After offering high school phenom Lamar Odom a $100,000
contract and a chance to pick where he wants to play, the
CBA has also made an offer of $40,000-50,000 to New York
City playground "legend" Edward "Booger" Smith, according to
David Moore of the DALLAS MORNING NEWS. Mavs President and
former CBA Commissioner Terdema Ussery says that he can
"understand" what CBA Commissioner Steve Patterson is trying
to do: "I would not call it desperate. This is a unique
situation. He's trying to seize the moment, trying to
generate excitement. ... [I]t's a league I believe has a
place." The MORNING NEWS' Moore: "The question: What is
that place?" (DALLAS MORNING NEWS, 9/9). Patterson:
"College isn't for everybody, and we're looking to fill a
void" (BLOOMBERG/SAN DIEGO UNION TRIBUNE, 9/7). In
Providence, Bill Reynolds: "[T]hese offers are a chance for
Patterson to bring some well-needed publicity to his league.
... [I]t's a sign the CBA wants to be a place ... geared to
develop young players for the NBA. ... [T]he issue of the
CBA becoming more of a developmental league makes sense"
(JOURNAL-BULLETIN, 9/9). On "The Sports Reporters," ESPN's
Mitch Albom noted the CBA's offer to Odom: "Many college
coaches are upset about it. ... But if you ask me, this is
far better than the sham that exists in college basketball
today. Instead of schools masquerading as minor leagues,
let the CBA be a real minor league" (ESPN, 9/7).
