Just Wow!

[HB Pony Dad]

Imitation & Life, Volume XII

Well a perfect example of that same premise developed after The Mouse cranked out another one of their crockumentaries, “Pony Excess,” – how Southern Methodist University developed one of the best college football programs money could buy – and how damn proud they were of it!
...

Players got paid - and I loved it; however when a former player like Craig James waxes fondly about the corruption with a [deleted] – eatin’ grin, how can he or any other former player admit and commit to the reality that the indentured servitude and subsequent sharecropping done on the 100 – yard plantations needs to stop.



Moreover, what credibility can James now claim when he or any Saturday afternoon [deleted] screams about morality and the student – athletes between football scores?



When you look at the high crime committed as we speak in the NCAA Men’s Basketball Championships and the $10 billion – dollar television contract has the Pimp Cartel mainlining Benjamins – who the [deleted] needs Cristal, anyway?



The monies earned by schools like USC and Michigan stay in the bank while Reggie Bush, A.J. Green, Chris Webber and the Ohio State 5 get co - opted by the schools that hosed them down. Bush was so [deleted] up in the head that he gives up the Heisman Award he earned – on the field.



Where was James to speak up for Bush? Or Chris Webber, whose #4 basketball jersey is still selling over 20 years after he played at Michigan?



Young Black men and all student athletes are being robbed blind by the NCAA, but the Fab Five and the UNLV Runnin’ Rebels teams of Jerry Tarkanian were perceived as gangsters?

[PonyKai]

So much ignorance and poor logic crammed in to such a small space. Not even worth getting steamed about.

[Stallion]

I suggest these poor men should reject the servitude and immediately pursue a professional career if they don't think it is fair. Nobody forces any player to attend college.

[ponyboy]

These kids need to be paid for their services, for the value they bring to the universities. And, yes, at least for the stars it's often more than the wholesale value of the education they receive. I take that back; most are being paid. But it needs to be upfront and legal.

Legalize drugs while we're at it and stop funnelling money to thugs and anti drug enforcement efforts that will never work.

[Stallion]

they receive compensation for tuition, room and board and meals worth approximately $60,000 a year from SMU probably a Quarter of a Million Dollars if they graduate -and that goes to hundreds of players in Men's and Women's sports whether they are starters or backups. I think NCAA Coaches have screwed many deserving kids because of their own recruiting failures and I have no problem with additional living expenses if it were shown that they were necessaries for support to attend college.

But many of these kids are using universities as well. In the revenue sports, about 50% probably don't belong in these schools, 60% wouldn't be admitted under normal admission requirements and maybe as high as 75% wouldn't be able to afford to attend schools even if they got in. Those that don't see the value of a college education or the very visible platform that NCAA sports allows these athletes leave for the pros as soon as they think they are marketable thanks largely on the platform the NCAA platform provided. They CASH-IN on Draft day before they ever suit up for the pros. Explain to me in what Business Model do the youngest, most inexperienced athletes get the highest Pay Days?

Let's deal with the facts. The argument that they are in servitude no longer holds water since they can pursue a professional contract whenever they want. These critics need to update their arguments because that logic is exposed as nonsense pretty damn easily these days.

[No Quarter]

These kids need to be paid for their services, for the value they bring to the universities. And, yes, at least for the stars it's often more than the wholesale value of the education they receive. I take that back; most are being paid. But it needs to be upfront and legal.

Legalize drugs while we're at it and stop funnelling money to thugs and anti drug enforcement efforts that will never work.

Probably drugs will be legalized in all jurisdictions someday and to me the idea is pretty scarry. With legalization will come some tolerated level that will be "acceptable." I don't want to get on an airplane with a pilot who is in any way incapcitated. Or a subway with a high operator for that matter.

Will make more money for the lawyers though, I guess.

[ponyboy]

http://www.time.com/time/health/article ... 46,00.html

[ponyboy]

The argument that they are in servitude no longer holds water since they can pursue a professional contract whenever they want.

That's not my argument. My argument is that any time you see rampant abuse of a law you need to relook at that law to see if it's worth attempting to enforce. These kids should be paid according to the value they bring to these universities. Some, like volleyball players or even some footballers, need to stop being offered scholarships as the value they receive is far less than the value they give.

[abezontar]

These kids need to be paid for their services, for the value they bring to the universities. And, yes, at least for the stars it's often more than the wholesale value of the education they receive. I take that back; most are being paid. But it needs to be upfront and legal.

