early entry backlash / wagner

[OzerskyJA <OzerskyJA@cmog.org>]

FWIW, I totally believe that this sudden love
of college is just an outlet for white guys 
who can't come out and say how much they resent
young blacks getting a "free ride" based on their
talent.  What a crock. As for Wagner, he's too good
to last to ten...the guy has Iverson/Francis written
all over him.  Somebody will snap him up.   Alton Ford,
on the other hand, might even be there at 21... as might
Cisse.  Although I expect that Cisse is far too intriguing
a speciment to last as long as that.  I can't believe 
people are slotting him in at late first round.  Once
the workouts start, he'll zoom.

-----Original Message-----
From: Berry, Mark S [mailto:berrym@BATTELLE.ORG]
Sent: Monday, May 14, 2001 8:16 AM
To: 'kingpin@primenet.com'; 'celtics@igtc.com'
Subject: Re: DeCourcy on the Lackluster Desert Classic


Thanks for posting this link, Mike. I don't know if anyone else bothered to
read the story, but it's terrible. Talk about twisting facts to fit your
point... Anyway, I'm so sick of reading these "all these guys leaving early
are making a huge mistake" stories. Most of them are written by college
basketball writers like DeCourcy and Andy Katz. Where are they when a
baseball player gives up a college scholarship for a far greater risk with
little reward-toiling in the minors? Where are they when Jennifer Capriatti
turns pro at 16? It seems to me those decisions are much more ill-advised
than a kid forsaking college to be a sure-fire first-round NBA millionaire.
Besides, so many of these kids just don't have any business in college... if
not for basketball, college wouldn't even be a consideration for many of
them. Maybe the problem is with the system that makes it either-or...
college or the NBA-and if you're not good enough for the NBA, there isn't
anywhere to go to truly develop (although the NBA is trying this
"developmental league"). Whatever. I'm just sick of the wasted newsprint.
The genie is out of the bottle. Kids are skipping college or leaving early
to go to the NBA. Get over it.

Mark