| According to ESPN, the NCAA ruled Mike Williams ineligible to play football.
This is a complete and utter travesty of justice. With the mockery that the NCAA makes of itself on a near-daily basis (BCS, anyone?) this was a no-brainer and they even fucked that up.
For one thing, it's totally unfair. When the rules were opened up to allow Williams to declare for the draft, he did. then, the doors were shut by a court of law, and rather than let him (possibly the best player in college football, mind you) back in, they left him out in the cold. So now he cant play in the NFL, and he cant play for USC.
Plus, this opens up litigation for both the NCAA and the NFL. Williams can sue the NCAA for improper loss of eligiblity (which I'm sure got his scholarship revoked), plus it supports Maurice Clarett's anti-NFL argument.
The thing that makes the NFL not a monopoly is the fact that people who want to play football can play in college and get a free education in the process. If that was not available to them, the NFL would be unfairly excluding 18-21 year-olds of obtaining employment in their desired field (professional football), even if they have the skills necessary. But, since talented football players are essentially given a 30-40k stipend every year (covering tuition), the NFL can essentially label itself as NOT a monopoly.
The NFL and NCAA have a delicate balance where, in exchange for not raiding the NCAA's talent (like the NBA does every year), the NCAA serves as a sort of "minor-league" for football players, so that only NFL-ready guys can enter the league. Now, you've got a guy who wants to play football, should be able to play football, but isnt allowed to play in either league. and the morons who run the NCAA just put that system in jeopardy.
This is total bullshit. The NCAA should be ashamed of themselves
Rant over. |