NBAPA Lawyer: Double standard exists regarding age limit for black basketball players and white athletes in other sports

[James40]

You can go into the military at age 18, you can play basketball at age 18, simple as that.

[TyCobb]

Not Kobe. Not Lebron. Not Kevin Garnett. Not a lot of young players. You are denying them the right to earn fair market value for their skills instead forcing them to work for fraction of their value while the NCAA and the Universities line up their pockets with money earned on the backs of the athletes.

You don't tell prodigies, gifted young entertainers in other fields, talented entrepreneurs - instead of earning millions, go to work for free for a University for a few years, earn them millions but you'll get a free education that is a fraction of what you could earn.

And race has everything to do with it. If the majority of NBA players were white - people would not be making the argument that the players weren't "mature" enough and needed an educational foundation to fall back on. It's only because the majority are black athletes that the argument that the kids are irresponsible and immature is sold.

Hard to argue when you use once in a generation type talents.

[ALL HAIL]

Of course you will get the standard ignorant white guy response that it has nothing to do with race. When you're white, it's a lot easier to not see race. But this is clearly a racist policy- one that disproportionately affects black athletes and lines the NCAA's pockets.

"Standard ignorant white guy response"
Gee whiz, that sounds pretty racist to me.

How/Why? Define what "racist" means to you good sir.

Is your definition of racist based on the idea that if a white person said it they'd be crucified?

Are you looking for the playing field to be completely equal, free of all double standards?

[ALL HAIL]

You can go into the military at age 18, you can play basketball at age 18, simple as that.

Lower the drinking age too then, huh?

[James40]

You can go into the military at age 18, you can play basketball at age 18, simple as that.

Lower the drinking age too then, huh?

Yup, just like a lot of other countries.

[-Sammy-]

Regardless where each of us comes down on this issue, I think we can ALL agree to just be grateful that the lawyers got involved.

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m2VxpTMAbas[/youtube]

[ALL HAIL]

Regardless where each of us comes down on this issue, I think we can ALL agree to just be grateful that the lawyers got involved.

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m2VxpTMAbas[/youtube]

RIP Phil Hartman ... one funny-ass white dude.

[Kevin Johnson]

Not Kobe. Not Lebron. Not Kevin Garnett. Not a lot of young players. You are denying them the right to earn fair market value for their skills instead forcing them to work for fraction of their value while the NCAA and the Universities line up their pockets with money earned on the backs of the athletes.

You don't tell prodigies, gifted young entertainers in other fields, talented entrepreneurs - instead of earning millions, go to work for free for a University for a few years, earn them millions but you'll get a free education that is a fraction of what you could earn.

And race has everything to do with it. If the majority of NBA players were white - people would not be making the argument that the players weren't "mature" enough and needed an educational foundation to fall back on. It's only because the majority are black athletes that the argument that the kids are irresponsible and immature is sold.

Hard to argue when you use once in a generation type talents.

Hard to argue period. Any other profession you can basically enter if you have the talent. But since black kids aren't responsible and mature enough they have to go to college and earn $7-8 million dollar contracts for their coaches, $2-4 million dollars for the athletic directors and hundreds of millions for the colleges first. Meanwhile, they have to risk injuring themselves before they can actually earn market value. Meanwhile, they have to thank colleges for giving them an education a lot of them never wanted.

And it doesn't have to be a generational player. Why should any player be asked to pass up even a "small" $X million dollar guaranteed contract to play for FREE for a University when they don't even want an education?

[Black Jack]

Of course you will get the standard ignorant white guy response that it has nothing to do with race. When you're white, it's a lot easier to not see race. But this is clearly a racist policy- one that disproportionately affects black athletes and lines the NCAA's pockets.

Yeah, who wants a free education?

This is a absurd position. Way back at school I've actually been close to athletes at in D1 football and basketball and they are flat out told you WILL NOT take hard classes, and here's some girls who will do all your schoolwork.

It's a glorified wage theft cartel being run by the NCAA. And yes the "concern" about basketball players smells racist as a m.f. If the NBA were dominated by white athletes it would not be on the table to prevent players from going straight to the pros. Where is the concern for all those baseball players, tennis players, actors, etc. who go pro at or before 18? I'm black and frankly we know you better than you know yourselves, white America.

[King Ken]

This education you white people talk about is hilarious. With White supremacy, a Black college grad has less of a chance of getting a job than a white felon. Go to hell with your nonsense. If these kids ready at 18, let em play. We should have a minor league system or at least every team in the NBA needs a D-League team or affiliate and let them play there if they aren't ready. The NBA don't need a minor league like Baseball. It needs just one feeder league and that's the DL.

