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3/1/08 At the end of the game, the partisan crowd filed out of the gym peacefully, respectfully, and quietly. The game Friday night between Novi and CC was the kind of contest you look forward to, the kind that got your heart beating fast as a kid, and the type of event that the serves to remind us of the ultimate role of high school athletics… They provide a vehicle for youngsters to grow and mature while learning about themselves in one of the many battlefields they will find themselves on for the rest of their days. The record will show two things; First, I was wrong, I predicted the Wildcats would win the District Championship and secondly, there is a healthy respect between our two local high schools and that is a very good thing in my book. It has heightened the competitive spirit between the Wildcats and Shamrocks and properly channeled, it is a positive development. The fact is, competition is good for everyone, very good. It brings out your best if you are prepared to accept the challenge. The Novi High School athletic program doesn’t have to take a back seat to anybody. Look at all the conference, District, Regional and State Championships they have earned. Same with CC - their accomplishments are well documented, and both schools have even achieved national notoriety. This isn’t about bragging rights. I talked about that in my column in my column of February 4th. Bragging rights are for insecure knuckleheads that are so unsure of their existence they have to try to convince you verbally. It never works. Greatness needs no self-promotion. The decision to attend a Catholic high school vs. a public school is a highly personal choice. Simply put, there are horses for courses. Depending on maturity level and stage of development, some 14 year olds are suited for that environment, while others are late bloomers. It is not a zero-sum game, in Novi everyone can come out a winner, regardless of your choice. In our area, you can’t go wrong. Both schools are considered cream of the crop, that is undeniable. Having been raised Catholic, I am aware of the disciplines that are espoused, and those teachings are intertwined within the daily curriculum of a parochial high school vs. a public school. That is the chief difference. Beyond that, education is an activist pursuit, you get out of it what you put into it, regardless of where you matriculate. Congratulations to the CC Shamrocks. As you head to Regional Competition, go represent your town in a way that makes us proud. The real winner was the City of Novi. Two terrific high schools, two outstanding athletic programs and a community that cares enough to pack a gym on a Friday night to show their support. I’m still a kid, and my heart was beating fast Friday night. I enjoyed every minute of it. I hope they get together again, soon… (c) 2008 Novi
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