.025 Percent: A Momentous Decision

Some approximations place the size of the Saudi Arabian royal family at over 30,000 members, 4,000 of whom are princes awarded a monthly salary. Given polygamy's legality in the Kingdom, estimates show this number only expanding, potentially reaching 60,000 within the turn of the decade. Therefore, when it comes to appointing a new King or Crown Prince, a 
momentous decision must be made. 

At 89 years-old, King Abdullah al-Saud is certainly
reaching the end of his tenure. 

King Abdullah al-Saud underwent a significant medical procedure on his back last week, enduring an eleven hour surgery and bringing to mind the mortality of the 89-year-old Saudi Arabian leader. Abdullah is the fifth son of the Kingdom’s founder, Ibn Saud, and has presided over Saudi Arabia since August of 2005. The oil-magnate of a country has thrived under Abdullah’s leadership, but as the ruler’s age increases and health deteriorates, political analysts are beginning to look towards the future, speculating as to who will ascend the throne of the Saudi Kingdom. 
The current crown prince, comparable in stature to the American Vice-President, is Prince Salman, also son of Ibn Saud. But at 76-years-old himself, Salman does not present a long-term solution for the Kingdom. The more immediate problem, however, lies in who will replace Salman as Crown Prince, a decision that will shape the Kingdom for years to come. Abdullah’s half-brothers --Prince Sultan, Prince Nayef, Prince Ahmed, and Prince Muqrin-- seemed to be logical choices for this position, but the death of the first two and resignation of the latter two has muddied the waters. Consequently, there has been much talk about skipping to the next generation and appointing one of King Abdulaziz’s grandsons as the next Crown Prince. Although a decision of this nature is certain to trigger some reactionary sentiment, a generational gap in leadership is becoming more and more likely. 

The Kingdom’s changing of the guard will undoubtedly possess considerable worldwide implications, extending beyond the Middle East and into the global sphere. The leader of the world’s largest oil producer has a certain authority over the international market and interstate relations. Whether this new ruler’s policies favor the right or the left, alliances will be formed and reformed. Seeing as Saudi Arabia is a prominent power in the Middle East, any action taken or policy adopted will almost certainly be emulated by the adolescent and fertile governments formed as a result of the Arab Spring.

It’s a peculiar situation, in that there exists no clear-cut method for determining the next King or Crown Prince. Rather, “the Kingdom's tribal traditions dictate that a new king and senior family members select the heir they consider fittest to lead,” making the looming decision even more difficult. Many members of the royal family oppose this generational jump for fear of having their own lineage excluded from present and future leadership. But on the other hand, the Arab Spring has illustrated above all else that Middle Eastern nations are straying from tradition. No longer is an appeal to tradition an acceptable fallacy.
Whatever decision is reached, the most important aspect is popular support, as citizens no longer fear rebellion against that which they do not approve of.

**Click here for an interesting perspective on the upcoming power transition**

Sample Size

Statisticians will often throw around this phrase, “sample size,” when referring to a set of data that is unlikely to be repeated due to its relatively short sustainability. For example, a baseball player could hit two home runs in his first game. That does not mean that, because there are 161 games left in the season, he will continue onwards to hit 324 dingers.

Unfortunately the same logic has been applied to athlete fathers. From Calvin Murphy, to Karl Malone, to Antonio Cromartie, because of all the horror stories we hear in the news, people assume athletes are inherently poor guardians. I’d like to take a look at some of the best dads in today's sports world, whose stories don't get nearly as much recognition as they should:

Dwyane Wade: 16.9 Points Per Game, 4.9 Assists Per Game, 4.1 Rebounds Per Game, 2.0 Children Salvaged.