[TyCobb]

Not Kobe. Not Lebron. Not Kevin Garnett. Not a lot of young players. You are denying them the right to earn fair market value for their skills instead forcing them to work for fraction of their value while the NCAA and the Universities line up their pockets with money earned on the backs of the athletes.

You don't tell prodigies, gifted young entertainers in other fields, talented entrepreneurs - instead of earning millions, go to work for free for a University for a few years, earn them millions but you'll get a free education that is a fraction of what you could earn.

And race has everything to do with it. If the majority of NBA players were white - people would not be making the argument that the players weren't "mature" enough and needed an educational foundation to fall back on. It's only because the majority are black athletes that the argument that the kids are irresponsible and immature is sold.

Hard to argue when you use once in a generation type talents.

Hard to argue period. Any other profession you can basically enter if you have the talent. But since black kids aren't responsible and mature enough they have to go to college and earn $7-8 million dollar contracts for their coaches, $2-4 million dollars for the athletic directors and hundreds of millions for the colleges first. Meanwhile, they have to risk injuring themselves before they can actually earn market value. Meanwhile, they have to thank colleges for giving them an education a lot of them never wanted.

And it doesn't have to be a generational player. Why should any player be asked to pass up even a "small" $X million dollar guaranteed contract to play for FREE for a University when they don't even want an education?

Basketball players aren't forced to go to the NCAA. They can go overseas. Why should a basketball coach who excels at developing players not be paid millions of dollars?

[ALL HAIL]

Maybe the rookie scale should be adjusted according to your age.

If a guy comes out of high school, a team should be able to sign him for eight years as opposed to five.

If a guy comes out after one year, a team should be able to sign him to a seven year deal.

This way, a team would be given the time to develop a player absent the pressure of playing these young guys too soon.

Maybe they should lower the rookie scale as well.

[Black Jack]

^ OK I'm going to form a nation-wide wage theft cartel in your industry, force you to work for free for me for four years, and if you don't like it, go move to Europe. Deal?

[ALL HAIL]

Hard to argue when you use once in a generation type talents.

Hard to argue period. Any other profession you can basically enter if you have the talent. But since black kids aren't responsible and mature enough they have to go to college and earn $7-8 million dollar contracts for their coaches, $2-4 million dollars for the athletic directors and hundreds of millions for the colleges first. Meanwhile, they have to risk injuring themselves before they can actually earn market value. Meanwhile, they have to thank colleges for giving them an education a lot of them never wanted.

And it doesn't have to be a generational player. Why should any player be asked to pass up even a "small" $X million dollar guaranteed contract to play for FREE for a University when they don't even want an education?

Basketball players aren't forced to go to the NCAA. They can go overseas. Why should a basketball coach who excels at developing players not be paid millions of dollars?

You're killing me Ty.

[Black Jack]

I think it's the real Ty Cobb posting

[TyCobb]

Hard to argue period. Any other profession you can basically enter if you have the talent. But since black kids aren't responsible and mature enough they have to go to college and earn $7-8 million dollar contracts for their coaches, $2-4 million dollars for the athletic directors and hundreds of millions for the colleges first. Meanwhile, they have to risk injuring themselves before they can actually earn market value. Meanwhile, they have to thank colleges for giving them an education a lot of them never wanted.

And it doesn't have to be a generational player. Why should any player be asked to pass up even a "small" $X million dollar guaranteed contract to play for FREE for a University when they don't even want an education?

Basketball players aren't forced to go to the NCAA. They can go overseas. Why should a basketball coach who excels at developing players not be paid millions of dollars?

You're killing me Ty.

I think we both know I am far from a racist, ALL HAIL.

But this media propaganda angle being played by this lawyer for the Player's Union... is killing me!

[ALL HAIL]

^ OK I'm going to form a nation-wide wage theft cartel in your industry, force you to work for free for me for four years, and if you don't like it, go move to Europe. Deal?

I feel you my man, but, at the same time, a system needs to be created where these young guys are able to sit and watch more before they hit the floor for prolonged minutes ... it makes for a better league, increasing the overall quality of play. It doesn't make these guys better "people", but it does make them better ball-players.

[FlashFlare]

[Slava]

You can't bar-tend unless you are 18. What about all the talented 14 year old bartenders who cannot make their fair market money by not being allowed to bar-tend?

If you are going to compare capitalism in the form of inventing a product to seeking an employment with an organization (NBA), then I'd like to question the place that gave you a law degree.

[jefe]

There are plenty of instances where racial animus is a legit concern. This is not one of them - primarily because there's not some nefarious conspiracy between all professional sports owners to disproportionately impact African American athletes by imposing an age limit in professional basketball.