Alberto, sue the NBA
Beleaguered U.S. Attorney General Alberto Gonzales could earn some sorely needed points by suing the National Basketball Association for racism.
NBA Commissioner David Stern has unconstitutionally decided that 18-year-old high school basketball players can’t be drafted into the NBA. This is modern-day sharecropping at its worst.
The folks Stern is rejecting are 99.9 percent black, and would be gladly accepted by President Bush as targets in “Bodybagdad,” Iraq.
James J. Tenant, Centennial
james they would have to sign up to get into the military and I doubt any of the nba hopefuls would do that. why did you stop at 18, why not 16? do you really think some highschool kid would do well against someone like carmelo or Iverson?
why not have them get an education and be productive in life?
Why is the NBA different then the NHL or MLB or Proffessional Tennis, or Golf or any other sport without a minimum age requirement?
If you can compete, then you should be allowed to play.
Personally, I would end the age limit and re-organize the minor league system to allow players to be signed and then gain experience before stepping onto the big stage, just like the NHL or MLB.
Posted by Charles B on May 2, 2007 08:07 AMOh, come on. Sharecropping? Puh-leaze. Dial down the sensational buzzwords - it just sounds silly.
If anything it's age discrimination, but I have no idea if legally that applies at the young end of the scale. Most of the NBA is indeed black Americans, but by no means is that the whole population. It's way, WAY less than the "99.9%" you quote. The age limit affects all prospects regardless of race or country of origin.
This is simply a corporate entity protecting their members (teams) by limiting their ability to make bad investments. By forcing 18 year olds to spend a year in school the teams will have a better idea who is really an NBA quality player.
The majority of 18 year olds who are going to be drafted are still going to get drafted at 19.
If it puts a better product on the court, I'm all for it.
Posted by Tim on May 2, 2007 10:23 AMWhy shouldn't the NBA be permitted to have a rule requiring players to have a minimum level of experience, which they can only acheive if they are above a certain age? This is not the same as racial discrimination.
Posted by Karen on May 2, 2007 10:25 AMAnything to distract from the real issues, of cronyism, incompetence, and failure to fulfill the duties required of an Attorney General.
Posted by mike h on May 2, 2007 10:53 AMJames, you have to honestly ask yourself (if you're a fan of the NBA) whether or not the recent product that has been put on the court is of high or low quality. Based on the amount of arrests, pistol whippings, club fights, etc, I'd say the product offered on the court is of very low human quality. These teenagers need to be given educations and a foundation of moral values. The NBA doesn't hand those out with the multi-million dollar contracts. It is time to change the thug like mentality running around on the court as many of our young people idolize these players.
Posted by Jayko on May 2, 2007 01:11 PMJayko,
The amount of criminality in the NBA is on par with the rest of society. It is not exceptional.
And are you claiming the NBA is worse than the NFL or NHL? The morons who govern the NHL still employ a cretin who BREAK SOMEONES NECK by attacking him from behind (Bertuzzi on T. Moore). I haven't watched a contest since.
So age limits for MLB, NHL too?
These kids are old enough to enlist, but you don't think they're old enough to play a game?
I sympathize with your lament re: the quality of the game, but that will work itself out.
Posted by Charles B on May 2, 2007 03:15 PM