Should there be age limits in professional sports?

[dawgball]

Today's poll is stemming from the $1 million contract that 13 year old, Adu, signed with NIke. Adu signs contract

I am talking about ALL professional sports: Tennis, gymnastics, golf, b-ball. Where is it going to stop? I think that there should be an age limit of 18, and it should not exclude any sport. Olympics would be fine due to the amateur status remaining.

If not 18, it should be at least the legal working age of 16!

Does anyone else feel passionately for or against this?

 

[Blazer]

Signing a contract is my sticking point. Am I mistaken or do you have to be 18 to sign a legal contract?:shrug:

 

[taoist]

...you can contract with minors, but you do so at your own risk because when they reach the age of majority, they can effectively opt out of any contract signed while they were a minor.... however, if you sign a bad deal with a minor, they can hold your feet to the fire...and require you to live up to your end of the deal or take you to court and pay damages if you refuse.

 

[rc conditioner]

if they can play it doesn't matter how old they are..

 

[djv]

I say if you dont agree. Dont buy the product they signed with.
You cant blame kids or there families. There going to take the money and run. I hope they at least wait till they get out of dipers.

 

[loophole]

dawgball, why do you feel that way? not sure if a league imposed such limits it wouldn't be illegal age disrimination anyway. this kid obviously has legal and personal advisors out the ass, so nobody's going to take advantage of him. seems like enough money to hire the best private tutors in the world. should he opt now to pass up a lifetime of financial security for himself and his family because he is too young? do you feel the same way about kid actors, kid singers, etc.? should there have been a law that prohibited britney spears from singing professionally when her career began? let the kid make his millions now while he's hot; he's got the rest of his life to figure out how to spend it wisely. the ability to pick good money managers is not age-related as best i can tell.

 

[IX_Bender]

The ultimate question will always be based in economics, as this is what sponsors/endorsements are ultimately about.

When / can things go TOO FAR?

Who is the next 90 million Lebron James? 15 million guaranteed for someone who has yet to step on an NBA court, much less play organized college ball....

CHECK THIS OUT

Personally, Ive banned NIKE for past transgressions involving underage children and lifelong endorsements which ultimately became unconstitutional based on their actions. Now, Im questioning Reebok.


Check out the fourth clip. "God given talent" and "I am Reebok"

Two things I dont want my 3 year old to ever say.

 

[auspice]

That's the problem with these damn kids today, they just don't have the patience to wait till they're 15-16 to cash in.