Debate ensues over whether NCAA College Athletes should be paid to play a sport at their University.
Sports are hugely popular in this country, and are televised and advertised daily, earning much revenue. Fans obsess over their professional teams and favorite athletes, and do the same for their favorite collegiate teams as well.
The enormous amount of money by from college sports has led to some arising questions about whether athletes at universities should be paid and receive a salary for their efforts. According to the US News & World Report, the NCAA as a whole, makes around $6 billion annually, and has become somewhat of a huge business. However, the players that work hard and even risk career-ending injuries every time they choose to step out on the field do not see any of that money.
Recently, a group of former NCAA athletes filed a lawsuit alleging that student athletes deserve some of the money or some form of direct monetary compensation from the NCAA, arguing that they deserve it as the NCAA makes a profit from using their names to bring in revenue.
Student athletes do receive scholarship money to attend a school and play. However, many times, this money is not enough and athletes struggle financially to make ends meet. The money that the NCAA earns would help many of these athletes out financially, if they were only compensated for their efforts.
On the other hand, some argue that since collegiate athletes are not professionals, they are not entitled to any form of monetary compensation for playing a sport at their respective universities. These people also argue that the opportunity to play the sport they love and gain exposure to professional coaches while simultaneously getting an education is compensation enough for these athletes.
I have to say, I am undecided on this argument. On one hand, I do understand the view that athletes should not be paid to play at their colleges. With all this talk about money, one thing seems to be missing from the equation: an education. When an athlete commits to a college for a sport, they are also committing to that school to learn. Some athletes may be able to make it in the pros, but many will not and will need an education to get them through the rest of their lives. Collegiate athletes are not there in college to earn money to play, they are there to earn an education. However, for any of those who play a sport competitively, it is very similar to having a job. You must be dedicated to your sport and put in countless time and effort to train and play. When one has a job, they get paid for it. So isn’t it fair that these athletes get paid for doing their job? And if someone makes money of off you for doing your job, aren’t you entitled to some of that money? Maybe, or maybe not. That is something the NCAA will soon need to figure out.
