The NCAA just has more heart

Wildcat File Photo Arizona Daily Wildcat Kate Longworth

It said, "With the Christmas season approaching, please look into your heart to help

those in need. Hundreds of National Basketball Association players in our very own country are living at or just below the seven-figure salary level."

And get this, all I had to do to help was sponsor a player for $20,835 a month, about $694.50 a day.

That's when it hit me. I once thought of a basketball career as the ultimate dream come true, but now my feelings toward the NBA can be summed up with the slogan "mo money, mo problems." I have been one of the NBA's greatest fans and fondest supporters since I can remember. While other kids were concerned with figuring out how to pull the rabbit out of the hat or perform card tricks, I was just intrigued by the "Magic" on the court. All I could think was how lucky each of those players, coaches, referees and managers were to be a part of the NBA. I was going to school, working hard to try to get top grades to get any job, and there they were just playing a game of ball, and nevertheless getting paid for it.

What a life, I thought, as I loudly cheered along with the song "I Wanna be like Mike." I mean who wouldn't want to "work" on the court, earning a yearly salary far surpassing most Americans' lifetime income of laboring and tedious tasks.

I mean I'll admit when players like Mike Bibby left for the pros early, I was a little bummed out for the Wildcats and thought, why would he cheat his education? But then I looked on the flip side, I thought hello, a dream come true to play in the NBA, yeah I'd go too!

But I guess I was a bit too naive because I look at the decision now and when I see him and former teammate Miles Simon in the stands at their Alma Master, instead of on TV with their pro team, I wonder if they feel like they're missing out a bit?

Missing out on the exciting drive of college basketball. Missing out on the thrill of a last minute, buzzer-beater game-winning shot, because for that game that shot was all they had, a win or a loss - no lofty pay stub to make up for the defeat. Missing out on the vigorous practice where you give all you got to the game because you're trying to make it, trying to fulfill your dream to be better and make it up there with the big guys... But man, once you're hanging with those top guys and the dollar signs light up your eyes, do you even remember what that original dream was?

In the next few days, while the 29 NBA teams try to bargain contracts with 200 free agents, I wonder if once a price tag is slapped on at the end of a player's name, if he'll forget what the game is worth?

What it is worth in terms of love, excitement, hard work, pride, dedication, and dreams... not monetary figures. I mean let's face it, what's love really got to do with it anyway, once you're dealing with a $700 minimal daily paycheck? Which, as the e-mail said, "Your commitment of less than $700 a day will enable a player to buy that home entertainment center, trade in the year-old Lexus for a new Ferrari, or enjoy a weekend in Rio."

So, yeah, I am still going to love the NBA and I am going to miss the past heroics of Jordan, Bird and Magic - and I will hope for a challenge to fulfill their shoes on the court, but I don't know. I don't think the lockout just lost the owners' and players' focus on the real importance of the game, I think they lost a little bit of mine, too.

When I was little, I didn't beg to go to a college game as much as I wanted to be at pro games, but now I'd gladly stand the entire game cheering the Wildcats to maintain their No. 9 ranking, then yawn through a Suns game, where the players don't even know what they're playing for.

The collegiate players know what it's about. You can't tell me these free agents have as strong sense of commitment to their team and the game as they search around for their highest bidder. But ask a college player who's shooting free-throws for a straight practice because his teammate missed the last foul shot of the game, I bet he can tell you a little about pride and dedication.

The collegiate athletes are the players out there with the skill of an NBA star in the making, but the heart of a child going after the win with all they've got because without a win they have nothing to comfort themselves.