Iranian Hoops Player Might Play for U.S. College Team

Juke Winn has a nice little article about Arsalan Kazemi, a young basketball player from Iran who hopes to play college basketball in the U.S. Oklahoma State and Seton Hall have already offered the young man a scholarship to play ball, but there are some things that could keep a promising young player from coming to the U.S. to play NCAA hoops. Probably the biggest obstacle facing Arsalan Kazemi will be his desire to play for the Iranian national team. If he plays in the U.S., getting onto the Iranian team would be very difficult.

This story is significant in that it is one of the very few areas where the United States and Iran are having some peaceful, non-threatening dialogue. The Bush Administration has been adamant about their desire to keep Iran from developing a nuclear program, and Iran, led by President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, has been just as adamant about developing a nuclear program. Tensions have been high between the two countries. However, having an Iranian sports star in America might help to promote some mutual understanding between the people of these two countries, if not between their leaders.

To get NCAA basketball tickets, go to StubHub.com.

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