This morning on the way to work, via radio, I heard Keyshawn Johnson say, “If we just pay college athletes we will solve all the problems.” This quote came while he was taking a stand in the debate about if Cam Newton accepted $200,000 to play football at Auburn University. Cam Newton allegedly told Mississippi State that he would not sign his commitment letter to the school unless they paid him to play. He later signed with Auburn. In recent news, Josh Luchs had spoken out about his illegal payments to college athletes. Luchs, a former sports agent, claims that he paid every athlete he represented at least $1000 a month to play collegiate sports. While Keyshawn Johnson was playing football at USC, Mr. Luchs approached him and attempted to recruit him. Luchs offered Keyshawn thousands of dollars but he declined to take the money. If Keyshawn Johnson denied money while he was a college athlete, why did he have a sudden change of heart? Mr. Johnson has always believed athletes should be paid for their services. Instead of illegally accepting money from sports agents, Mr. Johnson believes the NCAA, and individual colleges, should pay all of their athletes for their contributions to the college athletic programs. Individual colleges and the NCAA are making millions of dollars off the work of each athlete and the athlete is only given a scholarship to show for it. Colleges can not only sell merchandise with the athletes’ number on it, but they also get major TV and advertising contracts due in large part to the athletes. So I ask you, if the NCAA, Coaches, and athletic directors can earn huge sums of money for what the athletes are accomplishing, shouldn’t the athletes receive some additional funding as well?
Ricky Malott
KIN 332I
1 comment:
No, they should not. College athletes are going to college to better themselves as people, to prepare them for their future so that they are able to support themselves and their families...in the future. But not right now! If we start paying these college athletes for what they do in college, the entire scenario changes...And it quickly turns into a "Get Rich Quick" Scheme or even a Bidding War to bring these guys in from high school at the highest possible price (coming from the player's standpoint). The game instantly looses passion; the will and drive to succeed as a team is gone and the overall love of the game dies. College players (currently) get full rides to pay for their educational needs, they get meal cards to eat & they have dorm rooms to sleep. Being in college.. that's all you need! That does NOT include the mysterious envelopes that always happen to appear in a player's locker after they've had a great game...They're in college; not trying to purchase a home in Malibu!! When you tell a child that if they play (the game that they love to play) well, they will make it to the big leagues oneday and become rich; they begin to hope...they dream big and they challenge themselves to be the best that they can be in hopes of ultimately reaching their dream goal. When you tell a child that you will pay them to play well, the first question they as is, "How Much?". These players were ultimately recruited because they played well at a high school level, so that they may continue to play well at a college level while futhering their education and strenghthening their chance for a successful future. There's no room in the NCAA for 17 and 18 year olds to begin negotiations for contract agreements and salaries. And for that reason, you will quickly see the real adults step in; and then politics will damage that sense of hunger and true committment that these guys leave out on that field every week. It turns into the minor leagues for the NFL...Where players like Albert Haynesworth can agree to a $100 million contract, knowing that he has no intentions on playing in the 3-4 style defense he's agreed too...But the money is guaranteed. So why not?!
Kin 332I
008566452
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