Seahawks defensive end Michael Bennett and NBA MVP Steph Curry are both hosting youth sports camps in Hawaii this month. But Bennett does not approve of the way Curry managed his camp.
Bennett’s camp is free. Curry’s camp cost $2,000, or $2,250 to stay overnight.
“I see a lot of different athletes come through Hawaii whether it’s Steph Curry or whoever it is,” Bennett told KHON. “They all come here and it makes me mad, because I live in this community and I understand this community — that there’s so many kids who can’t afford to pay such a high amount of money. In my mind it’s like, how much money do you need before you start giving back for free? And I think a lot of athletes should start focusing on that.”
Bennett said his parents worked hard but wouldn’t have been able to afford something like a $2,000 camp, and he believes pro athletes have a civic responsibility to make sure kids from all backgrounds have opportunities to participate in sports.
“That comes from my mom and dad growing up in the community and always giving back,” Bennett said. “My dad was a part of the school board, my mom worked in the district for 20 years, and I just always wanted to give back and always make it free. Growing up, I know I wasn’t able to afford the things like go to to certain camps or do certain things.”
Curry’s $2,000 camp sold out in advance, so there’s clearly a market of parents willing to pay that kind of money to have an NBA MVP teach their kids how to shoot. But it’s great that there are athletes like Bennett who remember that the parents who simply don’t have $2,000 lying around want their kids to have opportunities, too.