Have you stopped to look at the sporting world lately? It has become quite impressive. Not the feats athletes are performing today, but the age of these athletes.

I have to say that right now we are witnessing the most exciting group of young athletes ever.

Of course, there is most notable Tiger Woods, Masters champion and golfing phenom. At 21 he has accomplished what lifetime golfers could have only dreamed.

Then there is the Philadelphia 76ers’ Allan Iverson. Iverson, after scoring 44, 40, 44 and 50 in consecutive games, made his claim that he is the best rookie in the NBA.

Major League Baseball has the wonder-youngsters of the Yankees’ Derek Jeter, and Mariners’ Alex Rodriguez to name a few.

And we won’t even talk about tennis!

Although, I would like to focus on the NBA.

So what is it? Why is there such a youth movement in professional sports? How can these youngsters be doing what so many veterans strive to achieve their whole careers?

It simple. It’s really all too simple.

Old people suck! Since the beginning of time, all old people have always sucked. They tell us their crappy stories of the golden years that have been over exaggerated to the point where you would rather beat them down than listen to any more garble come out their gullets.

Just kidding. I know, I know. Be more sensitive.

But on the serious side, no matter what anyone says, the younger players are simply better athletes, physically and mentally.

Why, you might ask? They are better athletes because of the preparation that goes into today’s athletics.

Do you think Roger Maris was in Sports Illustrated out of high school? No, he wasn’t! Why? Because he wasn’t good enough to play at the age of 17 or 18. Why? Because it wasn’t his dream to play baseball since the age of 3. Athletes today have quite often been preparing since those young ages.

So the youngsters are a little cocky. I would be too if I were wearing my own brand of shoe. To the cockiness I say, great!

Before everyone starts coming down on what Charles Barkley referred to as “knuckleheads,” they should take a look at the character of such NBA players as Barkley himself, Michael Jordan, Dennis Rodman and Reggie Miller.

Talk about attitude.

Many say the youngsters have to earn the right to be cocky. I say they already have, especially in the NBA.

Jordan wasn’t in the NBA at 18 years old. Neither was Pat Ewing, Clyde Drexler, Scottie Pippen or Spud Webb.

If I were in the NBA, and I was an 18-year-old millionaire, I would look Jordan in the face at mid-court and tell him to kiss my ass. So what if he scores on me? He’s going to anyway!

I still have my money, my brand of shoes, a probable movie deal and maybe even a record.

So bring on the youth movement! Hail to the rich, dumb NBA loudmouths than can dunk all day and miss 15-foot jumpers all night.

Enjoy your beer-soaked weekend.

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CHAD CALEK is a junior in journalism and mass communication from Pesia, Iowa. He is the sports editor of the Daily.