Take the money and run

Wildcat File Photo Arizona Daily Wildcat Chris Jackson

Don't walk, run.

Get the heck out of Tucson while you can.

Do it before you get hurt. Do it before the scouts begin to question some aspect of your game. Do it before finals.

I know I would.

The question of whether or not sophomore point guard Mike Bibby should make himself eligible for the NBA Draft will be answered today.

There are many reasons why Bibby should leave. There are few to make him stay.

It comes down to one thing though.

Money.

If Bibby makes himself eligible, he'll be a lottery pick, signed to a multi-million dollar contract.

Now, ask yourself this question: You have the choice between two more years of college, fighting to keep your GPA up while concentrating on improving your game without the benefit of a salary, or you could go pro and make millions of dollars. Which do you choose?

If someone offered me a choice between $5 million or taking my Russian language final, I'd be gone before anyone could say "da svedanya."

Bibby faces that same choice.

What reasons does he have to stay? He won a national title. He won a Pacific 10 Conference title. He was even the most valuable player in the conference.

Could he win the nation's player of the year award if he stays? Sure, but what might that do? It may move him up another spot or two in the draft, bringing a fearful chance that he could be drafted by the Denver Nuggets.

OK, so Bibby will still likely begin his NBA career on a team that might not win a whole lot. But I'd play for a loser and get paid rather than stay in college and work my butt off for nothing.

Bibby has nothing to gain and everything to lose by staying at UA. Imagine coming back next year, only to get hurt. What if Bibby were to return and blow out his knee? How would that impact his career?

Sure, it could happen just as easily in the NBA, but at least Bibby would have a guaranteed contract to fall back on. After all, he's got a kid to support now. The risk of having something bad happen is not a risk he should take.

But most of all, Mike, there's one reason you shouldn't come back.

Finals. No more finals. Imagine having no more tests, no more pop quizzes, no more research projects or term papers or any of that. Just basketball.

Run, Mike, all the way to the draft. And don't look back.

Chris Jackson is a sophomore studying journalism. He believes Arizona will do just fine with Jason Terry as its point guard, anyway.