Sunday's N.Y. TIMES featured dueling op-ed's on the issue of
NBA draft eligibility by AL President Gene Budig (for staying in
school) and Raptors VP/GM Isiah Thomas (it's the athlete's
decision) (N.Y. TIMES, 5/19). CNN's "Crossfire Sunday" discussed
the issue as well -- and the ramifications to both the college
and pro games -- with IMG Basketball President Bill Strickland,
FSU coach Pat Kennedy and writer/author John Feinstein. Topics
included: Freshman eligibility; a potential developmental
league; paying collegiate players; allowing college players to
get a cut of merchandise sales; and other forms of "creative
financing" which would allow players to stay in school. Kennedy:
"The NBA and the NCAA are going to have to come to the table and
take a real hard look at what we're doing." Strickland said it
comes down to a "simple matter of freedom of choice": "I foresee
some slowdown, not a stop, in the next three to four years by
virtue of the fact we will have a history of having these kids
going on and seeing the failures." Feinstein, saying the NCAA
"is a big part of the problem": "The NBA and the NCAA need to
get together and find a way to make it work for these kids to
stay in college, because if they don't there will be a
developmental league and college basketball will die" (CNN,
5/19).
PLAYER NOTES: Marcus Camby has reportedly selected ProServ
to represent him, according to a Houston TV report. Camby was
quoted saying he felt "really comfortable" with ProServ's Tony
Dutt and Alex Johnson (USA TODAY, 5/20). In Chicago, Fred
Mitchell notes talk former Kentucky star Antoine Walker is "being
advised" by David Falk (CHICAGO TRIBUNE, 5/20). SI's Jackie
MacMullan, on Kobe Bryant: "If he came out thinking he was going
to be a lottery pick, he may be disappointed. He is dropping
like a stone. ... [NBA GMs] don't know why this kid came out.
It's a shame that he did" ("SportsWeekly," ESPN, 5/19).
