But within this story are two larger questions about compensation for NCAA athletes and age limits in professional sports. These young men generate millions of dollars for their universities yet can't even accept a free meal or plane ticket from coaches, agents, boosters, supporters, shoe reps, etc. Players like John Wall have the talent to make a difference in the NBA and yet, even in this "Land of the Free" they are banned from their chosen profession by the recent reintroduction of archaic rules based on age discrimination. Old enough to work in any other profession, old enough to fight and die for their country, old enough to work in bars, clubs and adult entertainment, old enough to be sentenced as adults for breaking the law but not old enough to play professional basketball?
This question was raised last year when then high school junior Jeremy Tyler passed on the rest of his high school and college career to play professionally in Europe. Now we have the best basketball player not in the NBA, John Wall, getting slapped on the wrist and suspended for a few hundred dollars in benefits, which unfortunately is just the tip of the iceberg.
Within basketball circles it is known and understood that star athletes get more than just special treatment and recognition. Payments of various types are used to lure players to one university or another. They mostly go unnoticed or unreported but that doesn't mean it's not happening. Do you think O.J Mayo was broke while attending USC? On the same note, will Renardo Sidney ever play for Mississippi State or did he take too much money?
Solution:
While I do not think that NCAA athletes should be paid (besides perhaps a small stipend) I think the NBA should ease it's age limits to allow high school graduates or players over 18 years of age to enter the draft and join the professional ranks. This will have it's negative consequences as we've seen before, such as average players declaring for the draft, going undrafted and losing their NCAA eligibility, high school stars neglecting their studies, college ball losing out on some star players and NBA scouts forced to make tougher decisions about drafting young players but at least it will be fair and consistent with the tenants of this free country.
Age discrimination gets little attention compared to all the other issues out there but it is an issue all the same. Not only do athletes have a limited window of opportunity to make a career out of their talents but they have, just like everyone else in this country, a right to earn a living within the confines of the law.
Posts
