Kareem Abdul-Jabbar to attend Championship!

[Andrew Bates]

Originally Posted by EricH

What are FIRST's goals?

Are they to encourage scientists and engineers to do their thing? If that's the goal, then there are the TED talks. The SAE competitions. Research papers.

But if FIRST's primary goals are to get science and technology recognized (and what is the R in FIRST?), and to change the culture, then who better than an athlete? Who better than arguably one of if not the best to ever play basketball, taking on a robot designed to play a derivative of basketball? These guys are heroes to many a young kid (though some of those young kids may be grown up now, some of them engineers). If they're taking an interest in science and engineering, the kids are going to wonder what that's all about. Get inspired.

I think that fits into FIRST's goals quite nicely, don't you think?

I look at this from an inspiration stand point, what has KAJ done that means people should look up to him and aspire to be him? He was an outstanding basketball player, an actor, and a all around good guy and good face for basketball. That's all good but I don't see where that fits into inspiring kids to pursue STEM paths.

I can see how him attending the competition can help from a recognition standpoint, yes he is a big name, yes he will draw additional media. I'm sure some kids will continue to move towards STEM paths because KAJ says it's a good thing. I'm just not sure this is the best recognition possible, FIRST should be recognized for what it does, not by what celebrities it can attract to pat the kids on their back.

Don't get me wrong, I think this does help and is a good thing, the recognition will help spread FIRST's message. I just wish FIRST would bring in more engineers and the likes. Speakers from TED talks would be great, after all these are the people would inspire people to follow their paths, the same paths FIRST is trying to promote.