A Scout for Teen Athletes Tries to Shed a Sex Offender Stigma
Are there some breaches of trust one can never come back from? Or is there a point when the stigma associated with a crime does more harm than good?
These questions have renewed attention as our society scrutinizes its relationship with the criminal justice system. For the Phoenix high school basketball community, they are concrete ones.
Justin Vargas, 36, is a fixture in the world of Phoenix high school boys basketball. As a scout, he connects teen athletes with college coaches, writes profiles on their backgrounds, and reports from the sidelines of games. He’s one of two members of the “The Show Basketball” company, under which label he organizes tournaments where up-and-coming players can show off their skills. Local high school teams and private clubs, including one run by Phoenix police, are regular participants.
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It’s great to see positive stories about people on the registry. Like myself, this man is taking full responsibility for his actions and proving himself to others. Unfortunately, proving yourself never ends. Every time someone new comes along, you’re proving yourself once again. It seems to never end.
But anyway, I want to congratulate this man for not being afraid of his past. We all mess up. So yes, it is possible to shed the sex offender label!
Will Allen:
Locally I am known as The Motown Love God, The Motor City Action Machine or The Power Behind the Pistons, but I don’t like to brag.