<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'> <span>Prior to 1971, the National Basketball Association had a rule that required a graduating high-school player to wait four years before he would become eligible to play in its league. The rule did not expressly state that a player had to attend college or place an age restriction on players entering the NBA, although clearly those were the intentions behind the rule. What the rule did in fact state was that "a player could not make himself available" to be drafted by a NBA team unless he waited fours years following his graduation from high school.<span> </span></span></p> <p style="text-align: justify" class="MsoNormal"><span>After competing in the Olympics and signing a contract with the Denver Rockets of the American Basketball Association in 1970, Haywood was drafted by Seattle of the NBA even though four years had not surpassed since his graduation from high school. As a result of Seattle signing Haywood before his college class graduated, the NBA threatened to disallow the contract and implement various punitive sanctions against the Seattle basketball club. </span></p> <p style="text-align: justify" class="MsoNormal"><span>Haywood challenged this decision by commencing an antitrust action against the NBA that eventual went to the United States Supreme Court in 1971. As part of his claim against the NBA, Haywood argued that the conduct of the NBA was a "group boycott"and a violation of the Sherman Antitrust Act [click here]. The central issue that had to be determined was whether the NBA draft policy was a restraint on trade and therefore was illegal in accordance with the Sherman Act.</span></p> <p style="text-align: justify" class="MsoNormal"><span>The District Court, in Denver Rockets v. All-Pro Management, 325 F. Supp. 1049 (C.D. Calf. 1971) ruled in favor of Haywood and granted an injunction which allowed him to play in the NBA and prohibited the NBA from placing sanctions on Seattle. The District Court ruled in favor of Haywood since it felt that Haywood would suffer irreparable injury and his playing career would be dissipated since his physical skills and co-ordination would deteriorate from lack of high level competition if he was prohibited from continuing to play with the Seattle team. </span></p> <p style="text-align: justify" class="MsoNormal"><span>Today, the effects of Haywood v. NBA are seem with greater frequency as a significant number of high school graduates and college attendees make themselves eligible for the NBA draft before completing four years in college. Therefore, despite Spencer Haywood's fine career as a professional basketball player, his greatest victory may have in fact come from a different court.</div></span></p><p style="text-align: justify" class="MsoNormal">http://www.sportslawnews.com/archive/histo...Haywoodcase.htm</p><p style="text-align: justify" class="MsoNormal">Why are they allowed to lock the players out for one year now, if four years wasn't legal? </p>
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (BG7 Lavigne)</div><div class='quotemain'><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'> <span>Prior to 1971, the National Basketball Association had a rule that required a graduating high-school player to wait four years before he would become eligible to play in its league. The rule did not expressly state that a player had to attend college or place an age restriction on players entering the NBA, although clearly those were the intentions behind the rule. What the rule did in fact state was that "a player could not make himself available" to be drafted by a NBA team unless he waited fours years following his graduation from high school.<span> </span></span></p><p style="text-align: justify" class="MsoNormal"><span>After competing in the Olympics and signing a contract with the Denver Rockets of the American Basketball Association in 1970, Haywood was drafted by Seattle of the NBA even though four years had not surpassed since his graduation from high school. As a result of Seattle signing Haywood before his college class graduated, the NBA threatened to disallow the contract and implement various punitive sanctions against the Seattle basketball club. </span></p><p style="text-align: justify" class="MsoNormal"><span>Haywood challenged this decision by commencing an antitrust action against the NBA that eventual went to the United States Supreme Court in 1971. As part of his claim against the NBA, Haywood argued that the conduct of the NBA was a "group boycott"and a violation of the Sherman Antitrust Act [click here]. The central issue that had to be determined was whether the NBA draft policy was a restraint on trade and therefore was illegal in accordance with the Sherman Act.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify" class="MsoNormal"><span>The District Court, in Denver Rockets v. All-Pro Management, 325 F. Supp. 1049 (C.D. Calf. 1971) ruled in favor of Haywood and granted an injunction which allowed him to play in the NBA and prohibited the NBA from placing sanctions on Seattle. The District Court ruled in favor of Haywood since it felt that Haywood would suffer irreparable injury and his playing career would be dissipated since his physical skills and co-ordination would deteriorate from lack of high level competition if he was prohibited from continuing to play with the Seattle team. </span></p><p style="text-align: justify" class="MsoNormal"><span>Today, the effects of Haywood v. NBA are seem with greater frequency as a significant number of high school graduates and college attendees make themselves eligible for the NBA draft before completing four years in college. Therefore, despite Spencer Haywood's fine career as a professional basketball player, his greatest victory may have in fact come from a different court.</div></span></p><p style="text-align: justify" class="MsoNormal">http://www.sportslawnews.com/archive/histo...Haywoodcase.htm</p><p style="text-align: justify" class="MsoNormal">Why are they allowed to lock the players out for one year now, if four years wasn't legal? </p></div> They really arent. Just takes someone to fight it. Just isnt worth it. </p>
Because no one has challenged it yet....in truth, they could require a degree to play in the league if they wanted too....you never know what would happen if you got before a liberal "its my right to legislate from the bench" judge, but many other companies require certain educational requirements, so there is precedent
I could blab against the age limit until I'm blue in the face. </p> One moment, Stern tries to yap about the NBA beinga business and all when he's trying to get people to dress up, but the next minute he's against hiring completely capable 18 year olds to his business.</p>
that rule isnt designed tokeep the capable 18 year olds out, its designed to keep the incapable 18 year olds, that are surrounded with vultures who are encouraging an early entry....over the last few years, there were early entry guys that went undrafted....guys that could be getting degrees from Ball State, are working at Wal Mart because Uncle Scumbag pushed them into thinking they were lottery picks....for every Lebron James, there was 10 Taj McDavids.....but it is a shame the worthy guys cant get in
I think the rule is there because the teams got tired of drafting talented but raw players that sat at the end of the bench on guaranteed deals and never got better....and you can say, "Stop drafting them" all you want, but no one wants to pass on the next Kobe or Lebron....there an easy way to tell though, was it the league or the union that added it to the last CBA?
Yeah, since the NBA's GM's had trouble choosing the right HSers, what better way to correct that then ban all of them so GMs don't get a chance tomake any boneheaded decisions?
The owners received a lot of concessions in the '05 CBA, partly because the players union was able to secure the age limit clause in the agreement.
Of course, saying a portion of the player population will be banned is never something a union will agree on.
I see, though I cannot imagine why the Union was against the limit, as draftees aren't Union members and the limit protects the jobs of veteran players.
I always wondered that myself....in the NFL, the issue is the ammount of money high draft picks sign for....I never understood why the union would fight to keep a system in which players are rewarded before they play a down and veteran with a track record of success get less because the rookies are sucking up the money....
