Sweet 16 eve, and four rounds of "all-out ballin" remain before the next champion of college hoops is crowned. It figures that right in the midst of my own self talk, explaining to myself why i think the North carolina Tar Heels can (and will) beat any of the teams still in the big dance...i come across an article regarding David Stern's plan to once again raise the entry age of the NBA. The writer of the article, no doubt, went on to kiss Stern's posterior, and commenced to handing out reasons why he agreed with the sentiment that 19 is still too young to go pro. I disagree completely and whole-heartedly. I almost spit on the article, but it was actually on the internet on a computer terminal at my job....so needless to say that would not have worked out well.
Seriously though, is 19 too young to turn pro? i still love the age old argument that we can vote and die for our country at 18....so why can't we play pro sports at the same age? I'll tell you why. The entire college level marketing game suffers when the nation doesn't get to see at least 2 years of a Kevin Garnett type player. That's right, I said it. Think of Amare Stoudamire....Lebron James....Kobe Bryant, even Dwight Howard playing in the college ranks. Yeah, there isn't always going to be a talent that develops that quick, but there will still be the ones that do...not to mention some of these kids just need a financial break. Amare's mom was in and out of jail, strung out on crack and all. He had to do what he did for his family's sake...and who can fault him? So the question becomes, does Stern honestly believe that entering the league at age 20 is beneficial for the league and player?
Stern has one thing working in his favor. The NBA is seeing perhaps it's best season since the 1993 season, when the Suns boasted the league MVP, and were destined for a head on collision with the MJ led, 2 time reigning champion Chicago Bulls. I mean it's hot in there this year. The western conference seedings are switching back and forth like the lady next door in "Roll Bounce". BUT.... 6 huge stars leading their teams in the race (Kobe...Lebron...Amare....KG...Dwight Howard, and T-Mac) have all come straight out of high school, and have also enjoyed a smooth transition into stardom. Now don't get me wrong...i know there are quite a few who won't be able to make it work...but that's up to the scouts to figure out. What do they get paid for? Anyone can spot talent...but can you nurture and develop that talent until it reaches the full potential?
Simply put, Stern is probably shaking hands with the big universities as well as CBS sports, and getting in agreement about the whole deal. They all win that way.
raise the age says the onealien...
look, yur analogy on voting and service are way off...when you go into service you go to training first...not straight to the battle...college serves as that training...
secondly, yea, we can point to the LBJ,
AS, KB...but there are more who fail than who succeed, straight up...and even the ones who do get a chance to play and get paid in the league...how many of them have we seen broke 5 yrs after retirment w/o any skill to do a real life profession?
raise the age and lets start building both our youths life skills and our professional level in the general public AND sports leagues...
NCAA Basketball had a great resurgence back in '79
when Bird & Magic were dueling it out for supremacy
of the College Basketball World...Since then there has always been parody in the College Basketball, and the NCAA wants they're young stars to stay in the public eye as long as possible so that all that
College merchandise is flying off the shelf. If they gave these kids a Bi-Weekly snippet they would
go to school or stay in school for the minimum 2yrs
of they're on free will...But when the NCAA is making Millions off these kids Athletic skills and not allowing them to work in order to go to a movie or take they're girl friend out to eat then the student athlete has no other recourse but to turn Pro. I like the statement made saying that 18yrs old is old enough to vote as well as serve
your country but not play professional basketball that a load of Bull...Again as long as these athletes are making money for the College/University the powers that be are in Hog heaven getting rich off these youngsters athletic abilities...
if you really buy into the fact that these kids are suffering from not making money...you are grossly misslead...take a spin down to your neighborhood major university (the juco even)...and you will be able to tell who the sports stars are by their gear, their cars, and their lack of attention paid in class...its a free ride for most of them, thats the reality...on or off the record I personally have seen the lifestyle of these kids...so no they are not getting paid in proportion to the college and shouldnt be, because it is the college exposure that is going to allow them to make the millions later...i am for the college and the education they need to get before going pro...keep em in school or they don't play...
