Adriana Puente Rochelle Costello English 121 ... amazonaws com
Adriana Puente Rochelle Costello English 121 05/04/2015
Compensating College Athletes In America, college sports is a multibillion dollar industry. With more than four thousand college and universities in the U.S. there is plenty of attraction to college sports. Students, parents, faculty come together and watch talented athletes for their amusement or to show their support. As the crowd cheers and wait with anticipation to see if the next shot will be made, the thought of whether or not the athletes, they enjoy watching so much, are entitled to receive monetary compensation for their performances, never crosses their minds. However, the recent uproar of the athletes from Northwestern University, have many pondering of that idea. Ramogi Huma, founder of the National College Players Association believes that college athletes she be paid. He states “At the end of the day, college athletes are just like all other hard working Americans who should receive a fair day's pay for a fair day's work” (par 6). Horace Mitchell, President of the University of California in Bakersfield and a member of the National Collegiate Athletic Association begs to differ he expresses “Student-athletes are amateurs who choose to participate in intercollegiate athletics as part of their educational experience, thus maintaining a distinction between student-athletes who participate in the collegiate model and professional athletes who might be students as well” (par 107). While many ponder into the idea of college athletes possibly being paid, I take side with Mitchell in that they should not be compensated.
While applying for college a student usually has it set in their minds whether or not to pursue a sport. Many students who pursue to play a sport at the college level, have already invested a lot of time and effort into that sport, thus making them prime candidates for athletic scholarships. Upon being awarded athletic scholarships the terms of the accolade is outlined. The accolade is usually given in exchange for the athlete playing the specified sport and that is how they are compensated. Mitchell believes scholarships are enough compensation for the athletes. He states “A high percentage of student-athletes graduate without the burden of student loans that most students accumulate and must repay” (par 107). In this statement he conquers with the ideas that athletes shouldn’t be compensated as they are awarded enough in scholarship funds. However, Kelley Holland from NBC news begs to differ. She states “In 2013, the average amount of money awarded to NCAA Division 1 athletes was $13,821 for men and $14,660 for women” (par 7). This may lead one to believe, maybe they are not given enough compensation and should in fact receive some type of extra benefits. Though this average amount seems insufficient, we need take into consideration that this average includes the smaller scholarships that are given by the smaller colleges and sports other than football and basketball. The amount of revenue that is brought from sports by colleges is substantial. As previously mentioned, college sports is multibillion dollar industry. Kenny Smith, a former player and basketball analyst expresses his thoughts; “Primitive, it’s the only industry in the world where employees don’t get paid” (par 9). Smith isn’t all about giving the athletes a salary but rather give monetary compensation for the tournaments they play. The tournaments go beyond the field and should be calculated as an extra investment of time and effort. Not only does Smith want student athletes to receive the extra compensation but also a well-rounded education. He suggests that the compensation be distributed upon completion so athletes focus
on school as much as they do the sports they play. Nevertheless, some people feel extra compensation or placing athletes on the payroll is absurd and schools who receive profits from the revenue are a selected few. Mitchell expresses, “The question arises primarily in reference to student athletes in sports of football and basketball at NCAA Division 1 institutions with high profile, high income athletic programs” (par 107). Mitchell makes a good point as there are only 347 Division 1 schools in the country. Division 1 schools are schools with the best athletic programs and where many high school athletes aspire to play sports. Division 1 schools make up 35 percent of all NCAA sports and 53 percent of the total revenues go to Division 1 schools (NCAA.org). This usually means the other division schools are left out in the cold and would end up losing money if they were to place student athletes on the payroll. The choice to play college sports is a personal choice made by the athlete. They have chosen to accept the scholarships to play for their respective school. As many aspire to play in the professional league many will not make it that far. Linda Chavez, a reporter for The New York Post, states, “Of the 9,000 college football players nationally, scouts will choose only 310 for the NFL pool from which teams make their picks” (par 13). She believes that because only few are drafted into the NFL that they should be awarded with more. With the margins being so narrow of being a professional athlete, maybe giving them a little extra incentive wouldn’t hurt. The time it takes to practice and the time it takes away from ones daily life, one would hope that all that effort wasn’t for nothing. Although student athletes may know, on some level, that becoming a professional athlete is very slim, they are pushed to believe they will get to that level. Some on the other hand think that the line between college sports and professional sports shouldn’t cross. Dan Cassavaugh, a writer for Imprint Magazine states, “Turning pro does not guarantee endorsements and royalties; it simply means that an athlete will be paid to play for his
organization. Payment for actual gameplay is the fundamental difference between professional and amateur status, so, college athletes should not receive anything more than scholarships” (par3). Cassavaugh makes it clear that if the line between amateur and professional sports disappear, there will be no distinction between the two. Currently and possibly that is the only difference that distinguishes college sports from professional sports. The issue of whether or not student athletes get paid or not is the topic of controversy. Some think they should while others think that they should not get paid. While both sides have valid points, it goes beyond what is fair and what is not fair. People make the choice to play sports in college and know, for the most part, what they are getting themselves into. Though many have expressed their support for paying college athletes the norm currently is and has been that they do not get compensated therefore it should continue in that manner.