Legalize drugs while we're at it and stop funnelling money to thugs and anti drug enforcement efforts that will never work.

Probably drugs will be legalized in all jurisdictions someday and to me the idea is pretty scarry. With legalization will come some tolerated level that will be "acceptable." I don't want to get on an airplane with a pilot who is in any way incapcitated. Or a subway with a high operator for that matter.

Will make more money for the lawyers though, I guess.

I guess we should bring back alcohol prohibition then.

[No Quarter]

abontezar wrote, in part:

"I guess we should bring back alcohol prohibition then."

By no means. I do like the no tolerance drunk driving laws I'm told exist in some European countries though, although I think they are a political impossibility here.

For the record, I take a drink and there were times in my life when the European type laws just mentioned might have led to severe penalties for me.

[Junior]

These kids need to be paid for their services, for the value they bring to the universities. And, yes, at least for the stars it's often more than the wholesale value of the education they receive. I take that back; most are being paid. But it needs to be upfront and legal.

Legalize drugs while we're at it and stop funnelling money to thugs and anti drug enforcement efforts that will never work.

Probably drugs will be legalized in all jurisdictions someday and to me the idea is pretty scarry. With legalization will come some tolerated level that will be "acceptable." I don't want to get on an airplane with a pilot who is in any way incapcitated. Or a subway with a high operator for that matter.

Will make more money for the lawyers though, I guess.

I guess we should bring back alcohol prohibition then.

Bite your tongue, sir.

[smudubs]

Several athletes do understand the value of their education, but when you are playing division 1 sports, you can't work to earn extra spending money. Likewise, if you do earn an academic scholarship, you don't get to pocket that cash. The athletic department just doesn't pay as much for you to attend.

In short, if you have kids, pay their tuition, room, board, and fees. Then tell them that they can't work, get a loan, or keep their earned scholarship money. Oh yeah, and make them volunteer at least 20 hours a week on a 110 degree field in a position that they will not use after they graduate. Now drop them in the middle of Highland Park and send them no spending money. Under these circumstances, your child would likely drop out of school for the opportunity to earn a living. Likewise, whether or not they graduate, they would be somewhat justified in being bitter. Especially if you as a parent earned any money from their "volunteer work.". That's what athletes go through. So before you throw out opinions on this subject at least understand the athletes prospective.

[Water Pony]

I am always surprised that the assumption for paying "student athletes" is presumed to be for the 'revenue sport' team members. Factor in all student athletes, including non-revenue ones, and the number really gets huge.

I am empathic to the restrictions, but the alternative to compensate for more than tuition, room, board, books, fees, etc. would further raise costs for all other students. The total cost$ of an education is very high and growing faster than inflation. This is already a major problem for parents and general student body.

In the end, BCS will find a way to further distance itself from non-BCS, if they find a way to further enhance the scholarship benefits. This is a slippery slope.

[PoconoPony]

they receive compensation for tuition, room and board and meals worth approximately $60,000 a year from SMU probably a Quarter of a Million Dollars if they graduate -and that goes to hundreds of players in Men's and Women's sports whether they are starters or backups. I think NCAA Coaches have screwed many deserving kids because of their own recruiting failures and I have no problem with additional living expenses if it were shown that they were necessaries for support to attend college.

But many of these kids are using universities as well. In the revenue sports, about 50% probably don't belong in these schools, 60% wouldn't be admitted under normal admission requirements and maybe as high as 75% wouldn't be able to afford to attend schools even if they got in. Those that don't see the value of a college education or the very visible platform that NCAA sports allows these athletes leave for the pros as soon as they think they are marketable thanks largely on the platform the NCAA platform provided. They CASH-IN on Draft day before they ever suit up for the pros. Explain to me in what Business Model do the youngest, most inexperienced athletes get the highest Pay Days?

Let's deal with the facts. The argument that they are in servitude no longer holds water since they can pursue a professional contract whenever they want. These critics need to update their arguments because that logic is exposed as nonsense pretty damn easily these days.

This says all that needs to be said.

[RednBlue11]

I suggest these poor men should reject the servitude and immediately pursue a professional career if they don't think it is fair. Nobody forces any player to attend college.

/facepalm

stallion's simple-minded tomfoolery strikes again!

I'm continually amazed at how such a complex issue gets boiled down into such blunt and inconsiderate statements...these obtuse musings need to stop if an intelligent and all-inclusive, dare i say academic, conversation about this subject is to take place.