An item in the sports news caught my attention this past week, and I wanted to get your reaction to it.
Remember a couple of years ago when 13-year-old soccer phenom Olivia Moultrie signed a contract with Nike? It was an extraordinary move, and it made a big splash in youth sports. By all accounts, this young athlete – who allegedly turned down a scholarship offer to play at UNC — decided on an offer from Nike, presumably in the six-figures, to basically only walk away from her HS, club, and college playing career.
In effect, she would not play in any competitive games for several years. In the meantime, she moved to Portland, OR, where she practiced and trained with the Portland Thorns, of the NWSL (National Women's Soccer League). Problem was, under league rules, Olivia could not play in any league games until she turned 18.
Now 15, apparently Olivia has had a change of heart, and she has filed a lawsuit, challenging that league rule, claiming she ought to be able to play now and not wait. The league has pushed back, saying no, we're not going to change our rule.
So, in sum, for the opportunity to sign with Nike, Olivia and her parents sacrificed her entire HS and club playing career AND a college scholarship to turn pro with her deal with Nike. That's a total of 8 years of not playing in any real games.
Mind you, when she signed with Nike a couple of years ago, it's assumed that she and her parents had to be well aware that in addition to not playing HS or college soccer, she wouldn't be able to play in the NWSL games until her 18th birthday.
She now is saying that without the opportunity to play in the league games, that among other things, she is losing a chance to perhaps have a chance to make the USWNT – the US Women's National Team. And of course, to actually sign a pro contract with Portland and earn a salary.
An interesting dilemma. Listen to today's WFAN Sports Edge show, and see what you think:
Read more on this story at askcoachwolff.com, tune in to WFAN every Sunday morning for 'Rick Wolff's Sports Edge,' and follow Rick Wolff on Twitter @askcoachwolff.
