One Stop Flight

ONE STOP FLIGHT

The Cast 050818

By The Fillerbuster

(written on first leg, posted on before second leg unedited)

I despise one stop flights.  The only thing good about a one stop flight is that it is one less stop than a two stop flight.  It is bad enough our society’s dumb smart people don’t have us whipping around like the Jetsons or Star Trek these days, but flying me to any city not in a straight line with my destination is a waste of jet fuel and my time.  And for a work trip?  Even worse.  I know there is a logistical reason why I choose a one stop flight when on my time.  When on company time, it feels worse.  The logistics of waiting for a flight twice, takeoff twice, and taxing to my gate twice seem twice as long.  The trip is filled with interruptions and won’t allow me to camp out and work or make a PPT or whatever.  With this hatred for these one stop flights, you probably wonder how I handle two semi-long flights during my evening.  Well, I guess there IS another good thing about one stop flights.  It gave me a blog idea.

This won’t be a long monologue as I still need to work, but let’s talk about the NBA rules of not allowing kids to go directly to the pros.  Since I came up with this idea while walking on the flight about an hour ago, I have identified the views from the following perspectives.

• System
• School
• Player
• Fan
• Yes, I am most definitely missing stuff but this was a SPONTANEOUS blog so cut me a break

System:

People are already fighting this.  Some kids are going overseas.  Others are looking to create a league.  It will happen.  Why is school the only route?  It shouldn’t be.  I get it.  It has been accepted as such.  But, change the whole structure if need be.  For now, all you can do is get more of a contract from the kid once he makes a choice.

It alters records too.  The players go to school because it is the accepted route, and sometimes win a title when they have the skills to be in the NBA.  Hell, if this rule existed in the early 2000’s, Melo might still have no titles but TWO March Madness titles.  We are also literally promoting one night stands I think.  Get it and leave.  Totally off topic.

It would make the NBA better too.  You either get only the most talented kids going pro, or you get a more refined kid coming out of college after two years.  I don’t mind players coming out early.  But, the ones coming out after a year who DON’T deserve to or are not drafted are killing the next level more than it already is hurting.

School:

What kids have been allowed to do (or not to do actually) for the last 15 years or so (note this is written with no research or stat backing) is an insult to the school.  There are schools that are basketball meccas.  It follows that those basketball meccas should go after the best of the available kids coming out of high school and overseas.  Logical.  But, they are bringing in these five star recruits KNOWING they will leave.  The school knows it.  The kids knows it.  And this creates a laughable environment for the one year wonder.  We need to stick with the importance factors in order.  First, a school is a SCHOOL.  Then, SOME of them happen to be good at hoops ALSO.  By allowing kids go one year to that institution, it pokes fun at the very reason that school exists for.  Allow the kid to go straight to the pros or to school.  If he goes to school, he has to go two years at a minimum.

Player:

The ones who go pro already have the body for it.  Make the ones who don’t have it get more time to get the NBA body.

They are not paying the kids in school, so allow the ones who CAN go straight there the option to help out their family.

There are no injury concerns either at that age.  They either play two years and adjust their body, or go straight to professional guidance on injuries and their body.

College coaches are better at their craft.  Give them two years minimally with ANY kid before they send them on their way to join the other spoiled brats.

Finally, not only might they study a little if they have to come back for another year, but maybe the fact they have finished TWO years as opposed to one will motivate them to go back and get their degree during or after their pro career.

Fan:

Yes, it is kind of cool when the stud of the class picks your school.  It gives us hopes of a championship THAT year.  Well, what if our school was going after a spot up shooter or a stretch 4 specifically instead of just all the best kids?  Some of Kentucky’s teams in the last 10 years have very obviously been a mash of whoever was best out there with little regard for position.  It would create better basketball at both the college and pro level.

I despise one stop flights.  So, let’s end one stop flights.  Let them use the “free country” thing and do what they want, and throw in a contract for two years IF they go to an academic institution to give respect to that school and its original purpose.  We all would be better for it.

Sorry for no pics.  This was written on the first leg and not added to except the title theme.

We are about to land.  The only redeeming factor is that I already have my exit row seat and don’t have to move for the second leg because it is the same plane.  But, IS that a redeeming factor?  I have to eat a sandwich that is an hour old from my backpack.  But, I digress as that is another topic from which I could probably find a sports comparison.  I will note that a future blog will be called “Old Ham And Cheese.”  That sounds like one about good and bad professional athletes not retiring while they are on top??  Old Ham and Cheese.

By the way, for the thousandth time, HOW do people tolerate humidity on a daily basis?  I came from a east coast work trip, and although I am impressed I tolerated it for 22 or so years growing up, I got OUT.  Love Colorado weather.  Except for the lack of beach or ocean thing of course…

That’s it for today.  Hope you enjoyed or are at least more informed.  Will I blog again?  That is a CLOWN question, bro.  Peace.