NBA owners and International Play
Broken leg, Broken franchise
by Shawn Clarke
Frank Vogel's (coach of the Pacers) time will be spent in the unemployment line, Roy Hibbert (A star player for the Pacers) will no longer live in the greater Indianapolis area and we will see what is ahead for Larry Bird. This injury will cause great change for the Indiana Pacers - stemming from an injury sustained in an exhibition game of no importance. Great players around the league get criticized for sitting out, but how can we blame them?
Americans complain when the "Stars" don't play, but there are risks. The NBA is a physically demanding league and the season is long. The top players play from October into April and for playoff bound stars, into June. If these guys continue playing throughout the summer the legs will be tired during the season and result in more injuries from over work, which in addition to being dangerous leads to inferior play.
International basketball hurts the overall product and the owners should be outraged that the players, which are their investments, are participating in exhibition games that have potential for losing them millions of dollars. As fun as it is to see the best players in the world all on one team, college players need to represent our nation and attempt to win Olympic Gold. It's time for a youth movement for the Men's National team.