Chris Webber walked by a store in Ann Arbor and saw a number 4 Michigan jersey hanging in the window for 75 dollars. Somebody was going to make 75 dollars of that jersey but he wasn't going to receive any of it. Nike was selling "Fab 5" shoes and socks but the Fab 5 wasn't getting a cut of that. Think about how you would feel if somebody was basically using you to make money. That's how these five individuals felt and many probably still do today. Hundreds if not thousands of people probably own a number 4 Duke jersey from a few years ago but J.J. Redick never saw any of that money. I used to say that college athletes shouldn't get paid because they should have to work their way to the big time in the pros but my stance has changed. I played college basketball this year so I know what the lifestyle is like a little bit. People say that these kids don't need to be paid because they will have millions of dollars thrown at them when they are older but they can't worry about that in college. They have to worry about the now.
Pay the athletes at least a small sum for their time. Factor in all the travel time and practice time and they give the university a ton of of their personal time. That cuts in to studies, eating and social time. They deserve something especially if they are being used like the Fab 5 were. If somebody is selling something with a person's name on it they should get a cut of that. That doesn't happen and it is unfair. Some of these guys won't make the NBA. Look at Jimmer Fredette. People are making money off of him like crazy and he's not getting any of that and he may not make it in the NBA. He will never have that money.
Good post. I played 3 years of college football so I know where your coming from. College athletes should be paid somewhere from 1000-3000 a year they play to compensate for the crazy work load every week and weekends that they have. It leaves no time to work and make spending money. The NCAA has even made it illegal for athletes to accept groceries from people. It is crazy and they need some kind of compensation for making the millions for the schools and the television networks and the NCAA.
ReplyDeleteI have to disagree with you on this one. Ask the other college students who end up in thousands of dollars in debt after they graduate if the scholarship athletes got paid. And after they have their books and classes paid for they receive room and board checks. This means they are given the same amount of money it would cost ( room and food) as it would if they were in the dorms. Dorms are one of the most expensive places to live. Athletes are given $800 dollar check a month, they live in a $400 appt = $400 in their pocket. Now this usually goes to groceries etc. You may know this already but a lot of people don't. Athletes do get money in their pockets, clothes, meals, free tutors, and other various advantages. So as far as money given to them by the school or from boosters I say no.
ReplyDeleteHowever, your fab 5, or J.J. Redick example makes a great point. In lack of better words, players should have their jerseys "patented" while they are the ones wearing them.
Great article! It seems it's time college athletes should be paid. The NCAA has held down this racket for a long time. If they don't change, more than $2,000 per year, they're going to fall. The debate over at TC Huddle got me thinking about this. I wondered what other people were saying and found your opinion.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the post! Enjoyed it. Here's the article that led me here if you're curious: http://www.tchuddle.com/2011/07/pay-the-kid-the-earned-dollars-of-college-athletes/