While I was surfing the net, I came across a Sports Nation poll asking whether college football and basketball players should receive a cut of their schools' TV revenue. Below is a picture of the current results.
If you know me at all and/or have been following this blog, you know how much I appreciate money... Initially when I read this questions, I jumped to YES for my answer. I thought to myself, why shouldn't they get paid? The athletes contribute to the program and as stars of the team they draw ratings... However, I started to think the question through and realized that there are many other issues that need to be considered.
1. Not all colleges/universities have the following (i.e. storied history) to attract viewers, ratings, and TV numbers. Some school are simply too small and don't produce quality teams consistently enough to land the TV deals. Growing up, I heard all the Notre Dame jokes about their teams playing in a "cereal bowl", but their fan base is loyal.
2. While an athlete might be incredibly talented, the focus of amateur athletics should be education. If these individuals want to be paid as professionals then they need to take it up with the National Football Players Association (NFLPA) and the National Basketball Players Association (NBPA) regarding age restrictions etc. **** I'm not going to research the particularities in this matter, but I've argued with former players about this matter in the past, and I think age restrictions are lame. Caveat emptor (i.e. let the buyer be ware). If a team is willing to risk its money on a very young prospect, it should be its right.
3. I don't want to hear about how the athletes need the money. More or less everyone in college and even adulthood will argue that they "need the money". That argument doesn't hold any water.
Out of curiosity, I specifically checked the stats for Ohio. I'm from Ohio and Ohio generally makes the "final" decision when it comes to who becomes President and other decisions. Further, it's the Midwest - middle America, and therefore more or less "average". Needless to say, when I checked, Ohio was split 50-50...
Just some thoughts from a girl who's too lazy to head out in the rain...
THE WIRK
