Returning Pioneers

The local sportscaster chatter has stroked on for days about Avery Bradley's decision re the draft. This perrenial discussion undoubtedly drones on across David Stern's personal plantation, the entire NCAA. Forget for a moment that no one would be dumb enough to continue on the chemistry imbalanced path that recently denuded Emporer Barnes has charted for the Longhorns in his quest for an NBA gig.
Of course he should try to play at the level that suits his abiities. He should have been allowed to last year, but for the anti-free market system that is the NBA. The NFL has increasingly joined the irresistable exploitation to such a degree that the companion chatter at draft time has become equally nauseating. The plantation rhetoric seems harsh and hysterical, but only if you can imagine these discussions happening in the white sports of golf, baseball, tennis or hockey. NEVER.
Look no further than the 40 acres for the answer to "should [he] go?" Always yes. Two groundbreaking Horns are re-stomping the college grounds they once stomped with their obligatory socks and slippers a decade ago when buses were merely for running in front of and laughing.
Kris Clack was the first McDonald's All-American to go to UT. He was also the leader in the pipeline of future Austin stars who would stay home. Before Clack, Austin's best black athletes like Kenneth Alexander generally panned UT. Local youth will tell you to this day UT is a white school. While the pipeline never materialized, Clack ushered in an undeniable upgrade of UT hoops.

Technically Clack didn't leave early, but he did put his degree on hold to try his art in the league. Eventually, that league was the Italian league which he tore up.

Today Kris Clack rides the bus to school to finish his communications degree. He coaches the Fightin' Archangels at night and through his journeys and travel has become a thoughtful and balanced individual, worldly wise and humble. Seems like a good choice until you realize it is the only choice.
Kwame Cavil was the first Longhorn to leave early when the NFL's market manipulation was in it's infancy and Maurice Clarett hadn't yet challenged and lost a foolish fight against an industry that makes it's own rules. You wouldn't even recognize Kwame today. He is a coach too, and a father who beams when he's with his kids. He's aged and mellowed like Pinot through his worldly, albeit frigid world travels. He too is riding the bus toward his degree. A high quality individual who should never even had too answer the absurd question asked only of American black athletes. Stay or go?

I suspect John Wall ten years from now will be a star to some degree despite his slightness. Avery Bradley will likely know his way around Macedonia and Greece really well. Both will be good guys that people like and want to hear say something funny or poignant. All of these guys will probably always kinda wonder -- What choice?