heavy hitter sports blog: March 2007

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GREG ODEN

KEVIN DURANT

This is something that Texas’s Kevin Durant and Ohio State’s Greg Oden will have to decide during this summer. They are two of the most talented and dynamic college players today. If they declare for the NBA Draft, they will no doubt be the number 1 and 2 picks. While listening to Colin Cowherd on ESPN radio, I heard a discussion on whether or not these guys should declare for the NBA. Some callers called in and said that they should stay in college in order to get the college experience and an education. I thought that these callers are the stupidest people walking on the face of the earth. OF COURSE THEY WILL DECLARE FOR THE NBA!

Kevin Durant and Greg Oden do not have the normal college experience. They probably spend most of their time at the gym practicing or working out. Basketball runs their lives and They are not wasting time online looking at Myspace or YouTube. They are not making late night food runs to Taco Bell after going to a party because they probably have a game or practice to go to the next day. No, they do not have the same college experience as you or me. They can’t just hang out at Denny’s because they will be asked for autographs or stared at by everyone there. Obviously, they don’t live the college life that 99.5% of college students do. Education is overrated for Oden and Durant. They can go to night class while making 6 million dollars a year. Sports Illustrated listed the classes that Greg Oden is taking for the spring semester at Ohio State.

Greg Oden’s Class Schedule:

Sociology 101
History of Rock N Roll
2 credits for playing basketball

The schedule speaks for itself. Greg Oden is not at Ohio State for the education. Kevin Durant is not at Texas to get a degree in business administration.

When you are 7 feet tall and great at basketball, we can probably figure out what your career is going to be. There is not much more that Oden or Durant can learn from the college game. Both of them have proven that they are ready for the NBA. Kevin Durant scored 37 points and grabbed 20 rebounds in a Big Twelve game. Their talent level is above and beyond the talent that they will face in the Big Ten or Big Twelve. I understand that Greg Oden still needs to develop his offensive skills and Kevin Durant still needs to bulk up a few pounds. Why not learn and develop these skills in the NBA while getting paid and facing talent that is closer to your level? In the NBA, Oden and Durant will have the opportunity to face All-Americans and All Stars every night, which in turn make them better basketball players. Look at some of the exceptional basketball players who came out early like Carmelo Anthony, Dwyane Wade, Chris Bosh, and Chris Paul. Scouts said that these players had some weaknesses in their game, but they were able to improve their game while playing in the NBA and making an impact.

Declaring for the NBA will give them the financial security that Oden and Durant strive for. A guaranteed NBA contract provides security for their family and their future. For example, the Los Angeles Clippers, Shawn Livingston suffered a season ending knee injury and will not be able to play basketball for the next couple of years. He had declared for the NBA after his senior season in high school. According to the LA Times, Livingston has been able to save 10 million dollars over the last couple of years in the NBA. Even if he can’t play basketball again, he has a nice 10 million dollar nest egg to start the rest of his life. Before declaring for the NBA, Livingston had committed to Duke and if he injured himself while playing for Duke he gets nothing. If Oden and Durant decide to stay in college it can cost them almost 20 million dollars. For example, if Florida’s Joakim Noah declared for the NBA draft in 2006 he would have been the number 1 pick. He would probably have gotten a 30 million dollar contract. He decides to stay one more year in college and NBA mock drafts show him being drafted at 10. The 10th pick will probably yield a 12-15 million dollar contract. Not bad, but a lot less then 30 million. As an athlete, you have to capitalize when you are at your highest value. Next season, blue chip high school players Kevin Love, OJ Mayo, Bill Walker and Michael Beasley will be in the NBA draft and could lower Oden and Durant’s value.

I am not saying that college is not necessary. As a college graduate, I’m a huge proponent of education. There are .05% of people in our society who are blessed with talents and gifts that don’t need a college education to make them successful. Peter Jennings, Bill Gates, Kobe Bryant, and Bob Costas did not need college to make them great at their respective profession. Bob Costas left Syracuse University early to be an announcer for the ABA. He went on to become the best sportscaster of our generation. Great talent does not require college to nurture your skill. When you have a unique talent, you just have to go and get what you’re worth.

Joe M.

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