WHOOPS! Obama Makes Big Gaffe
Fox News Host's Outrageous Comment
Don't you just love it when the politicians put their noses where they don't belong, knowing they'll probably screw up things?The NBA has been defending its age-requirement rule -- a good rule that would be even better if another year was added -- after Congressman Steve Cohen (D-Tenn.) strongly urged the league to scrap it.
The fact that the rule was collectively bargained five years ago doesn't seem to matter to Cohen. Nor does it matter that it's good for the league, good for the fans who watch the league, and good for players currently in the league.
It's a win-win rule, yet Cohen said he will consider congressional hearings and legislation if the requirement isn't dropped from the next CBA.
It's not hard to figure out what was in the letter. It's just common sense, something Congress has struggled with for years when it intervenes in matters where it doesn't belong.
Instead of letting players come directly from high school -- which was stopped after the 2004 Draft -- the league now requires both a year out of high school and a 19-year-old minimum age requirement before a player can be drafted.
It means a little less baby-sitting that the NBA coaches must do. It means players will come with a little more maturity, and a little higher skill level if they attend college or play overseas or in the Development League for a year. It means a better product.
Yes, the best players in the league today -- Kobe Bryant, LeBron James, Kevin Garnett, Dwight Howard, etc. -- came directly from high school, but if you remember, three of those four weren't much fun to watch that first season because their fundamentals were poor. It would have been better to have them learning the game at Kentucky, North Carolina or Duke.
James doesn't count in this argument because he's a once-in-a-lifetime athlete. He was great from the start. The lack of an age limit worked fine for a number of guys, but it hurt the quality of basketball. It produced too many mistakes, either players who could have benefited from a year or two or three in school, or teams that would have benefited from another year evaluating the skill level.
The fact is that the league executives haven't made as many mistakes evaluating talent since the rule took effect in 2005.
If there was an age limit, Kwame Brown (No. 1 in 2001), Darius Miles (No. 3 in 2000) and Darko Milicic (No. 2 in 2003) would not be considered such disasters because their flaws would have been exposed before they got to the NBA. They would not have been taken in spots so high.
Although the NBA Players Association will act like it wants the age-limit eliminated when negotiations begin, that's only to bargain something else in return. Even it knows the idea is a good one. Raising the age to 20 would be even better.
Too bad a politician can't figure it out.
Marijuana Poll Finds Surprising Level Of Support
3 More Arrested In Brutal London Killing
Report: Yahoo Is Bidding On Hulu
French Soldier Stabbed In The Neck In Paris
Krugman: There's 'No Room For Independent Thinking' In The Conservative Movement
WATCH: Journalist Slams Obama For 'Embrace Of Total Militarism'
Bombshell Report Alleges Toronto Mayor's Family Ties With Drug World
Syrian Forces And Hezbollah Launch Artillery Barrage On Key Town
Joe Arpaio Violated Latinos' Rights, Judge Rules
WATCH: Is This A Responsible Use Of Force?
San Antonio Flooding Kills Woman
Pharma Giant Accused Of Paying Doctors To Push Drug
Protesters 'March Against Monsanto' In 250 Cities
Friend Of London Attack Suspect Arrested After BBC Interview
LOOK: How Bad Are Your State's Bridges?
Pacers Steal Game 2 In Miami
CNN Anchor Calls Obama Protester 'Rude' And 'Crazy'
West Shoots Down 'Doubt' About Reemergence
Marine Recruit's Letter Claims Boot Camp Instructors Hurl Anti-Gay Slurs
Abercrombie Announces Plummeting Sales Amid Controversy
LOOK: Why We Celebrate Memorial Day
Gay Soccer Player Returns To MLS
150 After Battle, Drummer To Recreate Reunion March
Female Suicide Bomber Injures 18 In Russian Region
Sectarian Violence Comes Back To Life In Iraq
Christopher Hayes: London Terror
Ohio Kidnapping Hero Disavows Free Burger Offers
State Investigating Threat Over Brewer Push
