Paying College Athletes
According to a 1994. Los Angeles Daily News article since 1956 institutions of higher learning have offered athletically gifted young men and women the opportunity to play their respective sports at the Division-1 collegiate level. For their services to the universities, these student-athletes would receive compensation in the form of an athletic scholarship. For many years that was enough for most college athletes. The opportunity to go to college free of charge and play the sport you love was the dream of many a high school athlete. But in recent years, some have begun to ask for more. These people believe that a college scholarship for an athlete is no longer enough compensation. They feel that college athletes should be compensated financially, just like athletes on the professional level. So what has changed? Why all of a sudden is a full-ride at an institution of higher learning no longer good enough? I feel the cause of this controversy is actually closely similar to its proposed solution: MONEY. College athletes are labled amateurs by the and NCAA Some say this is the moral basis for not paying college athletes. Opponents of the current system however say that this whole amateur statement is just an excuse for the universi
Major sports at big time universities can be a full time job. Athletes who try to balance the pressures of their sport and studying will not have the time to work a job like other students are able to do if they need extra money. Even getting a job in the summer time is often difficult because top athletes use this time to improve their individual ability in order to prepare for the next season. According to former Duke University basketball player Shane Battier: "...college basketball and football are a 24-hour, seven day a week commitment. If you're not practicing...or studying. It's impossible to hold a job during the school year without hurting yourself athletically, academically...Many athletes ...hope to get a {summer} job so that they can survive {financially}, get by, during the school year. But in all honesty, the summer is the best time for improving yourself athletically. You just do not want to spend valuable time in an office, in a coat and tie, or flipping burgers at McDonald's. You want to be on the court, working on your game, getting better." In recent years according to K.B. Blackistone in a 1995 in The Dallas Morning News College athletics has been widespread with scandals involving athletes accepting money from sports agents. The NCAA forbids its athletes from accepting money or gifts from anyone outside of their family and close friends. People such as coaches, boosters and sports agents are prohibited from giving these athletes money. No one disagrees with this rule because its purpose is worthy; to preserve the integrity of the sport. However many top athletes come from impoverished backgrounds. While their tuition, room and boards are paid for by their scholarships; some of them have very little left for other expenses. Sports agents and boosters
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Approximate Word count = 1202
Approximate Pages = 5 (250 words per page double spaced)
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