Woj nails it (NBA draft age requirements)

It is interesting that we take no offense with the idea of a 19 year old making millions playing at the highest level in baseball, hockey, soccer, tennis, racing or golf. Only in the NBA and NFL, the two leagues dominated by African-American athletes, do we feel the need to impose arbitrary age limits.

I don't believe there's any racial intent behind the rules, but there certainly is a disproportionate racial impact.

 

His second season, Kobe Bryant was runner-up for the NBA's "Sixth Man of the Year" award and was voted the youngest starter on the West's squad in the "NBA All-Star Game."
Yeah, he really sucked his first few seasons. Sure, there were some growing pains, but he also learned a lot more in those first few years in the NBA than he would've in college. And, who's to say he would've ended up in as good a situation if he had gone to college, went No. 1 overall and got stuck with a horrible team.

 

Good point, but I think it more has to do with 90 percent of the country not giving two squirts about college baseball, college hockey, college soccer, college tennis...

I think you get the picture.

 

Did I say he sucked? No. I just wanted to know what he did before those years, because I didn't follow Lakers closely at all.

 

So for the sole purpose of entertaining America these young men should be restricted from earning a living?

 

That's what pro athletes in any sport do, isn't it? If they weren't entertaining the people in the stands, would there be a living to be made in it?

 

That's been Devil's argument on multiple threads.

 

They aren't fucking pro athletes.

 

Chester, that wasn't meant for you, bro. I know you were making a point that Kobe won titles relatively early in his career and GB-Hack tried to downplay his first few seasons, pointing out he was a bench player. I was responding to him that Bryant wasn't your average bench player.

 

What are they then? They play a sport professionally, right? So that would make them pro athletes? Or are you referring to the collegiates who eventually become pro athletes? I'm confused a bit, I must admit.

 

College athletes.
Devils contention is that people care more about football and basketball players leaving early because America doesn't care about any of the other college sports.

 

Oh, right you are then. My mistake.