Double Standard: Michelle Wie Turning Pro Good, LeBron James Turning Pro Bad
Robert Paul Reyes
October 13, 2005
Michelle Wie qualified for her first LPGA Tour event four years ago, when she was a precocious 12-year old. Now, that she's a seasoned veteran, she's ready to make her professional debut this week at the Samsung World Championship.
I haven't heard a word of protest from sports columnists, golf professionals or pundits, complaining that she's too young to join the LPGA. Everyone takes it for granted that Wie has a financial team that will help her manage the millions she will make in her career.
Now compare that deafening silence to the clamor that takes place whenever a Kevin Garnett, Kobe Bryant or LeBron James jumps directly from high school to the NBA. "LeBron is too young, he should go to college, get an education, have a degree to fall back on, blah, blah, blah..."
The National Basketball Association (NBA) now has an age restriction: You have to be 19 years old and one year out of high school to enter the NBA.
Why the double standard? It's as simple as black and white, most professional golfers are white and most professional basketball players are black.
Unfortunately, some people would prefer to see LeBron James flipping burgers for minimum wage, rather than see him dunking a basketball for millions of dollars.
Most folks surmise that Wie has financial advisers who will make sure that she won't squander her money, and some people fancy that young black hoopsters will blow their money on cars, cocaine and call girls.
I wish Wie all the luck in the world -- with her talent, drive and determination, one day she might even with a PGA event. High school basketball players should have the same opportunity as Wie, they should be allowed to go directly to the NBA.
The NBA's racist age restriction clause should be deleted in the next collective bargaining agreement.
I haven't heard a word of protest from sports columnists, golf professionals or pundits, complaining that she's too young to join the LPGA. Everyone takes it for granted that Wie has a financial team that will help her manage the millions she will make in her career.
Now compare that deafening silence to the clamor that takes place whenever a Kevin Garnett, Kobe Bryant or LeBron James jumps directly from high school to the NBA. "LeBron is too young, he should go to college, get an education, have a degree to fall back on, blah, blah, blah..."
The National Basketball Association (NBA) now has an age restriction: You have to be 19 years old and one year out of high school to enter the NBA.
Why the double standard? It's as simple as black and white, most professional golfers are white and most professional basketball players are black.
Unfortunately, some people would prefer to see LeBron James flipping burgers for minimum wage, rather than see him dunking a basketball for millions of dollars.
Most folks surmise that Wie has financial advisers who will make sure that she won't squander her money, and some people fancy that young black hoopsters will blow their money on cars, cocaine and call girls.
I wish Wie all the luck in the world -- with her talent, drive and determination, one day she might even with a PGA event. High school basketball players should have the same opportunity as Wie, they should be allowed to go directly to the NBA.
The NBA's racist age restriction clause should be deleted in the next collective bargaining agreement.
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