Congressman Wants Answers From Stern, Hunter On NBA Age Limit
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U.S Rep Has Written Letter To Stern (l), Hunter
Asking NBA's Age Limit Policy Be Repealed |
U.S. Rep. Steve Cohen (D-TN) wants NBA Commissioner David Stern and NBPA Exec Dir Billy Hunter to "explain to Congress the reasoning behind the league's 19-year-old age minimum for U.S. players to enter the draft," according to Dan Wetzel of YAHOO SPORTS. Cohen yesterday wrote a letter to Stern and Hunter to "express his 'deep concern' over a rule that 'bar(s) athletes from playing in the league on the basis of age' and asked that the 'policy be repealed' in the next" CBA. Cohen's Press Secretary, Steven Broderick, revealed that Cohen asked that Stern and Hunter "voluntarily open a dialogue with him concerning the rule and discuss 'why this rule exists.'" Broderick said if Stern and Hunter fail to respond, Cohen is "prepared to pursue other avenues to get the answers." Broderick did not "speculate on those avenues, but they would presumably include the calling of a hearing that would require testimony from Stern and Hunter" (SPORTS.YAHOO.com, 6/3). Cohen said that one of his "primary arguments against the rule" is that "soldiers can fight for their country at 18 but not play in the NBA." Cohen also noted that "predominantly white sports like hockey, baseball and golf lack similar restrictions." Cohen: "It's a vestige of slavery. Not like the slavery of 150 years ago, but it's a restraint on a person's freedoms and liberties." Cohen added that he is "dismayed to hear" that Stern is "hoping to extend the age limit to 20." Cohen said that his office is "in the process of looking into the legalities of the limit and that a hearing and legislation were possible." Cohen said that he began studying the issue in April but "chose to write the letter now to use the spotlight of the NBA finals for exposure." Four of the "biggest stars in the finals" -- Lakers G Kobe Bryant and C Andrew Bynum and Magic C Dwight Howard and F Rashard Lewis all entered the NBA straight from high school. Cohen also indicated that another reason he raised the issue is that the Univ. of Memphis, which is in his district, has had two players leave for the NBA after just one year (N.Y. TIMES, 6/4).
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