Judge Rules Clarett Eligible for NFL Draft
The Associated Press
Thursday, February 5, 2004; 9:49 AM
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A15290-2004Feb5.html

Horrific. Since last year I've come to a better understanding of this reasoning, but I'm still against the ruling.

That said, the judge did inadvertantly offer a functional alternative. While we all know age brings with it levels of wisdom and talent, it is apparently, not allowable to use age to define limits on abilities. (Except in rare cases like driving, drinking, voting, consentual sex, serving in the military...) So, I hope the NFL and other sports use the judge's example and develop "maturity tests" and other means for measuring would be early candidates for their readiness for pro sports. It's too late to save the NBA, and baseball has a functional minor league system. Here's to hoping the NFL and NHL find a means to reduce the pool of wild cards that eventually drag the level of competition down to the maturity of its participants.

Perhaps it's time that pro sports develop an academic curriculum. Something equivalent to a 2-year degree, wherein the "graduate" would have learned the basics of long term physical fitness, financial management, law 101, etc. Work within standard courses that every college offers, and then fashion certification for offering a 2-year Professional Sports Degree that entails the bare necessities to survive in this world.

Then again, isn't that what High School is supposed to do?! ;)

Posted 2/5/2004 11:59 PM Updated 2/6/2004 1:25 AM
Clarett decision could rock college football
By Kelly Whiteside and Steve Wieberg, USA TODAY
http://www.usatoday.com/sports/football/nfl/2004-02-05-clarett-college-effect_x.htm

Eligibility rules in NFL may change
One player's case may affect college football and requirements for the draft.
By Lawrence Fischer
Collegian Staff Writer
http://www.collegian.psu.edu/archive/2004/02/02-06-04tdc/02-06-04dnews-11.asp

[Subscription required]
Big deal--or not?
College officials doubt many kids will get NFL shot
By Avani Patel
Tribune staff reporter
February 6, 2004
http://chicagosports.chicagotribune.com/....s-sports-pr int

Administrators say NFL ruling tackles education for a loss

http://ncaa.com/news/2004/20040216/awide/4104n14.html

"It is ironic that the two major professional sports without developmental leagues -- basketball and football -- could have two of the most liberal draft rules," (NCAA President Myles) Brand said. "It may be time for those two sports to provide another option than intercollegiate athletics as the route for young men whose primary interest is turning professional as quickly as possible."

I can't say that strikes me as discernably positive or negative, but it does seem like an ominous quote.

I don't like the ruling to let anyone in the NFL. To me, the difference physically and mentally of an 18 year old high school senior and a 24 year old NFL rookie is too large...I believe that to stop all these hs seniors and college freshman from jumping to the nfl in the future is to simply not draft these 18 year old boys...

Now that this ruling is in effect, I do believe the NFL should stop sending its developing players to Europe...and develop a Spring Developmental League(such as the NBA) and i believe they should place them in cities and states where there is large support for football, mainly the southern states...possibly 8 teams, with base salaries, much like the NFL Europe

Attendance in the US as well as TV Support will soar...and the NFL wouldn't have to worry about any of the USFL's and XFL's trying to compete...they would be the hot ticket all year round...

NFL D-League

East

Raleigh, NC
Birmingham, AL
Orlando, FL
Memphis, TN

West

Baton Rouge, LA
San Antonio, TX
Fort Worth, TX
Somewhere in Oklahoma (Tulsa, Norman, Oklahoma City Area)

Each team plays each other twice in their division, and once in the other division...which would make 10 games...then take either the division winners or top two in each division and have a playoff...

Then you could open the flood gates for high school seniors and college freshman to play in the D-League, have them play for 4-6 years and let them develop, then bring these polished players into the NFL...I mean if the Arena Football League has a Development Leauge, the NFL can make it work too...

Of course, the easier and more attractive such a developmental league becomes, the less attractive the college route becomes.

Perchance, is it time to revisit the concept of letting pro sports leagues sponsor the college game? The NFL provides money to the NCAA to disperse as player stipends to all football players. The NBA towards all basketball players, etc. All players get the same no matter what they play, but some fashion of direct reinvestment by a pro league to sponsor said sport. The first problem that comes to mind from this approach would be that allowing such concepts might open the door for everyone to dictate how their donations are to be spent, which would severely damage the generalized process required by most athletic dept. budgets. Thus we go back to the affiliated academy idea and/or the concept of pro-sports certifications or degrees.

Tough one to figure out.

SBN
Headline Central
April 15, 2004
NCAA files suit in Clarett case
http://www.sportsbusinessnews.com/index.asp?story_id=35122

Hold on!!

According to USAtoday Federal Appeals court agrees with the NFL at http://www.usatoday.com/sports/football/nfl/2004-04-19-nfl-clarett-appeal_x.htm

Wow,this sounds like good news for the NFL,So Cal and maybe OSU.

Looks like Clarett is trying to get US Supreme Court to allow him into this week's NFL draft at http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2004/football/nfl/04/20/clarett.appeal/index.html

Judges Rule Against Clarett
NFL 'Not at All Surprised' by the Court of Appeals' Decision
By Mark Maske
Washington Post Staff Writer
Tuesday, May 25, 2004; Page D03
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A52299-2004May24.html