College Athletes Get Paid

1555 Words7 Pages
College athletics has gained out of this world popularity across the country over the years. Whether it is football, basketball, or baseball, at the beginning of this century, intercollegiate sports have brought in a large amount of revenue to their Universities, as well as increasing the popularity of the College’s reputation. Collegiate athletes have funneled in millions of dollars to their university. The universities have used the player’s jersey numbers, the likeness of the players, and the fact that collegiate sports have now become close to a full time job with the long hours the athletes practice and spend time in meeting rooms. Collegiate athletes should also be paid because “full ride” scholarships aren’t enough for the athletes to…show more content…
The NCAA states that, “student-athletes shall be amateurs…and should be protected from exploitation by professional and commercial enterprises” (Should Student-Athletes Get Paid?). With this statement it would seem that the colleges and universities “are the entity that exploits” them (Should Student-Athletes Get Paid?). Due to the increasing cost of education in 2000, the NCAA “approved student-athletes’ employment in jobs paying up to $2,000 during a school year; the income can address educational expenses” (Should Students Athletes Paid?). Not only does the $2,000 barley cover the athletes’ educational costs, especially if they are not attending on a scholarship. Also, with all the time the athletes are practicing and working in and outside the classroom, how many athletes would really have time to actually get a job? In reality, they are already working by performing on the court, field, or the diamond. In the documentary “Fab Five” conducted by ESPN, a basketball player for the University of Michigan said that, “it was hard to see his jersey in the stands and knowing that just his number was on it, not his name.” He goes on later to say that “he wasn’t receiving any money from it even though Addidas was promoting his jersey.” This Michigan Basketball player then goes on to say that “he couldn’t even…show more content…
“Paying student-athletes would provide athletes an incentive to stay in school and complete their degree programs, instead of leaving early for the professional leagues” (Should Student-Athletes Get Paid?). If athletes are paid to play, not only can they cover some of their college expenses that scholarships could not cover, but now they will want to finish their education. The NCAA prides itself on all student-athletes are students first and athletes second, however, it seems that the more popular athletes leave early to play professionally because the NCAA does not pay their athletes. In collegiate basketball, many star freshman athletes are referred to as “one and done” players because they complete one year of college and go to the professional leagues early, because they want money and need the money as soon as possible. The fact that the NCAA does not pay its athletes the importance of their education is forgotten. The University tends to be hypocritical in its actions when it does not pay its athletes, because it seems they support college athletes leaving for the Professional leagues early. The article “Should Student-Athletes Get Paid?,” “A university’s primary objective is to provide its students with a quality
Open Document