Bibby should follow Duncan, Van Horn's example

Wildcat File Photo Arizona Daily Wildcat Scottie Bricker

Gracias to you, Keith Van Horn.

You are the example by which our young athletes should live, having strength of mind enough to return for a senior year of college.

With alluring dollar signs, weekly trips to fabulous cities around the continent and the bright lights of the National Basketball Association calling your names, you made the decision to put your brains and spirit ahead of your checkbook and return to college for your senior years.

Mr. Duncan and Mr. Van Horn, if you are reading this right now, please call 1-800-BIBBY-10 and tell Arizona's sophomore point guard to stay in school. The dollars will be there two years from now, so too will the fancy cars, showdowns with Damon Stoudamire and the big-time NBA cities, oh, and Sacramento too.

Remind our young basketball star how important it is to relish college and the how necceary college degree is (which Bibby promised his mother he would accomplish in four years when he committed to UA after his junior year of high school).

Tell him you should never break a promise to your mom.

Tell him about Dontonio Wingfield, who left Cincinnati after his freshman year and has spent the past three years picking splinters out of his behind in the NBA. Tell him to read the article in Sports Illustrated about the struggles and frustrations of Toronto Raptor rookie Tracy McGrady, who leapt to the Big Time at the ripe age of 18.

Speak to him about the gigantic step it is to advance to the next level, physically, mentally and emotionally. Tell him about the way it tears at you each and every day, daring you to give up and throw in the towel because you aren't ready to handle the rigors of an 82-game season, not including preseason and possible playoff contests.

Advise him of the great advantage of taking every possible chance to enhance your physical stature, to allow your body to grow and develop into a man instead of forcing it to perform beyond its years.

He will be able to understand the style of play around the league better if he waits a couple of years. He will surely be able to more clearly grasp the intricacies of contract talks and collective bargaining agreements on his own, without having to worry about some overpriced agent.

Tim. Keith. Don't wait any longer.

Pick up the phone and call.

Scottie Bricker is a journalism senior.