Work Cited Cassavaugh, Dan. "The Other Side: College Athletes Shouldn't Be Paid." The Other Side: College Athletes Shouldn't Be Paid. Imprint Magazine, n.d. Web. 01 Apr. 2015. Chavez, Linda. "How Colleges Exploit Athletes." New York Post. New York Post, 28 Mar. 2014. Web. 04 Apr. 2015. Futterman, Matthew. "Should Athletes Get a Piece of the NCAA Tournament Revenue?" WSJ. N.p., 17 Mar. 2015. Web. 01 Apr. 2015. Holland, Kelley, and John W. Schoen. "Athletic Scholarship Costs Don't Always Add Up for Hopeful Parents." NBC News. NBCNews, 13 Oct. 2014. Web. 01 Apr. 2015. Huma, Ramogi. "A Fair Day's Pay for a Fair Day's Work." US News. U.S.News & World Report, 13 Apr. 2013. Web. 05 May 2015. Jackson, Scoop. "The Myth Of parity." ESPN. ESPN Internet Ventures, 12 Sept. 2013. Web. 01 Apr. 2015. Karaim, Reed. "Paying College Athletes." CQ Researcher 11 July 2014: 577-600. Web. 25 Mar. 2015. "NCAA.com – The Official Website of NCAA Championships." NCAA.com. NCAA, 2015. Web. 01 Apr. 2015..
Compensating College Athletes In America, college sports is a multibillion dollar industry. With more than four thousand college and universities in the U.S. there is plenty of attraction to college sports. Students, parents, faculty come together and watch talented athletes for their amusement or to show their support. As the crowd cheers and wait with anticipation to see if the next shot will be made, the thought of whether or not the athletes, they enjoy watching so much, are entitled to receive monetary compensation for their performances, never crosses their minds. However, the recent uproar of the athletes from Northwestern University, have many pondering of that idea. Ramogi Huma, founder of the National College Players Association believes that college athletes she be paid. He states “At the end of the day, college athletes are just like all other hard working Americans who should receive a fair day's pay for a fair day's work” (par 6). Horace Mitchell, President of the University of California in Bakersfield and a member of the National Collegiate Athletic Association begs to differ he expresses “Student-athletes are amateurs who choose to participate in intercollegiate athletics as part of their educational experience, thus maintaining a distinction between student-athletes who participate in the collegiate model and professional athletes who might be students as well” (par 107). While many ponder into the idea of college athletes possibly being paid, I take side with Mitchell in that they should not be compensated.
