Hello, world wide webians. I don't have much for you today. I just watched Jermaine O'Neal on ESPN and at the risk of repeating the NBA topic today I will tell why this guy is acting idiotic.
He claims instituting an age limit in the NBA is racist. Give me a break! If you are going to come out and say this is wrong at least call it what it is. The policy is ageist, not racist. He claims that it is not an issue in other sports so why is the NBA talking up an age limit. He says that if you are old enough to fight in the war, why can't you play basketball.
First, the NFL has an age limit. For him to say it's not a issue in other sports, he should talk to Mike Williams and Maurice Clarett and ask them what they did the last year. These guys went to court and couldn't get in. Maybe that's why Jermaine is making a stink. It took him the better part of four years to mature enough to be a star in the league and if he had played college ball or even in the D-league, he would have been the top pick in the draft and had a chance to be a rookie of the year and make some sort of meaningful contribution to his team's success. Instead, he spent three years riding the pine in Portland learning God know what from all of the fine citizens they employed there during his tenure there.
Why is he comparing entering the military to earning a living playing basketball? That is an extreme and utterly powerless argument to use against having an age limit in the NBA. His comments smack of pure ignorance. The guy on ESPN interviewing asked him what was racist about a age limit and he completely dodged the question. If you open your mouth, at least be able to make a coherent argument in support of the stupid thing you said.
My two cents: The age limit is a good idea. It will improve the fundamental skill level in the league. It will not let roster spots be sucked up by players like Darko Milicic that the coach has no interest in playing. The only reason he's there is because the GM couldn't pass up the potential talent that odds are, he won't even be around to see. Instead those spots will be used on important role players that can make a contribution in the locker room and on the floor. Unfortunately, the rule will not keep players from skipping college. These 17 and 18 year olds who have agents and relatives with dollar signs in their eyes will advise them to get drafted, sent to the D-League and earn the rookie scale until being able to make the big time and of course the max contract. We'll see how easily Billy Hunter agrees to this age limit thing.
That's all for today. Perhaps a riff on American Idol tomorrow. I love Hall and Oates and they are on the show tonight. I don't know why however.
laters
cvz
Rebels by 10
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