At the beginning of February, U.S. District Judge Shira Scheindlin ruled that the National Football League must overturn its rule that prevents players from entering the draft until three years after graduating high school. Maurice Clarett, former Ohio State football player, filed the suit in efforts to enter the NFL, probably to spite the Buckeyes for his suspension.

The primary issue that is up for debate is antitrust laws. The judge said the rule is in violation of them. The league says the ruling is inconsistent with them. And Clarett probably couldn’t define them.

“It gives kids an opportunity to choose,” Clarett said in a news conference after the decision. Gives kids an opportunity to choose? He should just be honest and say, “It gives me an opportunity to make myself feel overly important and screw over the organization that gave me the greatest opportunity of my life.” That would be more accurate.

One of the reasons Scheindlin gave for the ruling was based on other professional sports’ statutes. The National Basketball Association has no limit on when potentials can enter the draft. Many basketball players, like Kobe Bryant and most recently LeBron James, have entered the sport and signed million-dollar contracts to play and to endorse products before they’ve had the chance to retire their graduation gowns. I think this is a very flawed and faulty argument.

First of all, 20-year-olds have no business making millions upon millions of dollars. In an age where higher education is vital to a successful future, these “role models” only contradict the things our parents and educators are trying to enforce. If Clarett were smart he would focus on his Family Resource Management major and not the NFL.

Second, Clarett has not exactly shown the public that he is a trustworthy character that is mature enough to handle professional sports. In fact, if he hadn’t been suspended for accepting improper benefits from a family friend and then lying to investigators about it, he may not be in this situation.

Rules were made for a reason. Clarett has proved that he cannot follow them, and now he wants to change them.

The NFL has appealed the decision, and if the court system works like most others it will be waiting in limbo until after the April draft. Screwed again.

Brittney MurphySports Editor for The Chimes, Capital University