Mere mortals do not attempt to do the things that Brandon Jennings does. People like you and I do not use our 40 inch vertical to sail upwards towards a metal rim only to jam a leather ball through it, smile, and return to Earth.
We don't have the balls to adopt a 1989 haircut for our first excursion into the limelight (if we get a piece of the limelight at all). And most of us, will never be important enough for the NCAA to care about us.
The few people lucky enough to draw attention from the NCAA, typically do not wag their middle finger at the establishment.
But a middle finger wag is exactly what Jennings is considering. And as a mere mortal, I salute him.
You see, Brandon Jennings is in danger of not being eligible to enroll at Arizona this summer where he would take over the point gaurd duties from the departing Jerryd Bayless.
Brandon is in the uncomfortable position of having the SAT decide his eligibility for collegiate athletics. Most high school Seniors would have to clean their underwear if they were told that a standardized test would narrowly decide the final 'yeah' or 'nay' for their hoop dreams.
Brandon's underwear remain unscathed (besides usual wear and tear).
Recently, when shoe-marketing legend Sonny Vaccaro appeared on a talk show, he suggested that Jennings forego his career in Division-1 and instead play in Europe.
Brandon was listening.
Since that day, Brandon has done some pretty logical thinking (which should be helpful on that pesky SAT):
"Do I, Brandon Jennings prefer a life with no salary, an inherent risk of injury, access to collegiate vices (drugs, alcohol, coeds, etc.) all set across the backdrop of a campus in the dessert? Or, would I rather have a life with a six to seven figure salary, the same inherent risk of injury, the same vices (drugs, alcohol, college coeds crazy European women, etc.) all set across the backdrop of most pictureesque place in the world?"
Hmmm...
On the issues of salary, location, and risk alone, it seems inarguable that Europe is a better option for Brandon than Arizona. Add in the fact that Arizona is a day-trip away from Compton, his home town, and the picture gets even clearer.
The Hi-top faded one would not be bothered by "friends" from his old neighborhood in Paris. In Europe, Jennings would gain experience playing a highly competitive--more competitive than D-1--style of basketball, while simultaneously avoiding any temptation to have an entourage. He would likely learn how to deal with teammates who did not speak English well. (That might be useful). Brandon might even grow up some
However, if Jennings decides to go to Europe, the effects will reach much further than his own basketball career. First and foremost, the NCAA and NBA's pseudo-monopoly on American high school basketball talent will be shown for what it is (a farce).
The downside is that it could completely undermine college basketball as we know it. If all of the United States' talent crossed the pond after graduation we might never see this again.
On the other hand, if young 'super-athlete'-types appear in Europe more often, perhaps it will rub off on the Euro style of play. In other words, if Dirk Nowitski came through the ranks playing against guys like Greg Oden, perhaps he would have ditched his soft low post game (effectively making him the best player ever ever ever ever)
Basketball fans: We live in a Brave New World.
Jennings, go to Europe. I hope they show your games on ESPN 8 next year. I'll be there, beer in hand, to cheer you on.
We don't have the balls to adopt a 1989 haircut for our first excursion into the limelight (if we get a piece of the limelight at all). And most of us, will never be important enough for the NCAA to care about us.
The few people lucky enough to draw attention from the NCAA, typically do not wag their middle finger at the establishment.
But a middle finger wag is exactly what Jennings is considering. And as a mere mortal, I salute him.
You see, Brandon Jennings is in danger of not being eligible to enroll at Arizona this summer where he would take over the point gaurd duties from the departing Jerryd Bayless.
Brandon is in the uncomfortable position of having the SAT decide his eligibility for collegiate athletics. Most high school Seniors would have to clean their underwear if they were told that a standardized test would narrowly decide the final 'yeah' or 'nay' for their hoop dreams.
Brandon's underwear remain unscathed (besides usual wear and tear).
Recently, when shoe-marketing legend Sonny Vaccaro appeared on a talk show, he suggested that Jennings forego his career in Division-1 and instead play in Europe.
Brandon was listening.
Since that day, Brandon has done some pretty logical thinking (which should be helpful on that pesky SAT):
"Do I, Brandon Jennings prefer a life with no salary, an inherent risk of injury, access to collegiate vices (drugs, alcohol, coeds, etc.) all set across the backdrop of a campus in the dessert? Or, would I rather have a life with a six to seven figure salary, the same inherent risk of injury, the same vices (drugs, alcohol, college coeds crazy European women, etc.) all set across the backdrop of most pictureesque place in the world?"
Hmmm...
On the issues of salary, location, and risk alone, it seems inarguable that Europe is a better option for Brandon than Arizona. Add in the fact that Arizona is a day-trip away from Compton, his home town, and the picture gets even clearer.
The Hi-top faded one would not be bothered by "friends" from his old neighborhood in Paris. In Europe, Jennings would gain experience playing a highly competitive--more competitive than D-1--style of basketball, while simultaneously avoiding any temptation to have an entourage. He would likely learn how to deal with teammates who did not speak English well. (That might be useful). Brandon might even grow up some
However, if Jennings decides to go to Europe, the effects will reach much further than his own basketball career. First and foremost, the NCAA and NBA's pseudo-monopoly on American high school basketball talent will be shown for what it is (a farce).
The downside is that it could completely undermine college basketball as we know it. If all of the United States' talent crossed the pond after graduation we might never see this again.
On the other hand, if young 'super-athlete'-types appear in Europe more often, perhaps it will rub off on the Euro style of play. In other words, if Dirk Nowitski came through the ranks playing against guys like Greg Oden, perhaps he would have ditched his soft low post game (effectively making him the best player ever ever ever ever)
Basketball fans: We live in a Brave New World.
Jennings, go to Europe. I hope they show your games on ESPN 8 next year. I'll be there, beer in hand, to cheer you on.
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