The American Express is objectively a putting contest. The pros have laid waste to this poor golf course. It’s defenseless! Scott Scheffler and Blades Brown are tied for the lead at -18.

Enjoy the football this weekend. Football is down to a drip. The rushing river of August and September ball has wound down. At least enjoy Seahawks-Rams. This weekend is the Apex. A Grown Man’s Offense against a Predatory Defense. *Bart Scott Voice* CAN’T WAIT.

Charles Bediako is planning to suit up Saturday for Alabama’s 17th-ranked men’s basketball team. This space has been covering a few pro-to-college transfer situations and this one is the spiciest.

Bediako sued the NCAA after the sport’s governing body rejected his eligibility. Bediako previously played for Alabama from 2021-2023 before testing his luck in the NBA draft. After going undrafted, Charles spent the last three years in the NBA G-League. Last year, Bediako put up 10pts and 9rebs a night for the Grand Rapid Gold. Nice. The NCAA claims that Bediako is ineligible due to him signing a two-way deal with the San Antonio Spurs. Two-way contracts are the NBA’s version of a proper internship. Two-way players can be added to an NBA roster without displacing one of the 15 guaranteed roster spots, but only for a limited period of time. It’s as close to the Bigs as you can get.

So how can Bediako suit up for Alabama again? Well, his lawsuit was filed in Tuscaloosa and landed on the desk of Judge Jim Roberts. Documents show that Roberts has donated between $100k and $250k to Alabama athletics in his lifetime. BOOM. In true SEC fashion, the courts said “Let him play!”

Bediako will likely have a year and half of eligibility. I imagine he’s making at least six-figures, maybe in the ballpark of $250k. As a 23yr old seven foot center with three years of professional experience, Bediako’s addition to the Alabama roster is rankling some feathers. Allow me to zag though.

If there’s one thing Bediako’s proven, it’s that he likely isn’t cut for the NBA. Maybe he turns that around, but after three seasons in the G-League, it doesn’t seem probable. We can argue about the timing. Zoomed out though, here’s a kid earning a solid living for providing a service to a multi-billion dollar industry and he’s back in school. Bediako’s experience should prove to him (and many others) that the pro’s aren’t guaranteed. If he can earn a down payment or two plus a college degree, that’s a major win for the young man’s life.

So here’s what I want to see:

- Charles, please graduate. You’re not making the League.

- NCAA, all your rules are made up. Make up another one right now to stop guys joining teams this season. But, don’t shut the door on young men who flamed out in the pros. In theory, these are the kids that need degrees as much as anyone. Find ways to design a system that compensates players for their time in school and encourages/incentivizes them to hit the books.