Thorough Thursdays: I'll Give My Opinion, but please believe I want your's too.
Dateline--Too much Radio
Since we opened it up for debate last Thursday, I wanted to do the same this week, and also provide a thorough opinion on a matter in sports that is troublesome. The issue is raised every Fall and every Spring with the respective arrivals of Bowl season in college football and March madness in college basketball. The issue is amateurism. Should college athletes get paid? With the end of March Madness coming just last week, ESPN broadcaster, Jay Harris took time to give his opinion on the issue in a short commentary that aired on ESPN Radio this week. After hearing it, I decided it was time to get thorough.
Harris was commenting on the double standard that exists between players and coaches in college basketball when it comes to players transferring and coaches leaving for better paying jobs i.e. John Calipari’s acceptance of the Kentucky job last week.
“I’m sick of this fake amateur argument, this fake ‘they’re getting a free education argument’. There is nothing free in big time college athletics”...
Harris went on to talk about how it is unfair that athletes who transfer schools are forced to sit out a year before regaining their eligibility. While referencing Stephon Curry’s little brother Seth, who is transferring to Duke next season, Harris ended his rant by saying
“Let him play. Now. And while you’re at it, pay the kids, stop using them.”
At the core of Harris’ opinion is that college athletes should be paid and that they are entitled to a share of the billions of dollars generated from the athletic events in which they participate. Though these players receive scholarships, Harris dismisses the idea that it is a legitimate form of payment.
Well apparently, Harris uses his DVR to fast forward through commercials during tournament time, but as that annoyingly recurring ad clearly states…, “There are over 380,000 NCAA student athletes, and most of [them] will go pro in something other than sports.” Arguing that Division 1 collegiate athletes should be paid for their services seems valid on its face, but is irrational and irresponsible when analyzed further. Harris says he is sick of this “fake 'amateur' argument”, but the argument is not fake, it's just real. These kids ARE amateurs. Not all of them, in fact the overwhelming majority will never be professionals in the sport they play.
The fact of the matter is, no matter how you slice it, these athletes in Division 1 sports, get a FREE ride, and if that is no longer an acceptable form of retribution for services rendered on the court or on the field then I question our values when it comes to education. In a world with a growing population and plummeting economy, a college degree is priceless, and damn near a necessity for some of even the most menial of professions.
The world is very unkind to the uneducated (see picture below), so to scoff at a free education is to mistake the situation for what it truly is. If an athlete takes advantage of his/her free education, then the “payment” they so rightfully deserve, will be realized after completing their degree, as they are immediately qualified to make more money and work in more jobs than anyone who is lacking the hardware.
Poorly educated woman struggles to make sense of a world in which a land mammal (elephant) is actually smaller in size than the celestial body orbiting the planet earth (Moon).
Also, let’s not forget that for the few athletes that are good enough to play their sport for a living, college serves as a FREE stepping stone to the next level, a FREE stage for a player to hone, and showcase their skills (interview) for the NBA, MLB, NFL etc. It’s like a trade school that doesn’t force you to pay union dues.
I am sick of the idea that we should all empathize with the sacrifices made, and hardships endured by the big time college athlete. I realize that they captivate, and entertain us with their athletic ability, but their daily grind, their busy schedule, and their ability to juggle school and sports is nothing to stand in awe of. These athletes are working NO harder during practice and games than the countless students who work nights and weekends putting themselves through school, paying off loans, supporting not only themselves, but sometimes families as well. Oh and by the way, no college sport is played year round, so there are long stretches of time in which athletes’ only responsibility is to attend to class; Their rent, their books, and their tuition is still paid for. When’s the last time you got to take a couple MONTHS off work with full pay? Don’t get me wrong, I know they work hard, but in the grand scheme of life, Division 1 college athletes are getting a free ride for playing a sport that they would participate in anyway, i.e. getting paid to do something, that they would normally do FOR FREE. So shame on you/them for even thinking that a free education isn’t payment enough.
Let me know if you agree/disagree, because I know some will dissent and I want a robust, lively and spirited debate.
4 comments:
I 1000% agree....Jay Harris just needs to shut up.
A FREE education is enough payment for playing a sport they would normally play for free. What I think people like Harris forget, is that it's not the NCAA that exploit players (I'd argue there isn't any exploitation at all) but its networks like ESPN (which he works for), Fox Sports, etc. These giant corporations are the ones that pay millions of dollars for the rights to televise bowl games, national championships, etc. They hype up match-ups to generate ratings. This pressure is then placed on schools to get a piece of the millions and millions of dollars that come from playing in these games, which means that A.D.'s are looking for guys like the Calipari's and Huggins who can recruit top prospoects to these schools to place them in national spot light.
