| A question that has been at the forefront of the minds | | | | athletes don't make it. |
| of many sports authorities is whether or not | | | | Think about it. What happens when a player enters his |
| professional sports leagues should implement a | | | | or her respective sport and gets injured or cut from |
| minimum age requirement before players can turn pro. | | | | the team? Their career is shot, the chance of getting a |
| My thoughts on the topic are two-fold. Yes and No. | | | | good education becomes slim and the former athlete |
| No, because this is a free country. Who are we, or the | | | | is left with bills to pay and no way of paying them |
| commissioners of the various sports leagues for that | | | | (because let's face it, when young athletes get a little |
| matter, to tell a person what to do with his or her life? | | | | money, they buy houses and cars and boats and |
| Is it not our God-given right to choose our own path? | | | | whatever else there inexperienced hearts desire). As |
| Furthermore, as a college-aged person, you are | | | | a viewing public, we only see the success stories. But |
| considered an adult. You can vote, you can get | | | | there are many, many more athletes who fail. |
| married and most importantly, you can go to war. Now, | | | | For the most part, forgoing a college education and |
| I am no politician, but in my estimation if you are | | | | opting to become a professional athlete is a risky |
| capable of fighting and dying for your country, you | | | | move. The probability of succes is minimal. Just ask |
| should be able to play professional sports. But then | | | | any statistician. (You can't ask the players themselves |
| again, that is just my opinion. | | | | because most of them don't stay in school long |
| That is the theoretical viewpoint regarding the issue. | | | | enough to learn about statistics.) |
| Now, as for the practical side of things, should there be | | | | So, should there be an age requirement in sports. I |
| an age requirment in sports? Of course! Here is why. If | | | | don't think so. Limiting a person's rights by telling him or |
| there is an age requirement, more and more young | | | | her what to do is wrong. But the fact that there is no |
| athletes will be forced to stay in school and get and | | | | rule stating that a young athlete has to stay in school |
| education. Yes, the point of going to college is to | | | | does not mean that leaving school is the right thing to |
| secure one's future, and you could argue that by going | | | | do. Somehow, someone needs to enlighten young |
| pro an athlete is doing just that. But to put all your eggs | | | | athletes about the realities and rigors of life. |
| in the basket of professional sports is just not smart. | | | | Remember, professional sports aren't going anywhere. |
| While there are instances where young players enter | | | | Stay in school and get an education! Waiting an extra |
| the professional ranks and succeed, a la Kobe Bryant | | | | couple years is worth it. Leaving school prematurely |
| and Lebron James, the harsh reality is that most young | | | | and risking your future is not. |
| athletes who leave school to become professional | | | | |
