April 19, 2001

Big, Dumb and Rich
by Carl S. Ey

ESPN's web site ran an article Tuesday that announced the return of a six foot, seven inch power forward to the University of Southern California's men's basketball team.  Sam Clancy decided to return for his senior season.  His decision made the headlines on a premiere web page in the United States.

How could that story ever grab the attention of the American sportsman? That story has as much appeal as an article on the Lion's Club's fishing tournament.  Why would ESPN waste valuable cyberspace on the return of a college basketball player that averaged 17.5 points per game last season? Surely, the running of the Boston Marathon would retain a bigger headline or maybe another story on how Darryl Strawberry found God.  Something, anything in sports but a kid honoring his commitment to his university and himself in terms of getting his education would garner a larger headline on "ESPN DOT COM."

Unfortunately, college basketball players completing their education is not a foregone conclusion in university athletics today.  As a matter of fact, our illustrious NBA heroes all-to-often are degree-less when they begin their careers.  Instead, the young potential superstars playing for school pride are running off the court into the NBA arenas in search of the all-mighty buck to the chagrin and shame of the NCAA, NBA and society.

Further into the webpage, ESPN mockingly advertises an article that indicates that walk-ons are welcome in college hoops next year.  Too many underclassmen are leaving their respective universities to cash in on the mega-bucks contracts offered by David Stern's group of ultra-elite hoopsters.  Great men that set an example for today's youth such as Allen Iversen, Chris Webber, Rod Strickland and Kevin Garnett are part of that "posse."  Who wouldn't want to be member of the million-dollar punk club as opposed to the honor society?

A real concern should strike our nation at large.  The NCAA has to do much more than offer a student athlete the opportunity to get a guaranteed bank loan of $20,000 based on his or her future earnings.  College basketball is falling far short of its responsibility to the athlete and the NBA is falling even shorter with respect to the future of professionalism in basketball.

The NBA should take the first step by taking some of its television revenue and establish a minor league.  The league should allow only high school graduates or GED recipients through the age of 28 to participate.  Why 28? To allow our nation's service members that chose to enlist for four years the opportunity to hone their skills on a minor league level.  Furthermore, Stern and his vice presidents should cap all player's salaries at a respectable amount (re: no more than $40,000 annually) and pay those players that earn college credits in the off season a bonus.

Secondly, the NBA should prohibit signing bonuses for college athletes that do not bring a diploma into their league.  Ensuring that professional athletes have a university degree is only healthy for society and the league.  Although athletes aren't responsible for the fact that kids look up to them, it is a fact, and idolizing someone with a college degree can't be bad.

Thirdly, the NCAA needs to contract its scholarship athletes.  All athletes sign a letter of intent to play for a particular university.  That is a contract between that high school student and the university.  Part of that intent letter should guarantee the university a repayment of tuition if the student-athlete decides to leave school early for the NBA.

Remember when an athlete leaves his or her university early, that school loses that scholarship.  As an example, Arizona University stands to lose four scholarships this season when its underclassmen all take the high road to the "pros." After playing in the NCAA finals this past season, the loyal fans of AU have little to hope for in 2002 unless one of those departing student-athletes decides to drop a big grant on the Wildcat's front door step.

Finally, the NBA would go a long way in establishing rookie maximum salaries.  Kids leave college because they see dollar signs in their eyes in the way of guaranteed contracts.  Can you blame a youngster from leaving the study hall for a $10 million windfall? Absolutely not.  However, if you limit the amount of money that a player can earn in his first or second year, it may make him think twice about leaving behind his Communication Sciences book in favor of his checkbook.

Remember the love money is the root of all evil not money alone.  However, enticing young men to leave college for the big payday is awfully close to "love of money."   We are fortunate enough to be a free society that empowers our nation to establish ideals and morals.  Abusing that power by waving big money in the faces of our talented youth may lead to the decrement of society or even worse -- the end of college basketball.

© 2001 Carl S. Ey