What’s the buzz from the world of sports? Here are some items that will have people talking:
1
Hope NBA Commissioner David Stern and his elegantly suited minions are happy in their plush, palatial New York offices. Their stupid, senseless and dictatorial rules may have just a two talented young athlete of his financial futures.
If I’m University of Kentucky freshman Nerlens Noel and I never fully recover from a severe knee injury suffered earlier this week in a loss to the Florida Gators, I’d sue Stern, the NBA and the NBA Players Association for the $200 million Noel might have made in the course of his professional career.
Noel was projected by many to be the first pick in the 2013 NBA Draft, but he went down Tuesday.
Stern ought to think long and hard about the inane one-and-done rule that forced Noel to play college basketball in the first place.
It would be one thing if Noel had been hurt after signing a mega-million-dollar contract — but it’s inexcusable that he has risked his future masquerading for one year as a college “student-athlete.”
Why does the NBA — and the NFL, for that matter — continue to force basketball players to go to college when they have no intention or desire to be there?
— Mike Bianchi, The Orlando (Fla.) Sentinel
2
Given the choice between wrestling and music — a decision made necessary by an NCAA bylaw — Minnesota redshirt sophomore wrestler Joel Bauman is choosing music. As a result, Bauman is ineligible to compete in meets, the school confirmed Monday, because his budding music career is in conflict with NCAA compliance rules.
He is still on athletic scholarship, and can practice with the team.
“The dream is to inspire people,” Bauman said Monday afternoon. “I know through music that’s all I’m trying to do. My message is way bigger than my eligibility.”
Bauman’s writes music in a variety of genres, though most can be classified as rap or hip-hop, he said. His songs are online and he has songs available for download on iTunes as well, though he said he won’t get any money for that until after his college career is over.
“We are certainly sympathetic of Joel, but based on NCAA legislation in this area, student-athletes are not allowed to use their name, image or status as a collegiate student-athlete to promote the sale of a commercial product, including songs affiliated with a music career,” said J.T. Bruett, the school’s director of compliance.
For now, Bauman intends to practice with the Gophers — and keep making music.
— Star Tribune (Minneapolis)
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