How ludicrous and absurd is it for the Ivy League to be the only conference in America to have a rule that refuses to allow an athlete who signs a professional contract in one sport to compete on the collegiate level in another sport?

The Ivy League rule is archaic, and it hurt big-time in the case of Princeton center Chris Young.

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Chris Young has been banned from playing college basketball by the Ivy League because he signed a baseball contract with the Pittsburgh Pirates. ”

One of America's premier big men -- an outstanding inside player and perhaps the league's best talent -- won't be donning the Princeton Tigers uniform this season. The Ivy League banned him from playing college basketball because he signed a baseball contract with the Pittsburgh Pirates.

In any other conference in America, Young would be permitted to play both college basketball and professional baseball, as long as he had permission from the baseball franchise. Young was the Pirates' third-round draft selection last spring and was forced to make a difficult decision. He would have loved to play basketball for Princeton this fall.

Young had a great summer playing baseball in Cape Cod, where the Pirates decided to give him first-round money to sign. Therefore, he signed a seven-figure contract to secure his future. He should have been able to enjoy the best of both worlds.

This whole case is sad. Get in the real world, Ivy Leaguers!

It is not right to penalize a kid like Young, because it is not fair. He was in good academic standing and should have been allowed to play like other kids in intercollegiate athletics who would have been cleared.