The theater of the absurd: NCAA president says former pro players pushing to go back to college may make Congress act

[MichMan]

IMO, this is all about trying to get NIL money. You wouldn't see professional players trying to get college eligibility if they had to play for scholarships only and had to attend class.

In a strange way, the brazen push from professional players to recalibrate their collegiate eligibility might help the NCAA in its fight to get its arms around its product.

NCAA president Charlie Baker has been nearly begging Congress to help streamline the wayward laws currently governing college athletics to no avail. Charles Bediako’s temporary restraining order to play at Alabama – coupled with former UCLA Bruin Amari Bailey’s claim that he, too, wants to go back to school – might be the proverbial straw on the congressional camel.

On a plentiful plate of issues to handle – point shaving and gambling, transfer portal and NIL regulations – Baker said that the eligibility issue is feeling the hottest burner. A preliminary injunction hearing is scheduled Friday in Alabama for Bediako, who has been playing for the Crimson Tide since January 24 despite playing for four different G-League teams and at one point signing a two-way contract with the San Antonio Spurs. The judge who granted Bediako the temporary restraining order has since recused himself after reports surfaced that he is an Alabama booster.

Bailey, who played 10 games in the NBA after being selected in the second round in the 2023 NBA draft, has said he would like to return to Westwood. He has hired a lawyer but has yet to file a lawsuit.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/nba/the-theater-of-the-absurd-ncaa-president-says-former-pro-players-pushing-to-go-back-to-college-may-make-congress-act/ar-AA1VFJCO?ocid=msedgdhp&pc=LCTS&cvid=69838e4d65c64bf9bf0d7d97895f1d0b&ei=7

[Mosby]

1. Interesting case.

As the article notes, the issue is complicated by European pros, who often go pro as juveniles (like luka) but then later want their college eligibility.

[MichMan]

2. That may be different than someone who left college early, played in professional leagues and then wants to go back.

Let's not pretend that this has absolutely nothing to do with wanting to return to college and complete a degree. It is because their pro careers didn't turn out like they hoped, and now they have no degree to fall back on.

"In his court filing, Bediako’s attorneys stated that he regretted his 2023 decision to leave Tuscaloosa after his sophomore year. They argued that if he had the "foresight" to see how much NIL compensation and eligibility rules would change, he never would have left."

https://www.sportingnews.com/us/ncaa-basketball/news/why-ex-alabama-basketball-player-charles-bediako-return/7ad2398e9992206c9529ad72

[Mosby]

3. Yeah, definitely

But if they still have college eligibility left why shouldn't they be able to get NIL money? People return to college all the time to finish their degrees, I did.

[MichMan]

4. People 30 years old return to get college degrees

I don't want someone who went directly from HS and played for 12 years in PRO basketball, to still be eligible to play as a college freshman? Makes a mockery of the sport IMO

[Mosby]

5. I don't know, maybe?

When they return to college as a 30 yo they are still "freshmen", right? There's your answer.

[MichMan]

6. They got rid of every other rule that made college sports entertaining for many people

No limits on how much schools can spend on NIL, players hitting the transfer portal every year, gambling permitted, players with agents. Might as well get rid of having actually ever go to class, or for that matter even requiring someone to go to HS before college.

Why not just let teams in the NCAA March Madness tournament, sign a bunch of current NBA players that have any college eligibility remaining, and pay them $1 million apiece for a few games to play in the tournament?