Professional sports are big business. Mega events like the Super Bowl induce millions of die-hard fans to crowd in front of 50-inch plasma TVs with a foot-long frank in one hand and a frosty mug of Coors Light in the other. Even those who loathe the prospect of watching four hours of football tune-in to enjoy hilarious commercials and over-the-top halftime shows.

In addition to unruly partygoers, these multi-billion dollar spectacles also draw a host of collegiate athletes to the world of professional sports. College seniors who have finished their degrees try desperately to find a team that will pay them to exhibit their unique physical gifts on national television. Some are even invited to do so. More and more often, however, students who have not finished their postsecondary educations are making the leap to the pros as well.

Sportswriters, politicians, and average Joes alike criticize these student-athletes for leaving school prematurely. Here they cite the need to have a career to fall back on–just in case their search for grandeur and unlimited fortune veers away from the realm of reality. Many even think that collegiate athletes should be barred from entering the professional ranks altogether.

Although the critics make valid arguments (education is one of the most important things someone can pursue), we should consider a couple of things before jumping to conclusions and writing off these athletes as young and immature.

1. Pro sports are like the stock market: Like the rest of us, budding athletes work hard to maximize their chances of landing a job. In the world of professional sports, this means throwing their name in the hat when their value is at its highest. For some, this may occur before they’re able to walk down the aisle and receive that coveted degree.
2. Education ain’t what it used to be: For years, campus-based education was the norm. But now, the explosion of the Internet has made available a wide range of online degree programs to anyone who wants to learn. Therefore, before hitting the hardwood or lacing-up their Nikes, athletes can write an essay or take a quiz from almost anywhere in the world.

If you’re still not convinced that professional sports and education are compatible, check out a few high-profile athletes who have earned their college degrees after going pro:

• Shaquille O’Neal – Bachelor’s degree in political science
• Joe Namath — Bachelor’s degree in interdisciplinary studies
• Shaun Alexander — Pursuing a second undergraduate degree in advertising
• Vince Carter — Bachelor’s degree in African-American studies
• Emmitt Smith — Bachelor’s degree in public recreation

In light of all the educational opportunities available, do you think student-athletes should be allowed to leave school early for the pros? Sure there are many who have done so and failed–Omar Cook, Joseph Forte, and Donnell Harvey. Who are they? Exactly. However, isn’t it all about choice? If wide-eyed eighteen-year-old men and women can choose to fight for their country overseas, shouldn’t they also have the right to choose how and when they make their living?