My Response to recent column on NCAA and D Rose

Here is the original link http://rivals.yahoo.com/ncaa/basketball/news?slug=dw-rose060109&prov=yhoo&type=lgns

And my response to the article:

I understand the issues that occur with forcing high school bball players to play a year of college.  But there are two big issues that come to mind.  

1-The minimum requirements for athletes entering college is embarrassing to say the least.  I am not saying that it may be difficult for some however when you compare it to students who are not athletes, the requirements are MUCH MUCH lower.  (I understand your argument is to not "force" them to go to college however I feel this idea must be taken into account)  

2-The system in place is not designed for the handful of high school stars that can play in the NBA right away (the Kobes, KGs, DRose etc.).  In my opinion, the system is designed for the vast majority of kids who need to develop in college in order to have the opportunity in the NBA.  I feel that there would be alot more kids left with no where to go after they threw away their chances of playing college ball after being told they are not good enough for the pros.

And for people the people that argue that these kids are wasting their time with one year of school instead of focusing only on basketball are skewed.  If you think about it logically, if a player is going to be "one and done" they have to be successful in the classroom for one semester (and by successful i mean a 1.65 as per big 10 standards (MSU website)).  The second semester of the year can be totally disregarded.  There is no incentive for them to even care the least bit because there is no way to become ineligible mid semester.    

The bigger issue is why there is so little emphasis put on academics and such a large emphasis on athletics.   At the same time, I understand the argument that if Rose was in another situation such as playing baseball or acting he would be allowed to make the big bucks which is sad.  

If anything, I would view Stern as a trailblazer in this situation and wish that Bud Selig and other people in power would reassess the way they do things.