The Pros and Cons of Clarett Court Decision

The decision by U.S. District Judge [Shira] Scheindlin making Maurice Clarett eligible for the NFL draft is unconscionable. The NFL made a very good rule that would ensure high school phenoms would, hopefully, stay in college a little longer and reach physical and emotional maturity before being subjected to the stress of pro football.

Apparently the court decided to follow the letter of the law rather than the intent of a good rule by the NFL. When some of these immature young men associate with the wrong people and wind up in serious legal trouble or are seriously injured or even killed on the field, is this judge going to accept responsibility? I think not.

Most everyone is familiar with the separation of church and state. I would like to suggest separation of courts and sports, which would allow our sports administrators to establish and enforce rules to protect the integrity of the sport and the players without interference from judges who don’t know a hockey puck from a tennis racket.

Ed Brooks

Ridgecrest

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Why all the hand-wringing over the Maurice Clarett decision? Most of the NFL wannabes at schools with big-time football programs have no interest in getting an education.

By leaving school early, they create classroom space for students who want to be there, at least at those campuses where football players attend classes.

If the universities don’t like the decision, they can follow the example of the Ivy League, which, half a century ago, de-emphasized football by drastically reducing athletic scholarships and budgets and eliminating spring practices.

Of course, that would require university presidents to exercise leadership. Don’t hold your breath. At big football schools, the tail wags the dog.

Forrest G. Wood

Bakersfield