| ROLL OF THE DICE | | | | committment. But, they aren't always enough. |
| When people go to Vegas, they know the odds | | | | Bad apples will always get through. Either because |
| are against them and there is little likelihood of | | | | of an athlete's deception or an owner's arrogance. |
| beating the house. But, in professional sports, | | | | All-time draft "Bust Lists" are favorites among |
| delusions of outsmarting the system run rampant. | | | | fans. They're littered with names like Ryan Leaf, |
| Billionaire owners bet millions on the hope that | | | | Tony Mandarich, Mark Prior, Eric Lindros and Ralph |
| teenagers and twenty-somethings will pay huge | | | | Sampson. |
| dividends. So, can there be a bigger gamble than | | | | Now, to be fair, some of these athletes didn't pan |
| drafting college athletes? | | | | out because of injuries. But just as many flamed |
| Anyone who's ever gone to college knows that | | | | out or never got started because of attitudes, |
| distractions are as big a part of campus life as | | | | drug problems or an inability to adapt their talents |
| the education apparatus. So, dedication, even | | | | to a higher caliber of competition. |
| among the most focused of students can be a | | | | NO CRYSTAL BALL |
| fleeting thing. Add in the the atmosphere | | | | If drafting college athletes was an exact science, |
| surrounding most student-athletes, and you'll | | | | every team that ever chose a lottery pick would |
| probably get someone who's more "monkey | | | | be a lock to win a championship. Usually just the |
| business" than "down-to-business." | | | | opposite is true. Desperate teams often look for |
| Which isn't to say that all college athletes are | | | | a short term fix to cure problems that developed |
| directionally-challenged. But, those, who play in | | | | over time. So urgency often trumps due-diligence. |
| revenue generating sports, are often given | | | | For some teams, quality talent scouting mitigates |
| skewed priorities. Unfortunately, that's what often | | | | the risk. Others just get lucky. But, no amount of |
| makes them worth the high-stakes gamble. When | | | | evaluation can predict the future. |
| their goal is sports-centric and not student-centric, | | | | For every sure-fire success like Peyton Manning, |
| their abilities as athletes take precedence over | | | | there's a diamond in the rough like Tom Brady or |
| their skills as people. | | | | Mike Piazza, the last player taken in the Major |
| LET HISTORY BE YOUR GUIDE | | | | League Baseball draft. Piazza was chosen as a |
| Since professional sports leagues are as | | | | favor to Dodgers manager Tommy Lasorda, and |
| image-conscious as they are profit-driven, most | | | | he developed into one of the most prolific hitting |
| spend a lot of time and a lot of money making | | | | catchers in league history. |
| sure their employees are solid citizens in addition | | | | So, with piles of money waiting for them at the |
| to top-flight athletes. | | | | end of their college sports careers, no matter |
| Before drafting college athletes, teams perform | | | | how long they last, physically gifted kids will |
| background checks, personality and intelligence | | | | always be ready to cash in. However, for those |
| tests, drug screening and probing interviews | | | | with money and futures on the line, drafting |
| before offering any long term financial | | | | college athletes will never be a sure bet. |