Park It, Parker

As I have written before, the ever-growing number of students-athletes that leave their respective sport in hopes of netting lucrative professional contracts is distressing. The latest addition to that list is just plain perplexing.

Tennessee junior forward Candace Parker announced through coach Pat Summit Thursday that she will forgo her senior season on Rocky Top to pursue a professional career.

Seriously? I mean, April Fool's is still six weeks away!

Ok, let's begin by looking at the positives for Parker leaving early. She has already won a national championship with the Lady Vols. Parker is an exemplary student-athlete and will graduate this semester. What's more, Parker will compete in the Beijing Olympics this summer and likely win a gold medal with Team USA's Women's Basketball team. In all, a degree, national title and gold medal is a pretty hefty purse to tote to the WNBA.

And therein lies the rub.

The WNBA.

Maybe someone at Tennessee forgot to tell Candace WNBA salaries are not exactly on par with those of their male counterparts in pro basketball. In fact, the rookie salary in the WNBA hovers right around $30,000. No, there are no zeroes missing. Thirty grand! The maximum salary last season was $100,000.

Instead of remaining in Knoxville for her senior season and playing on national television for the most historic women's basketball program in NCAA history, Parker will relegate herself to virtual obscurity in a league no one cares about. While the Lady Vols play in front of more than 15,000 fans a night, only Detroit drew more than 9,000 fans a game last season in the WNBA.

What's a successful women's baller to do? The path has actually already been paved by a former Lady Vol, Kara Lawson. Parker needs to build more notoriety during one more season with the Lady Vols. Then join the WNBA and work as a NCAA analyst for ESPN during the WNBA off season, as Lawson does. Parker is attractive and obviously bright since she is graduating early from UT. Her accolades as a Lady Vol make her more than qualified to hold down the post.

Just stay away from the post in the WNBA for as long as possible.