College athletics is changing.  The NCAA, the organization that oversees college athletics, has recently been taken to court by players seeking compensation for their time at the universities.  The players argue that the universities and the NCAA profited from the use of their names and images.  In 2005 the NBA created a rule that basically made individuals go to college before entering the NBA.  It was created because individuals argued that kids straight out of high school were not emotionally or physically mature enough to play in the NBA.  This rule on paper seems to be for the players but when it is actually examined the author argues that the rule only helps the NCAA and the NBA.  In the article "Bring Back Basketball's Little Big Men", Buzz Bissinger argues that this rule does not help the players at all but instead hinders them.  Mr. Bissinger believes that the rule should be abolished and he makes a very compelling argument through his use of ethos and more importantly his use of logos.  Bissinger demonstrates strong logos throughout his article most notably by using statistics to prove his point as well as by using an informal tone and having quotes from notable and highly acclaimed people in the field.  

Buzz Bissinger displays his ethos early on in the article.  He tells the reader that he was first excited about the new rule but then he slowly realizes that the rule is not good for the players.  He demonstrates his knowledge of the subject by mentioning that he has written a book with LeBron James that deals with James's transition from high school straight to the NBA.  This allows the reader to know that the author not only knows about the subject but is actively involved with people affected by the rule.  Bissinger also adds to his credibility by being a contributor for the New York Times, which is a well-known and reputable publication.  I also believe the fact that he thought the rule was initially a good move helps him seem real to the reader.  Bissinger effectively uses ethos throughout the article with his tone and attitude.  By using phrases like "we got punked", "posse", and "broke" it allows him to draw in a younger audience who may be able to push for the change (Bissinger).  Most people would not expect an author to use slang in an article published in The New York Times. It also allows him to come across as a person you could talk basketball with at the bar.  Bissinger does something unique in his article though.  He does not continue to use slang throughout the article. He transitions into more appropriate vernacular when dealing with the statistics and the meat of his argument.  This too is effective because the issue is serious and while he used the slang to draw in the reader he drives his point home using more traditional vernacular. His ability to transition between the two seamlessly really adds to his credibility.  While his ethos does a great deal to convey his credibility to the audience it is his logos that really carries the argument.

Bissinger uses strong logos to prove that NBA created a rule to benefit themselves and the NCAA as opposed to creating a rule to help the players.  Bissinger points out that advocates of the rule change, like then commissioner David Stern, say that it was created with the player's best interest.  He points out that "it was time to get N.B.A. scouts and general managers out of high school gyms" (Bissinger).  He also notes that a side effect of the rule might be that individuals get introduced to higher education and that it would give the individuals another year to emotionally and physically mature.  Bissinger agrees that on paper these sound like they are in the player's best interest but upon closer look at the facts none of these claims has merit.  He uses several different studies to show that these claims are at best unproven or at worst untrue.  Bissinger went out and found studies that contradicted these claims.  He used studies by experts in their respective fields and he used multiple studies instead of relying on one.  The studies all show that making the jump to the NBA straight from high school does not put the person at any higher risk than he would of if he had attended college.  By not relying on fluff or just his opinion it really makes him more credible to the reader.  He does not only use statistics and studies to disprove the claims of the rules advocates.  He lets others speak for him when making some points. When referring to the fact that the rule requires individuals in many cases to attend college and therefore perhaps earn a degree or at the very least get another year of education, he notes that it doesn't work.  "As the legendary coach Bobby Knight has pointed out, these players can retain their first year's college eligibility without ever going to a class after their first semester" (Bissinger).  He uses Bobby Knight to help his argument.  It is effective because Bobby Knight is a well-known and outspoken former coach of a major NCAA basketball team.  This adds to his credibility because his opinions are shared by influential people in the basketball sphere.  I think another compelling part of his argument is when he compares the NCAA to a free minor league system for the NBA (Bissinger).  This is very interesting to me because it seems unfair for some leagues to have this (NFL, NBA) and others have paid farm systems (MLB, NHL).  I also think that the clearness of the author's writing helps his credibility.  He does not use language that everyone could not understand.  This adds to his credibility because he is approaching the audience as an equal.    

Buzz Bissinger makes a compelling argument for the true reasoning behind the NBA age rule in his article "Bring Back Basketball's Little Big Men".  He points out several inaccuracies in the logic of the NBA and the NCAA.  He also paints a picture of the NCAA and the NBA as money hungry entities that are only interested in turning a profit as opposed to developing young athletes mentally and emotionally.  Also by claiming that the two entities are working together to hinder athletes allows the reader to really buy into what Bissinger is selling.  Bissinger effectively uses both ethos and logos to give himself credibility to the reader.  His use of cold hard facts and statistics from studies done by experts lets the reader know that he has researched the topic and that you as the reader can read these studies as well.  His organization and use of both informal and formal writing styles help his credibility by drawing the reader in and allowing the reader to easily follow his logic.  The landscape of college athletics is changing and it will continue to be shaped by younger and younger people so Bissinger's ability to use slang really helps him reach an audience that can potentially create the change he is calling for.  His effective use of ethos and logos allow his article to hold weight and make me as a reader question some of the other rules that the NBA and the NCAA had implemented. 

