By Dawn Papandrea
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"It's just something to have on my resume when I go back into reality," he said before receiving his MBA. "Someday I might have to put down a basketball and have a regular 9-to-5 [job] like everybody else." The degree, he said, "solidifies that I'm a businessman."
Next on the educational agenda? Studying criminal justice, he says. It may be hard to conceive, but Shaq aspires one day to pursue law enforcement as an undercover agent. In fact, he's already been sworn in as a U.S. deputy marshal, and has joined a Department of Justice task force that tracks down sexual predators who target children on the Internet.
Shaq's not the only academic athlete hoping to score outside of sports.
Washington Wizards player Kwame Brown enrolled in an online business course after going to the NBA straight from Glynn Academy High School, where he was an honors student. "I want to understand my money," Brown told The Washington Times. "More importantly, you gain respect [with an education]. [With] 'Dr.' in front of your name, you can go a lot further."
That sentiment is shared by Bobby Newcombe, a former University of Nebraska football star, who enrolled in an online master's in business administration program at the University of Phoenix, at the same time he was beginning his NFL career. Drafted by the Arizona Cardinals in 2001, Bobby played out the season with the Indianapolis Colts and Baltimore Ravens while he schooled online.
"I'm a competitive person, so it's important for me to stay competitive, as an athlete and in business, and academics help you do that," says the 25-year-old, who's currently pursuing his doctorate in management and organizational leadership.
After ending his two-year professional football career, Bobby's positive online educational experience has springboarded him into his current career as an enrollment manager for the University of Phoenix. There, he is able to help athletes like himself, as well as others, further their education and achieve their goals.
"Education has positively impacted my life and broadened my horizons," he says, adding that he's happy to be able to invite others to share in that experience.
Pennsylvania State University's World Campus has also served athletes in their educational pursuits in recent years. The list includes Sasha Cohen, the 20-year-old figure-skating sensation. For her, online learning fit in perfectly with the demanding training schedule of a skater. She was able to study nutrition online through Penn State's World Campus last year.
"When I researched this program I realized that working at my own pace through correspondence was exactly what I was looking for," she says.
The World Campus has also been the educational arena for other ice-bound pros, including NHL star Adam Graves, who pursued his associate degree in letters, arts and science in 2003.
"When you play professional sports, you have time to yourself at odd hours," Graves explains. "My wife has a degree, and I'd like to finish so that we can push our children to do the same."
Not only has eLearning penetrated the court, field, and rink, but it's made its way around the baseball diamond, too. MLB pitcher Al Leiter, who enrolled at Penn State in 1990, finished his associate degree via Penn State's World Campus in the summer of 1997.
The question on your mind may be why would successful pro athletes like Shaq and others even need to continue their educations?
Perhaps it's part of their competitive nature, one that's used to training and constant self-improvement. Or, maybe Newcombe sums it up best: "Education is a means for something else -- whether it's developing yourself to better serve people, to support your family, or for the marketability. It expands your mindset and allows you to do more things."
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