For a successful professional athlete like Dwyane Wade, it is nearly impossible to sneeze without the allergy becoming a controversial and prodigious story line on ESPN's ticker, making what he did is so momentous. After a very drawn out and messy divorce from his ex-wife Siohvaughn, Wade plunged back into the infamous spotlight to try and salvage his kids from the settlement. For a long period of time after his divorce in June of 2010, Dwyane received little to no time with his two sons, Zaire and Zion. No one would have blamed him for taking the easy way out, leaving the Z's with Siohvaughn, and just focusing on basketball. But that just didn't lie right with the 2006 Finals MVP. When Dwyane was a child, his parents split up, and in this article, he remembered how important it was for him to be able to spend time with his dad. Obviously, Dwyane grew up in an impoverished Chicago neighborhood, while Zaire and Zion live in wealthy South Florida, but the role of a father remains the same. So, throughout the season, Wade was making trips to Chicago on off-days to settle his custody case, which he finally won in March of 2011. Now that he finally has time to spend with his kids, it is amazing what he is doing. With help from his mother, sister, and a nanny, his boys have been all over the place. Post-It notes flank the walls of Miami's PG's mansion; reminders for karate lessons, Spanish classes, doctor's appointments, and birthday parties. He is taking his vow to his children seriously. Playing for the Heat is now his second job, and his efforts have been appreciated by President Barack Obama, who made Wade the figure head of a new program to get father's to become more involved in their children's lives. When asked what he would be doing on Father's Day he simply replied, "The last two months have been Father's Day."

Derrek Lee: 331 Home Runs, 1959 Hits, 10678 Runs Batted In, .281 Batting Average, 3000 cases of Lebers Congenital Amaurosis in America.

Fame can be used for a lot of things. It can get you money (see Kardashian, Kim). It can get you women (see Jeter, Derek). It can get you in trouble (see Woods, Tiger). Or it could help find a cure for Leber's Congenital Amaurosis. When Derrek Lee's daughter Jada was diagnosed with the rare, but horrific, eye disease in 2007, it took him about two weeks to initiate Project 3000, whose purpose was to identify the estimated 3,000 LCA cases in the United States and discover what gene causes the disease, which can lead to blindness. The initial endeavor for this benevolent organization would cost about $3 million. With Lee's fame, coupled with his likability and good reputation in the league, many players reached out right away. Ryan Dempster donated $50,000 immediately, followed by $1,000 more for each of his strikeouts. Former Cubs catcher Michael Barrett also pledged $50 grand, with a $10,000 increase for each home run he hit. Lee knew what he was doing: "We as athletes are able to reach a lot of people quicker than someone who might not get the media attention. When it's your daughter, you do what you can. It's a very rare disease, so 99 percent of the country hasn't heard of it. We just want to bring awareness to it." It's quite a pleasant surprise to see an athlete do something good with the spotlight.

To donate to Derrek Lee's program, Project 3000, please click here, and the former Cub's specific charity is First Touch.

Dick Hoyt: 234 Triathlons, 21 Duathlons, 67 Marathons, 1 Quadriplegic Son

Dick Hoyt. What else can be said about this guy. Though probably the least recognizable name of the three 'superdads' listed here, his story might be the most miraculous. Dick's son, Rick, was born a spastic quadriplegic with a severe case of cerebral palsy. Doctors informed the Hoyt's that their son had no chance to live a 'normal' life, and it took until Rick was 13 for him to be allowed in the public schools. A computer was built for him that allowed him to express himself by highlighting letters to create sentences. His first one? "Go Bruins!" When a local lacrosse player was paralyzed, Rick expressed interest in participating in the 5 mile run in his benefit. Though the 37 year National Guard Veteran Dick was not the best distance runner, he agreed to push his son through the race, finishing next to last. After the race, Rick told his father, "Dad, when I'm running, it feels like I'm not handicapped." That sentence changed Dick's life. If there was anything he could do to help his son feel 'normal,' he was all in. Since that initial race, Team Hoyt, as they've been dubbed, has participated in over 1,000 races, including marathons, triathlons, iron mans, and even a 45 day, 3,735 mile trip across the country. The story of Dick's love for his son has touched the hearts of many, including this particular blog writer. If  Team Hoyt is to teach us anything, and it can teach us a LOT, it is that there is no barrier that a father/son bond cannot break, no obstacle it can't overcome, no race it cannot run.

To donate to the Hoyt Foundation, or to contact the family, please click here.