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I had the distinct privilege of catching the Michael Irvin Show on 103.3 FM ESPN today. He was Irvin trumpeting the cause of high school players wanting to go straight to the NBA. Irvin said if they want to work, they should be allowed to work. Anything else was unfair.

Are you kidding me? Free room and board, tuition, food for a year is unfair? God-like treatment by a college campus for a year is unfair? Having to wait one year, 12 months, 365 days, before getting your multi-million dollar signing bonus for playing a game is unfair?

I, for one, am not shedding any tears for Derrick Rose or Michael Beasley because they had to go to school for a year. Do you know how many people would kill for a full ride to college and have tutors swarming you and making sure you pass?

A college scholarship is what most high school athletes are striving for. They don't have a future in professional sports. I guess that perk is beneath some of the budding superstars in the NBA. That's fine, and it may or may not be legal. That's for other people to decide (and judging by the ruling in Maurice Clarett's suit against the NFL, it IS legal.)

But let's not act like there's some huge injustice being done to these players. They have ever opportunity imaginable at their fingertips.

In other NBA news, reports are coming out that the Heat are considering O.J. Mayo at No. 2. First of all, I wouldn't take Mayo at No. 2, 3, 4 ... let's just say I wouldn't take him at all. But I believe this is all smoke and mirrors from Miami. Mayo is suddenly the hot comodity. It works to their advantage to have people think he won't be available later in the draft.