The entire idea of paying an athlete to play a sport just seems ridiculous when you think about it. Take my Alma Matter, DePaul University. Included in my tuition payment was a $30 "athletic fee" which helped pay for housing, food, transportation, etc. for the mens and womens teams. Multiply this times the THOUSANDS of students at this school, and the number the school takes in for the athletic program, is staggering. And this is at a school that isn't even a powerhouse like Uni of Florida, Oklahoma, or Georgetown!The thing that upsets me, is that at DePaul, the biggest draw is the Men's basketball team. I had class with a bunch of the team members during my time there and was friends with a few of them. The thought I was paying for an athlete to major in "weight lifting" and after graduation end up doing nothing with the degree they have, seems like a waste of money. Now, I know not every athelte is like this, as the t.v. comercial the author referenced explains, but we all know that at big time schools, a majority of the football, basketball, baseball, and other big time atheltics never use their degree or make it worth the money that is spent on them. Do you think that same student who is working nights and weekends putting themselves through school, paying off loans, likes the fact that Matt Leinart was taking "Ball Room Dance" while at the same time having his rent payed for all on his hard earned dime?? I mean, in what way does that make any sense??
Another point is look at examples like the recent UCONN scandel, the "Fab Five," Maurice Clarrett, Reggie Bush, O.J. Mayo, Mike Beasley, Arizona State and Eddie House in the point shaving scandel. What do they all have in common? The NCAA is either currently investigating, or has just finished investigating them for rules violations concerning agents/boosters and inappropriate gifts. These big time athletes ALREADY get paid. They have handlers from the time there in Junior High...LeBron had a fucking Hummer and a shoe deal before he even graduated high school. And people like Jay Harris have the balls to say that the ATHLETES are being exploited??? Not even close...the real tragedy is that as a society we've placed such high priorities on athletics that were willing to pay them millions and millions of dollars, but we won't pay teachers...who are charged with educating our children and fututure generations to be SMART enough to get us out of tough economic and political times that we are in now...about 40Gs a year. Or that we can find enough money to bail out Citi Bank, who turns right around and signs a 75yr naming right agreement with the Mets on their new stadium but we cant find the money to start a Universal Health care program.
Athletes are not ordinary students. Once they obtain their first varsity letter in high-school athletes automatically become different. They are the school's most notable ambassadors/representatives. They go across the city, county and/or state with the schools name across their chest and are told to only compete as hard as they can but to also be on their best behavior.
Even in high-school it is extremely beneficial for the school to have a strong athletic program. Sports raises spirit, is a great break from the daily grind and even in high school boosts enrollment numbers. So imagine the benefits in college.
College athletes are exploited. Sure not all go pro and sure they get a free education, but these athletes are all asked to do so much more then study and play. If you don't believe me just look at how much scrutiny every athlete faces over their facebook page. If they were regular students then it wouldn't matter. Now you may think this is a fair trade for the $70,000 or so saved on college expenses. Now I would say that is a fair trade off IF universities did not make millions of dollars off these athletes.
How many other students at a school have the ability to pack stadiums and sell school licensed merchandise? A handful at most. Are students who recieve straight As remembered with banners etc? No.
But sorry Chee ESPN, Fox, CBS etc do not beg the NCAA to let them pay hundreds of millions of dollars for the licensing rights to air the sport. The NCAA and the big time conferences set a price and start the bidding war to maximize the profit. So it looks like the school is still exploiting the athletes.
So I say give the athletes a piece of the pie. Every athlete does not have to get paid and those who do do not have to be paid like it's a job. But I don't oppose either suggestion. I actually advocate for something along the lines of payment in terms like royalties for athletes who are apart of greatness or achieve greatness individually. However it is done, give the athletes their due.
I still just don't understand how a free education is not retribution enough. The medium of exchange in this situation should always be NOTHING more than a free education because there is a demand for it.
If the kids were all good enough to get paid for the sports they play, and the college system is exploiting them as you say,...then how come they all don't enter the draft right out of high school? A recruiter walks into a kids house and says I want you to hoop at my school, in return you can go to school for free.....when this happens, how come the players dont jump up right there and say, that's bullshit....that's exploitation, you will make millions off of me, and I'll get no real money....if it's so unfair why are these kids still going to college,....it's because the education is worth it.
As far as not being regular students, no they are not. But let's not act as if there are tremendous burdens that come with being a college athlete that warrant compensation, because the tremendous perks, far outweigh the minor inconveiniences, such as having to watch what you pu on your facebook.
Minor inconveiniences? These people lose their scholarships or can be kicked off their teams for that minor inconvienience.
But for many athletes who can make sports a job, guess what? College is mandatory. Football players must spend three years in college at least. Baseball players (although they may opt to go pro out of highschool) must complete three years as well. Basketball players must go for one year. So they are not saying f it from the start because they don't have many options. Also it is not always the education that is sought when in college, it's a time for personal growth that being a professional does not afford a kid out of high school.
So if you want to say they aren't exploited then tell your university to stop accepting donations etc bc Jimmy Jumpshot scored 33 on ESPN. Until then pay them their due.
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