile. Web. 4 Feb. 2014.
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Kissane, John. "For flag and school: foreign NCAA standouts pursue Olympic dreams."
Running Times Aug. 2012: 32. General OneFile. Web. 4 Feb. 2014.
Ramirez, Rosa. "More Than 40 U.S. Olympians Are Foreign-Born." Nationaljournal.com
27 July 2012. General OneFile. Web. 4 Feb. 2014.
Regalado, Samuel O. "Hey chico! The Latin identity in major league baseball." Nine Fall
2002: 16+. Student Resources in Context. Web. 15 Jan. 2014.
Schmidt, Michael S. "New Exotic Investment: Latin Baseball Futures." New York
Times 18 Nov. 2010: A1 (L). Student Resources in Context. Web. 15 Jan. 2014.
Suggs, Welch. "As More Coaches Recruit Foreign Talent, All-Americans Aren't Always
American." The Chronicle of Higher Education 47.30 (2001). Academic OneFile.
Web. 4 Feb. 2014.
"Yao Ming." UXL Newsmakers. U*X*L, 2005. Student Resources in Context. Web.
16 Jan. 2014.

This is really quite good. Keep working on grammar. Get transitions going between
paragraphs. You needed to put in the actual citations in the text (Suggs) or
(Regalado), not just the abbreviations you set up for the initial draft.
Content: 40/40; Organization: 27/30; Grammar: 18/20; MLA: 8/10 Grade: 93