NCAA: The Debate About Whether College Athletes Should Be Paid Continues

Ralph Nader is making a push for something other than a presidential race.

He, like many others, has voiced his opinion in the debate about whether college athletes should be paid or not.

While the NCAA continues to cash in on student athletes' accolades on the field, the question of whether these young men and women should get a cut of pay from their hard work has been debated for many years.

Consider your favorite college athletes or fellow campus classmates: wake-up times of 6 a.m. or two-a-days in the scorching summer heat are just minor parts of their lifestyles. They then must perform up to par to please season-ticket holders and fans.

When does this hard work crossover into "labor" considered for pay?

Is it when these young men suffer concussions that could hamper them for life or when female athletes tear their ACLs with just the minor cut on the soccer field or basketball court? When does sacrificing one's body guarantee them the right to a paycheck?

Now, consider the opposition. These athletes, unlike the majority of college students, are receiving a primarily "free" education. Some would consider this a salary well worth the work put into preparing for one's sport.

The debate is choppy and unresolved, but the question still stands and it may never be resolved until the NCAA sits down and takes a long, hard look at the topic at hand.