This past Monday, I was e-mailed about an article that was written on 1/06/04 named, "From High School to Pro Sports." In this article, I wrote on the position why athletes should be allowed to go from high school directly to the pros. A reader told me the article, "Could have been written by a ten year-old cry baby." Therefore I am compelled to write a response, and protect the identity of the e-mailer, because they wish to remain anonymous.

People need to realize that elite athletes are people just like anybody else. The only major difference is that they are great at their individual sport. People pay big bucks for the rights to wear these athletes and team jerseys, as well as for tickets and corporate sponsorships. You cannot tell me that Cleveland Cavaliers star Lebron James was not bringing big bucks to his high school. Lebron was selling out Gund Arena now Quicken Loan Arena in his high school days at Akron-St Vincent-St. Mary, and you think ESPN did not televise his games!

The main point of my article is to remind people that a capitalist society, such as ours, builds its education system on teaching people how to become better thinkers, establish a good work ethic, and to possess skills necessary to get a decent job. If you possess a product, which is yourself, why should you defer making a living just to appease folks who do not believe you've earned the right? Athletics generally is a short career unless you are an auto racer or golfer. You are one injury away from being finished, therefore let your talents get you a nice house, and a way to help others were your career is over; whether that be through a business you create, or mentoring others about business, school, or things you learned about financial planning.

I also brought up the point everyone is not ready for college at 18 years old. This was not said to discourage people from attending colleges or universities. I have a degree from Oberlin College, and majored in Psychology and Classical Civilization. People need to know why they want to go to college. If an athlete wants to go college and major in business to prepare for life after sports, then God bless them. Twenty years ago, you could have gone to college and majored in anything and be guaranteed a good job. In many cases, it does not work that way any longer, employers are looking at experience. This is why you need to have some idea about your college fields of study. So focus on getting knowledge in two or three fields, otherwise you might find yourself fighting for a job in an unrelated field than your major against a cohort of yours who went to work instead of school.

First of all, there are only a handful of athletes that are good enough to go from high school to the pros. One year salary in the NBA by a lottery pick is more than some of us will earn if our lifetime, and many of us have gone to college. They can now afford to go to Harvard or anywhere else. I wish that yours truly could afford to attend an IVY League MBA program, and if some wants to let me then give me a call. Seriously, we must look at all sides of the equation before rushing to a decision, especially those who state athletes are greedy or stupid for leaving school. They can go back at anytime, take a class here and there and finish up like NBA superstar Vince Carter. It better to have the financial resources to pay for your education, because some programs in America frown upon student athletes in college from taking courses that may interfere with practice.

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