Kids asking for money for their basketball teams - legit? (high school, restaurant)

[the_contrary]

You have all seen these kids, right?

They approach you with a clipboard on the street or while you're waiting for the train in the subway, come in to a restaurant where you are waiting for takeout, etc and they say they need donations for their basketball team. I almost never carry cash on me, so I have to politely turn them down. They've never really bothered me before but in the past month I was approached by so many different groups that it made me suspicious. I asked one of the boys where his team plays and he got this baffled look on his face, then muttered out the name of some school (I couldn't catch the name).

So, does anyone know if these kids for real? Seems like this tactic would be an easy way to get stranger's money. But maybe I'm just too untrusting.

[justcallmetj]

Originally Posted by the_contrary

You have all seen these kids, right?

They approach you with a clipboard on the street or while you're waiting for the train in the subway, come in to a restaurant where you are waiting for takeout, etc and they say they need donations for their basketball team. I almost never carry cash on me, so I have to politely turn them down. They've never really bothered me before but in the past month I was approached by so many different groups that it made me suspicious. I asked one of the boys where his team plays and he got this baffled look on his face, then muttered out the name of some school (I couldn't catch the name).

So, does anyone know if these kids for real? Seems like this tactic would be an easy way to get stranger's money. But maybe I'm just too untrusting.

I've been wondering this as well. Part of me wants to believe it's legit, but I couldn't see an organized basketball team using its minors to solicit a donation. Not when you have so many minor leagues and high school programs that are somewhat funded.

[85dumbo]

It beats getting your ass mugged on the subways like the old days.

[citylove101]

Originally Posted by 85dumbo

It beats getting your ass mugged on the subways like the old days.

Your answer is gratuitous and unhelpful.

[NJ Brazen_3133]

If sports leagues get too expensive, then kids should simply go back to the playground. If it is only one kid who cannot afford, then the league should just waive his fees because we are talking about kids and playing a game.

If so expensive, that all the kids go back to the playground, then the league and the profiteers will have to lower their price.

This is the way it should be.

[bellakin123]

I used to wonder the same and to be honest, I think it's not legit. Why are only the minors standing outside of the supermarket with their BJ's box of mixed candy bars and no adult from the actual organization? Almost always, whenever I see these kids, they have a crinkled photocopy of their basketball organization and a typed index card with a 1 inch picture scotch taped to it. My daughter played softball and now she bowls. It gets expensive between uniforms, traveling, equipment and everything else that goes with it. Parents pay out-of-pocket or hold fund raisers.

[Henna]

I also noticed that often these guys were asking for the money during the middle of a school day. Seems suspicious to me. Also, one day a new type popped up where they started their speech with something like "I'll be honest, I'm not selling candy for a basketball team, I'm selling it to raise some money to keep me out of trouble..." (I may be way off with that, but that's how I remember it.) It seems to me that the new speech got started because everyone knew those "basketball team" sellers were lying.

[DoomDan515]

I always see them by Queens Center Mall, which adds to the long list of reasons why I rarely go there. They always try to hassle me, then bolt away when they spot a cop.

[LadyR1990]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gSU-Po5dB4Y

[bellakin123]

Originally Posted by ohiogirl22

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gSU-Po5dB4Y