I am tired of the NCAA recruiting high school athletes in the poorest neighborhoods of this country, looking the other way with the respect to their grades.
And after these kids give their time (that could be used for a job) to the athletic program, the NCAA acts “shocked” that these same kids would trade on the only thing of value they have...their name, in order to hustle up some money for things that most other students can afford. Yes, like tattoos.
The NCAA needs to stand up, and put its big boy pants on and quit treating these kids like indentured servants.
Other “performers” at schools are not treated this way. Whether they are actors, musicians, singers etc. No restrictions on their money-making activities exist. They are allowed to sign for autographs and pictures all day long...for cash. Side gigs. Paid interviews, and more, etc. With NO repercussions from the university.
Don’t get me started....
Why is it incumbent on the players to pretend they’re students when they’re not? They’re employees in a multi-billion-dollar industry. If you can take scholarship money, why not a car, especially when a fake degree in communications is worthless?
“Oh, but they have a chance to pursue a real degree if they want to.” No, they don’t, per the terms of their employment, which would get any other employer in trouble with the labor department for minimum wage violations. They practice, eat, practice, sleep, and practice. It’s a wonder any of them have any time left for sexual assault between games.
These guys will never, ever have a chance to make the kind money after college they can make in their few short years of eligibility. They should be allowed to charge what the market will bear from Nike or whomever. These guys get their bodies beat all to hell like gold miners and the colleges get to keep all the gold with sanctimonious crap about the integrity of student athletics as a cover. PAY. THEM. These artificial chokeholds on the free market are downright un-American.
I agree 100%. The feigned outrage by the NCAA is completely disgusting. There was a KR in Colorado a few years ago who wasnt allowed to play because he won money as a pro skier. Completely different sport. But a Notre Dame Safety was allowed to keep endorsement money (not prize winnings) from a boxing match in Madison Square.