NBA Commissioner David Stern "is expected to press an
agenda to mandate, with the aid of the players union, a
minimum age for players entering the league," when he gives
his state of the league address next Monday, according to
Steve Popper of the N.Y. TIMES. Popper reported that Stern
"has been alarmed at the rush" to declare early entry into
the NBA Draft. Stern: "It's something we're in discussion
with the players association about" (N.Y. TIMES, 6/15).
REAX: In Philadelphia, Rich Hofmann: "The colleges have
to realize that they are powerless here, and that changing
the freshman eligibility rules won't help. There is only
one hope here. The hope's name is David Stern. ... There
isn't a rule the NCAA can pass that will keep kids in
school, not as long as the NBA money awaits" (PHILADELPHIA
DAILY NEWS, 6/15). In DC, Tony Kornheiser thinks any age
requirement set by the NBA "would lose in court."
Kornheiser: "The NBA's real Achilles' heel isn't the young
kids, it's the personnel geniuses who pick them." More
Kornheiser, on comparing Stern's proposal to the NFL, where
players can't be drafted until they are out of high school
for three years: "Mentally and physically, pro football is
much harder than pro basketball. Teenagers aren't ready for
the NFL. But teenagers can play in the NBA" (WASHINGTON
POST, 6/15). In DC, Michael Wilbon supports Stern's bid:
"An age limit of 20, for example, would help protect [young
me] from themselves, from an adult world of professional
sports most aren't yet ready for and from all manner of
leeches looking to attach themselves to a meal ticket"
(WASHINGTON POST, 6/15). On CBS SportsLine, Mike Kahn
writes that an age requirement "could coincide with the
reconstruction of the relationship with the Continental
Basketball Association" (CBS SportsLine, 6/15). In Seattle,
Laura Vecsey: "What David Stern wants, Stern gets. ... The
fact is, the NBA has gotten too young, which is a nice way
of saying it has gotten too reckless." Vecsey endorses
using the CBA as a farm system: "Stern should also talk
about opening the NBA's rich coffers to help underwrite the
CBA. It's been a subject of discussion for years, and its
time is way overdue" (SEATTLE POST-INTELLIGENCER, 6/15).