While applying for college a student usually has it set in their minds whether or not to pursue a sport. Many students who pursue to play a sport at the college level, have already invested a lot of time and effort into that sport, thus making them prime candidates for athletic scholarships. Upon being awarded athletic scholarships the terms of the accolade is outlined. The accolade is usually given in exchange for the athlete playing the specified sport and that is how they are compensated. Mitchell believes scholarships are enough compensation for the athletes. He states “A high percentage of student-athletes graduate without the burden of student loans that most students accumulate and must repay” (par 107). In this statement he conquers with the ideas that athletes shouldn’t be compensated as they are awarded enough in scholarship funds. However, Kelley Holland from NBC news begs to differ. She states “In 2013, the average amount of money awarded to NCAA Division 1 athletes was $13,821 for men and $14,660 for women” (par 7). This may lead one to believe, maybe they are not given enough compensation and should in fact receive some type of extra benefits. Though this average amount seems insufficient, we need take into consideration that this average includes the smaller scholarships that are given by the smaller colleges and sports other than football and basketball. The amount of revenue that is brought from sports by colleges is substantial. As previously mentioned, college sports is multibillion dollar industry. Kenny Smith, a former player and basketball analyst expresses his thoughts; “Primitive, it’s the only industry in the world where employees don’t get paid” (par 9). Smith isn’t all about giving the athletes a salary but rather give monetary compensation for the tournaments they play. The tournaments go beyond the field and should be calculated as an extra investment of time and effort. Not only does Smith want student athletes to receive the extra compensation but also a well-rounded education. He suggests that the compensation be distributed upon completion so athletes focus
on school as much as they do the sports they play. Nevertheless, some people feel extra compensation or placing athletes on the payroll is absurd and schools who receive profits from the revenue are a selected few. Mitchell expresses, “The question arises primarily in reference to student athletes in sports of football and basketball at NCAA Division 1 institutions with high profile, high income athletic programs” (par 107). Mitchell makes a good point as there are only 347 Division 1 schools in the country. Division 1 schools are schools with the best athletic programs and where many high school athletes aspire to play sports. Division 1 schools make up 35 percent of all NCAA sports and 53 percent of the total revenues go to Division 1 schools (NCAA.org). This usually means the other division schools are left out in the cold and would end up losing money if they were to place student athletes on the payroll. The choice to play college sports is a personal choice made by the athlete. They have chosen to accept the scholarships to play for their respective school. As many aspire to play in the professional league many will not make it that far. Linda Chavez, a reporter for The New York Post, states, “Of the 9,000 college football players nationally, scouts will choose only 310 for the NFL pool from which teams make their picks” (par 13). She believes that because only few are drafted into the NFL that they should be awarded with more. With the margins being so narrow of being a professional athlete, maybe giving them a little extra incentive wouldn’t hurt. The time it takes to practice and the time it takes away from ones daily life, one would hope that all that effort wasn’t for nothing. Although student athletes may know, on some level, that becoming a professional athlete is very slim, they are pushed to believe they will get to that level. Some on the other hand think that the line between college sports and professional sports shouldn’t cross. Dan Cassavaugh, a writer for Imprint Magazine states, “Turning pro does not guarantee endorsements and royalties; it simply means that an athlete will be paid to play for his
organization. Payment for actual gameplay is the fundamental difference between professional and amateur status, so, college athletes should not receive anything more than scholarships” (par3). Cassavaugh makes it clear that if the line between amateur and professional sports disappear, there will be no distinction between the two. Currently and possibly that is the only difference that distinguishes college sports from professional sports. The issue of whether or not student athletes get paid or not is the topic of controversy. Some think they should while others think that they should not get paid. While both sides have valid points, it goes beyond what is fair and what is not fair. People make the choice to play sports in college and know, for the most part, what they are getting themselves into. Though many have expressed their support for paying college athletes the norm currently is and has been that they do not get compensated therefore it should continue in that manner.
Work Cited Cassavaugh, Dan. "The Other Side: College Athletes Shouldn't Be Paid." The Other Side: College Athletes Shouldn't Be Paid. Imprint Magazine, n.d. Web. 01 Apr. 2015. Chavez, Linda. "How Colleges Exploit Athletes." New York Post. New York Post, 28 Mar. 2014. Web. 04 Apr. 2015. Futterman, Matthew. "Should Athletes Get a Piece of the NCAA Tournament Revenue?" WSJ. N.p., 17 Mar. 2015. Web. 01 Apr. 2015. Holland, Kelley, and John W. Schoen. "Athletic Scholarship Costs Don't Always Add Up for Hopeful Parents." NBC News. NBCNews, 13 Oct. 2014. Web. 01 Apr. 2015. Huma, Ramogi. "A Fair Day's Pay for a Fair Day's Work." US News. U.S.News & World Report, 13 Apr. 2013. Web. 05 May 2015. Jackson, Scoop. "The Myth Of parity." ESPN. ESPN Internet Ventures, 12 Sept. 2013. Web. 01 Apr. 2015. Karaim, Reed. "Paying College Athletes." CQ Researcher 11 July 2014: 577-600. Web. 25 Mar. 2015. "NCAA.com – The Official Website of NCAA Championships." NCAA.com. NCAA, 2015. Web. 01 Apr. 2015..