If they don't play at a university the will play in
the NBA provided they have the talent...And for that matter if they don't have the talent the University won't even give them a second thought so regardless the university is still using there athletic skills for they're own lucrative gains...Period...Education is wonderful but if you don't have the money to go to school how else can you pay to go to school? As a parent I know this fact first hand the cost of school is out of this world...So pay the kids and let them enjoy they're time in school...Or not and let them turn pro and make that paper...
look...they done already raised the age to 19. how much better will it be to raise it to 20? i agree that more often than not, the majority of attempts to go from HS to the pros is not successful. that's where the a team staff comes in. if you don't want to see your players broke in 5 years, then don't depend on the NBA to try to fix it...you do it. if i'm a team owner or vp or whatever...i see talent at the HS level and i draft him...it's up to me and my staff to do what we have to in order for that player to be developed. i don't mean to throw him directly into the battle everytime. although some players can handle it, more cannot. that's what i thought the farm system was about. what the #### is the D league for if not developing talent?
sending these kids to college isn't always necessarily good for the player....but it's almost always good for the school. they get money, and the player doesn't. no stipend or weekly allowance or anything. they play their hearts out, and draw good ratings for the tv networks as well as the school, and it translates into serious dollars for all involved....except the players. we all know that every college player doesn't get the opportunity to go pro. some players are stifled by the system they play in, and before you know it 4 years are gone and they don't get drafted because no one ever saw them. some people need to stay for various reasons. i don't believe OJ Mayo is ready for the pros just because of his attitude...not to mention that he hasn't showed me anything that says he stands out so far above the rest. i'm more impressed wit
what are ya'll smokin!
if they don't have the talent for the university they definately dont have the talent for the pros...look, its about standards and setting a criteria for the masses...not making the rules for the exceptions...the subject is NBA and the liabilities that come to my league when young undeveloped ppl try to play in an adult basketball league, period...go down to the Y and try and sign your 13 yr old up for the 15 yr old squad, not gunna make it regardless of the skills...that is what the NBA is doing...stop crying about the University making the money...damn right they are, thats why they have made the establishment and become accredited...so that they can make cash, educate those who want to be educated, showcase those athletes who want to be showcased, and in the long run both win...its called business homies, u work in my business and i get the lions share...
bottom line is we do not know the type of resources and structure it takes for a league to keep the players out of trouble, or from ruining their lives one way or the other...look up the stats and prove Stern wrong...on an average how much better today is a 0 yr college, 2 yr college, 4 yr college athlete doing in the NBA and then 5 yrs after, then 10 yrs after...its about wisdom and life long achievements scrubs...the statistics do not lie and they will show u overwhelmingly that it is better when a person goes to college and matures before coming to the league...
Me and Stern have finally agreed on something...lol..amazing!
LOL Onealien...you're a funny dude!
first of all...just because a player declares himself eligible for the draft, doesn't mean he gets drafted. If a team decides to persue a player and he turns out to be a bust, then that's on them. tell me the difference between a 19 and a 20 year old...besides being one year older, what is it really? some players will develop into a beast over one year (Amare...Lebron)...but some people just curl up and crack like a 6 inch toenail...even with college experience (Rick Robey...Harold Minor...JR Rider). LOL RICK ROBEY??? and to believe they picked him over Larry Bird! How about the Bulls (sorry Reece) passing on Amare the Beast Stoudamire, for Jay Williams...who in turn was just smart enough to ride a motorcycle (although strongly encouraged not to) and ruin his career. Now Amare goes to Chicago to collect his STATS!
i just don't agree and i don't see the benefit in the long run for raising the age one year. I do see Stern as constantly trying to one up the players union tho.
D Stern is whack, whack, whack...again this is jus my opinion, but i think D Stern has a problem with the Black community...he outlawed the leg warmers that the young Black players started to wear...outlawed the "Hip Hop" image from the game...now he wants to raise the age to 20...the majority of the high school to NBA jump players are Black...he knows he can't keep us out....so he makes it harder...how many kids will not stay in college because they arent in to school?...someones career can easily be ruined by this rule...for the NBA...it doesnt make sense to me...if they 17 or 18 and can play...let em play...its that simple...out like 3 strikes at da ballpark (Go Yankees!)
