Indeed. Let freedom rule! If some high school wants to offer incentives to attract better athletes, then why in a free country should the athletes and their parents/guardians be prohibited from accepting?
No one is going to force any school or university to pay their players. That's entirely the free choice of each school.
I'm kind of thinking that high school football in Texas, which does border on a religion, has been recruiting and "compensating" for years.
I know there used to be chatter (I've absolutely nothing facial to support it and suspect most of it was urban legend) that Lawrence High School (In the shadow of Allen Field House the "Home of Basketball") used to work with local supporters to offer folks jobs to bring their kids to town to play ball so they could "morph" to KU.
KU . . . .and I love the sign on I-70 "Birthplace of Basketball" or whatever . . . has never had much trouble rerouting. We now also have on display the original handwritten rules of the game.
I have to thank a Texan for his generosity . . . .
So how is this supposed to work. A single college may decide to treat their football players as employees, essentially making them pro ball players. Certainly the league that they currently play in isn't a pro league. Where will they play? Are all colleges expected to jump on this just because this one might?
I have serious doubts that things will really change that much beyond being considered employees who will now be taxed on their earnings. Most likely they will lose scholarships and other benefits on the other side. Things like that have a way of working themselves out. The players may likely loose on this in the long run though, unless the schools is willing to actually pay more to have them play. They will now find themselves on the hook for income taxes on that cash and monthly union dues.
With the term "professional" (and the concomitant remuneration) comes a host of complications.
While we are used to seeing lots of great talent . . . there is a wealth of "just about as good talent" that never makes the playground to playoffs leap.
The moment a "GREAT" player demands $1,000 per week, were I the school, I'd go talk to the "almost great" player who couldn't otherwise get into college, and is willing to tender his/her services for free for the exposure to the big leagues.
The school will make just as much money either way and the guy/gal who wanted the one large . . will never get the exposure they need to pique the interest of the pros.
Who knows . . . . I don't, other than KU basketball, follow college sports that closely.
I could care less, there is clearly big business in college sports, and it's stupid to constrain famous college athletes from being able to trade on their skills and their name.
But that's 1%. The other 99% of college players will never play in the NBA, and aren't good enough to make "big" money.
So now, it will be just a job, and instead of playing while they are getting a degree, they will have to choose to play *or* get a degree.
I was just thinking that. I'm sure they're all for it right now, but the second they start paying taxes with no other credits, write offs, etc., union dues, etc. They'll be kicking themselves. I have a hard time with what athletes make anyway.
Yep - 18-22 year olds, no dependents. Value of compensation well in excess of salary...
"Wait, you mean I have to pay taxes? But I don't have any money because I already spent it....." Be careful what you wish for - it might just bite you on the butt. I'm going to go out on another limb and predict that there will be a whole other round of 'unfair treatment' complaints when this comes to pass....
