What do Joey Beard and Kyle Hines have in common?
An employer.
They're both on the roster of Prima Veroli, a second-division Italian team.
You know Hines, one of the greatest players in Southern Conference history and a recent UNCG graduate. But when's the last time you heard Beard's name? Now 33, the former prep All-American signed with Duke, didn't play much and transferred to Boston University.
His pro career has been helped by his ownership of dual citizenship and an Italian passport, distinctions that exempt him from the cap on foreign players that exists in most European leagues.
Hines signed Wednesday with the team, which went 11-19 a year ago. He'll make $180,000 in 2008-09, and if you think that doesn't sound like much, consider context. That's $6,000 a game. The NBA minimum salary is $442,114, which works out to $5,458 a game. Furthermore, Hines' cash is tax-free.
If you consider federal and state tax structures, making $180K without taxes is like earning $280K if you're a Charlotte Bobcat and reside in the Old North State.
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