I was not trying to find fault with his game and have never talked about getting rid of players. I was presenting a side of the argument that no one ever makes any more. Everyone is always saying take the money and makes these "no brainer" arguments but those arguments are superficial at best. I would not have any discussion with or about a St John's player's future without the same kind of consideration that I'd give to my own kid and I have never pushed my kids to pursue money but instead to be better people.
The quick cash even in abundance, isn't always the best choice and now we have historical stats that show that it is an overwhelmingly bad, long term choice. Go to college. Develop yourself as a human. Then when you make some cash you will be more mature and capable to deal with it and other things in your life that
come along because rich or poor, they surely will.
Paul, my post was not directed towards you, but to the tone of the thread in general. I am all for allowing kids to develop as human beings and expand their horizons. However, that is no longer possible in Big time sports. When I first went to college in 1965, it was a whole different atmosphere. In the summer the schools used to find paid internships for their athletes. This allowed them to experience the world of work so that they would be prepared when they graduated. Now basketball is a 12 month a year job. You are expected to be on campus to work out over the summer. You also take classes so that your class load during the season will allow for more time for practice and individual workouts.
It would be ideal if the players were fully able to take advantage of all the opportunities that college life has to offer but that is not happening. They are here for one reason and one reason only, to play ball. They also need to win games and keep the alumni and fans happy. I have not seen anyone post that we need to help Lovett get a summer internship that will help prepare him for life after basketball. I may be wrong, but most posters are concerned about our players only as it relates to basketball, and wins and losses.
In the thread on Tariq Owens, no one said, this young man played above expectations. Let's look into fining him a Summer Internship to help him prepare for life after ball. Everyone had ideas on what he needed to work on to make him a better and more productive player for good old St. Johns. Let's not kid ourselves, big time college sports is a year round job that leaves very little time for anything else.
Someone else talked about kids leaving early and then not being able to handle their business responsibly when they are through playing. How about the young man who represents his school admirably for four years and then has a hard time finding employment because he never had an internship or practical experience and does not have any familial connections. How about the fact that athletes are sometimes placed n majors that are not very challenging in order to keep them eligible and give them plenty of time to practice. I see this happening because when these young men finish school, they come back to my neighborhood. Then it is up to people like myself to help them readjust to the real world.
Somehow Tim Tebow won 2 National Championships and still found time to go on missions to the Philippines along with many other activities. Now he is poised to lead the Mets to the World Series. 
