Fred Bowen's "The Score" column,
February 13, 2004, Washington Post

Uneducated Decisions

Last week, a federal judge sacked the National Football League. The judge said that the NFL could not keep its rule that players have to wait at least three years after high school before they can play in the league. That means that players such as Ohio State running back Maurice Clarett and University of Pittsburgh wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald may now play in the NFL at any time -- even right out of high school -- if they are good enough.

I think the court made the right call. I don't think it's fair that young football players have to wait to turn pro when teenage athletes in tennis, soccer, hockey and basketball can play for money. Look at LeBron James. He jumped to the National Basketball Association right from high school and is averaging 20.4 points, 5.7 rebounds and 5.8 assists a game for the Cleveland Cavaliers. LeBron is much better than I thought he would be in his rookie season.

Of course, just because high school football players can jump straight to the pros doesn't mean that they should do it before they play a few years of college ball. Most young players need to get bigger, stronger and better before they compete against older pros. Also, going to college, meeting new people and studying interesting stuff can help anyone become a better person as well as a better athlete.

I heard Jim Brown say on the radio that he was in "no way" ready to play in the NFL right out of high school. Who's Jim Brown? Maybe the greatest football player ever. After starring as a running back at Syracuse University, Brown led the NFL in rushing for eight of the next nine years (1957-1965).

My guess is that, if the court decision in the NFL case is upheld on appeal, a lot of football players will make the same mistake that some basketball players have made: They will try to go pro too soon. It could make them some extra money, but it will keep them from the college coaching and training that might make them better players.

So, what does all this talk about judges and superstar running backs have to do with most kids? Not much. After all, players who can go straight to the pros -- including LeBron James and soccer sensation Freddy Adu, who began training this week with D.C. United -- are one-in-a-million athletes. Most kids are just trying to hang on to a team.

Still, some kids who are good athletes are tempted to rush things just like the high school phenoms. These kids try to "play up" the first chance they get. They play in the older kids' games or on travel and all-star teams. Like the high school basketball star who is sure he can go pro, it is easy to think that you are better than you are.

But sometimes it's better to play at a lower level than to sit on the bench for a travel team. Sometimes it's better to wait until you know you are ready to help the team instead of going too fast and getting in over your head.

Sometimes it's good to remember that not everyone is LeBron James.