ESPN analyst Jay Bilas and others have won many people over by arguing that participation in college athletics is a job and thus worthy of compensation, even this fails to recognize the arrogance inherent in the argument itself. So I guess after weeks of bantering on twitter with Bilas himself, its time to break down his argument and show the doubters why college athletes, are more than adequately compensated both for their time commitment and for their financial contribution to the school's coffers.
First of all, I cant say that I disagree with Bilas about participation in college athletics being a full-time job. I have seen first hand the commitment required of student-athletes and greatly respect those who are able to balance their time in the classroom with their commitments on the playing surface. I would hire a student-athlete in a heartbeat for any job out there.
Where I diverge from the ""pay em all"" camp is that I feel they ignore the realities of compensation when it comes to the jobs student athletes are involved in. With their full academic scholarships, room and board stipends, book and material grants, and the numerous free meals and other items, student-athletes figure to receive somewhere in the range of $45,000-$60,000 each year. How can Bilas say with a straight face that this is not compensation?
But other students are able to get ""real jobs"" and the time commitment of college athletics doesn't allow student-athletes the opportunity to take such jobs. I will concede this point as well, although there are many ways in which these student-athletes can work a bit on the side. That said, I think it is fair to say that they are unable to have a consistent job and thus need schools to fill in the gap.
Many people see this as the selling point. After all, athletes are very much ""employees"" of the school, responsible for producing one of the main products a university sells to its students, alumni, and fans. The problem many people have is that they forget where most students throw the money they earn in their part-time jobs at school. Sure, their are some who use a job strictly for extra spending money, but the vast majority of today's undergraduates contribute to their own education by working themselves through school.
The bottom line is that paying college athletes would only give them extra money to get in trouble, to pay for the booze, drugs, and fast cars that are the downfall of seemingly each and every flameout prospect. This money isn't going to pay for student-athlete's rent , its going to pay for the Escalade, for the night at the bar, for the ""bling"".
So Jay, if any student athlete wanted to give up their scholarship, they could go to the D-League, the UFL or Europe and blaze their own trail. The allure of college athletics is that it gives student-athletes the opportunity to get a free education while continuing to pursue their passion. If they find themselves not too interested in the ""student"" part, they are more than welcome to take their talents elsewhere. But I challenge every one out there to find another job that pays all their expenses, pays for their degree, and all of that just for playing a game they love.
Do you agree with Max? Jay Bilas? Email Max at max.sternburg@yahoo.com
