I just recently learned about this Bryce Harper kid. Apparently I'm under a rock because he has been on the cover of SI. Anyway, the kid if 16 now and the Lebron James of baseball (talent wise). He is going to get his GED this year. Then he will enroll at a local community college so that he can enter the MLB draft at 17. He will have completely skipped his junior and senior years of high school.

Then, another kid, Jeremy Tyler is skipping his senior year of high school to go play professional basketball in Europe before entering the first NBA draft he is eligible for.

So, do you all think this is a good or bad thing. On one hand you should have a right to earn a living whenever you want. Kids start acting at a young age and make tons of money. Why not athletes. On the other hand high school is a pretty valuable time for developing as a person. A lot of those actors that start real young end up fucked up in the head.

6/18/2009 11:09:26 AM

you can drop the whole current topic thing

"athletes skipping high school" is enough

6/18/2009 11:10:26 AM

When did Sports Talk turn into Real Sports with hershculez ?

That said, if you're good enough to beat the system, go for it.

But don't make the mistake of coming out too soon

Anyone see Korleone Young lately ?

6/18/2009 11:11:51 AM

Trying to inject a little life into ST since it's summer. I liked the current topic heading

6/18/2009 11:13:13 AM

Current topic heading is lame.

As for the thread topic, these kids can do whatever the hell they want. It is a bad example for future kids, but considering the money in sports how can you argue with them about trying to make some loot sooner than later.

6/18/2009 11:34:14 AM

Mentioned in the MLB thread.

6/18/2009 11:36:23 AM

If you're good enough, go for it.

There's no reason to hold these kids back just to make other people rich while they're "amateurs."

6/18/2009 11:43:37 AM

kids in europe and south america have been doing it for years at soccer academies.

6/18/2009 11:47:53 AM

Bomani actually had a really good take on this


let me see if i can find it, pretty fucking funny

6/18/2009 12:15:48 PM

Quote :

"kids in europe and south america have been doing it for years at soccer academies."

It used to be a lot more common in baseball too.

http://www.baseball1.com/bb-data/bbd-yng.html

6/18/2009 12:45:27 PM