So my case begins. I am so tired of NCAA hypocracy that I am investing myself into the hope of more top notch high school basketball players giving the NCAA the finger and going to Europe for a year. Here are my arguments if these youngsters are willing to lend an ear:
1. You're playing in Europe. Most kids your age dream of the chance to live abroad for a year. The time away from home will help you grow up and mentally prepare yourself for the NBA. It's too common, even now that the kids are forced to go to college, that they arrive in the NBA and they still have that mentality if being away from home and making it on your own for the first time. If there were a way to get all kids to go abroad for a year, not just basketball players, I think there would be a lot to benefit from it. Sometimes our lack of exposure is the reason we have such a limited and primitive world view, being away on our own would help broaden that view.
2. The competition. Even though all kids are forced to go to college, the competition is dramatically lower than it is in the NBA and its mainly because you're matched up against other boys. Playing in Europe would match you up against men who have been playing for years and there would be so much you could learn from them boff on and off the court. Getting treated as a rookie and being manhandled by the vets would be a good break from the coddling and worship you've been getting your whole life. As far as improving your game, being treated as an equal as opposed to a program's "saviour", would help you keep your focus and help you develop your game instead of playing a year as if you are god's gift to that university.
3. You're getting P-P-P-P-P-PAID. How nice would it be to be living in Europe, playing the game you love and getting paid for it?! With the NCAA you need at least two waivers just so that your roommate can buy you a sandwich for lunch. Stop dealing with an organization that wants to force you to work for free so that they can use your brand throughout the course of the season and make millions off of it! YOU make the money off YOUR own brand, now isn't that a concept! Oh youre getting a free education so in essence you arent playing for free?? Really? Youre taking the minimum amount and easiest classes they will let you take, are you really getting an education?
So my proposition is official, let's put an end to the fascist NCAA regime and lets help these youngsters do what they want to do for a living, play ball and get paid to do it.
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ReplyDeleteThe point is to go to Europe for that one year instead of going to a university and just going through the motions. Obviously if they were still allowed to go straight to the pros I wouldnt even be making this motion.
Now, we boff know that in regards to rudimentary book knowledge, they arent really going to learn much in that one year, so whats the one thing comparable to book knowledge? Knowledge through life experience, which is where one year abroad comes in. Instead of learning how to play flip cup and beer pong they can actually see the world a bit and experience life ootside their comfort zone.
As far as being oot of the public eye for a year I guess you're right, but let me tell you why it wont matter. Because 1. The people who matter, scouts analysts etc will still very much be keeping an eye on them and thats how theyre going to make their big payoot to begin with. 2.Marketabilitah isnt really an issue at this point. Look at the guys who have been forced to do the one year in college and are now succeeding in the pros, Rose, Mayo, Lopez and the list goes on. Which one of those names has already become a houshold marketing name? None, theyre all great players and they probably will become that eventually, but it hasnt happened yet. That means that even if theyre abroad for a year their scoutabilitah and marketabilitah wont really be affected. Mainly because it takes a few years in the NBA, not the ncaa, to become someone everyone is fighting over as a brand name.
I agree that withoot NCAA intervention, this would pick up momentum. Josh Childress from estanfor! was the first NBA decent player to turn down the NBA for Europe. Obviously it's different than a college kid, but not by much. Childress was a leading 6th man for the Hawks last year (his 4th year in the league) with starter talent but not on the verge of becoming a perennial all-star. He got a 20 million euro contract for 3 years AFTER taxes. At the time, that’s like $27 million but really like $45 million PRE-taxes. Plus, since this was the first big name to sign in Europe while having a respectable NBA offer also on the table and also the largest Europe contract ever, there were additional perks. Living expenses, transportation expenses, etc. My point is, they made things pretty damn sweet with the money and additional perks. He could opt oot of the contract after each year so it will be interesting to see what he does before next season.
ReplyDeleteI really believe—withoot NCAA interference--it’s just a matter of time before the next OJ Mayo, Beasley, Rose, etc sees this and says what the hell am I doing in college. I could have a condo on the Mediterranean with a driver, delicious meals and the cash to enjoy myself? Fa’gedabootit! Plus, have your rookie teammates in the same building, on the same schedule and it starts to sounds a lot like…wait for it…wait for it…college! College practice and coach time in the off-season is very strictly governed. Playing in Europe, you’d get more coaching, tougher competition and could improve your game just as you would in college, if not better.
Plus, to the earlier point on marketability: we’re at a point in the 24-hour, all-day, every-day news for the sake of news, that top college seniors get front page treatment when they THINK they might decide where they will attend. This would just be an excuse to “report” on their progress. I think Kevin Durant is the exception. He add a Nike campaign his first year, but others haven’t been successful. Greg Oden anyone?
Again, without the NCAA meeting behind close doors with David Stern, I’m sure it’s just a matter of time before Stern and his enterprising savvy would roll oot the NBA Europe brand and broadcast select games on NBA Network (I don’t even know if this exists, regardless, it’s reasonable to expect Stern would pour resources here to continue competing with NFL, MLB, etc).
Yes, there would be players that don’t pan oot, but I agree with slideshow here. I don’t think it’d be for everyone. For one, many people don’t care for getting oot of their comfort zone, which is fair. But to those who don’t mind living in a country where English isn’t the end all, be all, I don’t see how a one and done in college even comes close.
Footnote: I just can’t help but give props to Childress for making such a smart move. Not just on the money but taking a chance ootside the NBA box. Well done estanfor, well done.
But going to college for one year with limited coaching, undersized and unexperienced competition, eating in the cafeteria while having pizza delivered to your apartment on the weekend, and guess what, there's a picture of you on the pizza box that YOU have to pay for and are you getting any ad revenue? Yeah, college sounds great.
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