H o o p s C o r n e r . c o m
-------------------- August 11, 2005 Back to School
by Tyson Wirth NBA Commissioner David Stern must have had one hell of a freshmen year in college. Maybe he hosted hellacious toga parties, charging half price for admission if the sorority chicks came in specially revealing bed sheets. Maybe he was the lead drummer for a righteous campus band, playing at hot spots around town for the fanatic followers of his group. Maybe he was the equipment manager for an undefeated football team that first year at school. Whatever it was, something sure has caused Stern to appreciate the value of that first year out of high school. Too bad nothing’s caused him to appreciate the value of a brain cell. The NBA, after exhausting its trademark pattern of posturing, proposing, and politicking in quantities that is rivaled only by our nation’s Congress, has finally this summer instated the much-talked about rule which will outlaw high school athletes from jumping directly to the pros. The agreement between the league and the Players Association mandates that athletes will need to be at least 19 to be drafted, and must have spent a year away from high school. For those of you who like to skip the fine print, that means that tomorrow’s phenoms, tomorrow’s Lebrons and Kobes, will risk guaranteed millions to take up the scholarship of some pitiful would-be-12th-man, someone who probably needs the financial relief much more. Players like Greg Oden, widely regarded as the top prep player of 2006, will be forced to risk a career-ending injury at college when they could be focusing full-time on the game they love at the professional level. It’s a rule that makes about as much sense as a Lakers-pride day in Boston. Additionally, how much are tomorrow’s stars-in-waiting really going to learn at college? Certainly they’re as capable as the next fellow, but how much would you pay attention in Biochemistry lecture if you knew that you were likely going to make millions doing something you truly loved in a few months? Most of us would be asleep before the professor even opened his mouth, and the textbook’s only real use would be to provide a home for the next hangman game with that hot chick in the neighboring seat. Turns out it’s not as simple as all that though. In fact, it’s more complicated than Ron Artest’s psychological file. See, the names Tony Key, Lenny Cooke, and DeAngelo Collins all are important. Not familiar with them? Don’t feel bad – the chances an NBA fan has heard of all of them is roughly equivalent to the chances that Peja Stojakovic has heard of defense. That’s the point – they were all draft hopefuls of the last five years who were told they would definitely be drafted, probably even in the first round. Yet none of the three heard their name called on draft night, and none of them is in the league today. Would they have made it in the NBA if they’d have spent a year or two in college? Possibly – who can say? The issue isn’t whether guys like Key, Cooke, and Collins would have done differently if they’d been forced to sit in lecture somewhere for a year. The issue is why an 18 year old can fight and die overseas, buy a pack of cigarettes, click the box that says, “Yes, I really am 18,” at appropriate (or inappropriate, depending on your point of view) websites, and perform any other number of perfectly adult tasks, but that same 18 year old can’t play basketball professionally? That makes as much sense as a “do or die” playoff season that lasts from April 23rd to June 23rd (cough cough, NBA). David Stern has had a very successful term at the helm of the good ship NBA. He’s kept post-Jordan ratings respectable, he’s kept lockouts at a minimum, he’s shown a stern (no pun intended) hand on issues such as steroids, player-fan interaction, and player behavior, and he’s generally kept an admirable peace between the leagues’ owners and players. Yet he, as all of us are, is human, and his flawed humanity has finally manifested itself in the new ageist era of the NBA. Does that sound overdramatic? Perhaps. But it is a writer’s right to harp on the issues that make him redder than a Georgia tomato, and this writer is pissed. Prep-to-pros draftees (Lebron, Kobe, Amare, Garnett, McGrady, J. O’Neal, Dwight Howard, Rashard Lewis, and even Tyson Chandler, Eddy Curry, Kwame Brown, Al Harrington, and even Al Jefferson to a lesser extent) have succeeded in similar proportions to college seniors in The League over the last several years. No one’s turning a blind eye to Tony Key, Lenny Cooke, or DeAngelo Collins’ failures. It’s just that plenty of college seniors have been less than spectacular over the last few years as well. There will be successes and failures no matter how experienced of an athlete is trying to make the transition to the NBA, just as there will be successful and unsuccessful days for David Stern’s toupee, no matter how experienced he is at determinedly fastening it on. The media spouts about how high school draft hopefuls can’t play ball at college once they’ve signed with a pro agent. They’re through with college ball. Well, so are guys who have exercised their college eligibility! Make no mistake about it, I had a blast my freshmen year at college. I may have even attended one or two of those toga parties Stern was hypothesized to host. But if I had a chance to make millions straight out of high school doing something I loved, I would damn well want the option of at least considering that choice. Wouldn’t you? -------------------- Next: Interview with Ray Previous: The All-Rookie Team… in July Articles index © 2001-2005 H o o p s C o r n e r . c o m, All rights reserved Terms of service Privacy policy Contact |
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