Ramble On... Some general notes and quotes

SO GOVNAH? How "OLDs" You GOT TO BE TO BE PRESSY-DENT?

WASHINGTON -- The NBA defended its minimum age requirement to Congress, but a critical lawmaker was unmoved and is asking to meet with top league officials to discuss it, according to letters obtained Monday by The Associated Press. The rule, which is part of the league's collective bargaining agreement with the players union, requires that players be at least 19 years old and a year out of high school before entering the league. Last month, Rep. Steve Cohen, D-Tenn., urged the league and union to scrap the requirement in the next collective bargaining agreement, calling it unfair. NBA president Joel Litvin told Cohen in a recent letter the purpose of the requirement is to promote the league's business interests by "increasing the chances that incoming players will have the requisite ability, experience, maturity and life skills" to perform at a high level. The policy also helps teams make informed hiring decisions, he wrote. In addition, he said, players get an extra year to mature and develop, making it more likely they can handle the challenges of being an NBA player. Litvin said the policy is motivated by "business considerations," not a desire to force players to attend college against their wishes. He wrote that many employers require job candidates to have post-high school experience, and that the U.S. Constitution sets minimum ages for House members, senators and the president. Given that, "we do not understand your objection" to the rule, Litvin wrote. In a letter sent to Litvin Monday, Cohen maintained that players should have the "economic freedom" to make their own decisions. He said he understood that the policy may help the league in its scouting and hiring decisions. "However, my concern is that the players who must abide by this rule are harmed by the league's pursuit of these business interests," the congressman wrote, adding that the "age discrimination" prevents players from supporting their families. The policy increases the chance that such players will be injured before getting the chance to play in the NBA, he added. "I am concerned that the careers of young men who possess all the skills necessary to succeed in the NBA," Cohen wrote, "may be sacrificed in favor of the bottom lines of the teams on which they hope to play." Cohen, a member of the House Judiciary Committee, asked for a meeting with Litvin and commissioner David Stern. Cohen has said that that he'd consider both hearings and legislation if the requirement remains. Neither the NBA nor the union immediately responded to requests for comment Monday.

NEWS ITEM: NEWARK BEARS ACE THEIR FIRST TEST: See:

VALLEY STREAM, NY, -- Ace Marketing & Promotions, Inc. announced a Major Stride for Minor League Teams to utilize cost effective advertising to reach their consumers. Fans receive free content, ticket promotions and videos from the team. Fans attending the Atlantic League All Star Game at the Newark Bears & Eagles stadium next week are being invited to receive FREE content from the team as a pilot program being conducted by the Newark Bears and Ace Marketing & Promotions, Inc. "The new owners of the Newark Bears have shown a desire to bring innovation to the game. This technology is all about enhancing the Fan Experience. Once the network is installed, you can go out to your favorite local ballpark, and the teams can deliver relevant, rich media content to Fans' mobile phones, and it's FREE. All Fans need to do is turn 'ON' their Bluetooth Visibility. iPhone or other Wi-Fi users connect to 'BEARS Wi-Fi.' Blackberry users pair with 'BEARS ZONE' by accepting 'YES' and enter the passcode 0000.

NEWS ITEM: WILL BEN GET THE SAME SCRUTINY THAT KOBE EXPERIENCED?

The question has to be posed: "Will Ben Roethlisberger be followed by every suermarket tab, every court tv reporter and every beat writer west of the Ole Miss in the same media frenzy that Kobe Bryant had to navigate during his court case in sunny CO?

Shocking... McNair shot, Vick released from prison and Rothlisberger accused of a sexual assault but the main headline on ESPN.com's NFL page is about T.O getting his feet wet in Bills training camp- and there's T.O with a nice smile.

See the initial AP report on BIG BEN and read between the lines... the point about the lack of criminal filing already casts doubt on the civil filing. Media slant at its best. Read for your self:

RENO, Nev. – Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger has been named as a defendant in a lawsuit filed by a woman in Nevada.

According to online court records, a defamation lawsuit was filed in Washoe County on Friday. Andrea McNulty is listed as the plaintiff.

Details of the suit were not available late Monday night. Roethlisberger was one of nine defendants listed in the online court docket report.

Roethlisberger's attorney released a statement to several media outlets Monday night saying the two-time Super Bowl winner was accused of sexual assault in the lawsuit by McNulty. Atlanta-based attorney David Cornwell denied Roethlisberger sexually assaulted McNulty.

"This weekend Andrea McNulty served Ben Roethlisberger with a civil complaint accusing him of sexually assaulting her in July 2008. Ben has never sexually assaulted anyone; especially Andrea McNulty. The timing of the lawsuit and the absence of a criminal complaint and a criminal investigation are the most compelling evidence of the absence of any criminal conduct. If an investigation is commenced, Ben will cooperate fully and Ben will be fully exonerated," Cornwell said.