Playing collegiate sports is mutually beneficial for both the players and the NCAA. The NCAA gets the better end of it, but it's still a good deal for players of all skill levels.
O.J. Mayo was the example used in Boyce Watkins' article, which contends that the NCAA should compensate its players on top of any scholarships. O.J. Mayo went to one year of school at USC. He was not able to go directly to the NBA. That wasn't the NCAA or USC's fault, that is the NBA rule.
Formerly, high-school players with top-level talent could go directly to the NBA, but that's no longer an option. However, no one forced O.J. Mayo to attend a university. If he didn't feel right about USC and Tim Floyd banking off his star talent, he could have chosen to wait out the required year by practicing his crossover and jump shot in a gym. But why would he want to do that? There are more than three dozen professional basketball leagues worldwide.
He could get paid to play! Right out of high school! Sounds like we've got a viable alternative.
That sucks, though, that he might have to go overseas to get his "fair market value." There isn't as much exposure over there. Nike wouldn't know whether to give him a contract. He wouldn't be playing against the best that he could be.
Maybe he looks great, maybe he stinks it up. How would the NBA have graded him against different competition? Would he still go No. 3 in the draft after playing overseas for a year? Would anyone even know who O.J. Mayo was?
Therein lies the rub: Mayo's payment at USC was the exposure afforded by major college basketball, ESPN, Los Angeles, the NCAA tournament, etc. Mayo's future earnings will likely be higher because he attended USC. Isn't that why most people go to college?
Mayo and other lottery-type talent are one case. The "guys who are superstars in college but don't have the body type or athleticism to compete in the NBA" could play overseas after college. Paul Shirley carved out a decent career playing basketball professionally, and no one would confuse him with a superstar.
The other 95 percent of college basketball players? Make sure to get your free diploma!
With all due respect to Watkins, there is a difference between playing collegiate basketball and working in a sweatshop. These kids aren't forced labor. If they need to help support their family, they can take a day job at McDonald's or a hardware store. Nowhere is it written that one who has sports talent must be compensated for it.
comments (9) write a comment »
write a new comment
3 months ago
Hmm..let me guess - you're not well-educated?
from 3 months ago
What's incredible is that he joined just to leave that comment!
3 months ago
very nice article
3 months ago
Actually, Mayo went #3 in the draft. And even if he was traded, there is still a difference.
Secondly, while I agree with some of what you're saying, its not the same to just get exposure when these guys are the stars of a billion dollar business.
Whats a scholarship cost for 1 year at USC? Like 25-30 grand? Thats not bad at all for an 18-year-old to be making. But compared to the 500 grand+ his coach is making, its small pickings.
And even with me saying that, I don't think its fair to pay a basketball player one thing and a soccer player something else or nothing at all, but its not fair to use these kids like they do and give them little in return but a punishment when they take money from boosters or take away their eligibility when they enter the draft and don't get drafted.
There are ways to compromise.
You could tell players that they'll get paid... starting their junior season. That way maybe the colleges know they'll be getting something in return and not just one season of a top player.
from 3 months ago
Good catch, he did go third. I've changed it in the article.
I'd argue that "these guys" are only the stars because ESPN and we, the fans, make them the stars. NCAA sports are huge because of the schools, not the players.
The issue with coaches' salaries is separate, but I'd agree that they've gotten out of hand.
Another good point about players who don't get drafted. This is another separate issue, one that deserves a look. Agents, friends and family are in these student-athletes heads', telling them that they're going to get guaranteed money in the first round. I wouldn't argue against a safety net for these kids.
The big-time players will leave after one year even if they'd get paid for their third and fourth years of school. Colleges can't compete with NBA salaries.
3 months ago
Colleges should not have to pay players any more than an additional flat scholarship stipend.
Unfortunately, then schools would have to be forced to pay all athletes and not just the revenue producers.
I think the solution to amateurs getting paid is that agents should be allowed to invest in high school and college players to attract and develop talent.
The agent would have a vested interest to make sure the player gets the best development possible to maximize their potential.
The free market system would provide a farer pay scale than a flat or tiered rate since martket forces would determine how much the agent would have to invest.
If the player wishes to switch agents the former agents should have to be paid back if their investment to switch to another.
Top talent attract funds. Let's not kepe our heads in the ground and just make sure that those with the vested interest is involved.
3 months ago
The picture at the top of the article seems to say, "Whatever you do, don't give me money till I grow up!"
Why do some comments compare a coach's salary to what a player should make? You don't think maturity and commitment to the university is a big factor in coaches making more? To even pose the argument of "why do coaches make more than student athletes?" is absurd. Why gripe about a coach's six-figure salary versus and player's non-existent salary? Ridiculous.
If college athletes start raking in the dough, then there's nothing separating them from pro athletes. Isn't that what we love about college sports versus pro -- the fact that we know these kids aren't playing for a fat paycheck?
If an athlete is a big draw for the university, then it's safe to assume that the money is right around the corner. Let them be patient and let's not fix what isn't broken.
2 months ago
Student athletes are paid by the scholarships they receive. The NCAA has funds set up in place for students too take advantage of whatever these athlets need. In fact it's a joke to even think of paying anyone to play. As most people complain about the NBA that players are only in it for the money how is each school going to pay a player? Most schools do not even turn a proft with their programs. The NBA hasn't done the NCAA any favors by mandating that a player must attend at least one year of college or be one year removed from when they graduated high school to enter the draft. It needs to be changed to at least 2 years of college or more.
2 months ago
I totally agree, hands down a college education is the best investment you can get. And if the added exposure of playign in college (would anyone know of Marcus Beasley if he played in italy rather than having his face plastered on ESPN every other night?). clearly the added exposure and living for free but not being paid of worth more to most players than getting a jump start on their career. And it isnt like they get under paid once they reach the NBA.
write a new comment