Shabazz

[Skyh13]

But they do get a weekly/monthly stipend for food, rent, other things. I realize the system isnt perfect, and I do realize some change needs to happen, but like many have said, I have a hard time feeling bad for these athletes. I know if I got the treatment they get, I wouldnt complain one bit.

I used to feel that way. In reality my feelings deal more with the growing inequities in a billion dollar business. And let's face it, if people didn't demand the product, we wouldn't be talking about it. But society demands Division 1 men's basketball and football, so that's why the money is there. I also understand that major college athletes are forced to make a choice, school or sports. Were I in that position I'm sure I wouldn't have been allowed to pursue engineering because it would've taken too much time away from practice or working out. Just look up the stuff about Coach K at Duke forcing his players to study certain majors so that he can control their time. (NOTE: I'm not saying this is the case for everyone, but it does exist, especially for the top tier programs and recruits)

The situation is much more gray than to pay or not pay the players like in the Pro leagues. But, people have a hard time understanding an issue if there are more than 1 side, so people determine a couple and then dig in on either one.

Personally, I feel like the biggest issues are the fact that the schools and the league can make money off the likenesses of their players but the players themselves can't.

And you admit, the system needs to have some changes made. Unfortunately, unless the players speak up (deemed as "complaining" by some), nothing will ever change -- because why would the people who run things want it to? They're making TONS of money!

 

[Skyh13]

Bingo.

The fact everyone ignores is that none of them are picking the D League or Europe route. They weigh their options, and say that playing for an elite college (or getting perks at UNLV) is a better business decision than a year of non-NBA pro basketball. It's as if people think European teams, the D League and other smaller pro leagues would reject having Wiggins for a season…they wouldn't…at all.

As an NBA fan I want the one and done rule to stay. As an ISU fan with Hoiberg as coach I'd love to see it go bye bye because I think Fred would build his dynasty that much quicker.

I could be wrong, but I don't think they can choose the D-League until they are eligible for the draft, which means 1 year after high school. It would be nice if they could go to the D-League immediately after high school, but I'm pretty sure that isn't an option.

 

[HFCS]

Where does anybody have the attitude that it is their "right to play". This isn't a question of playing time or getting on a roster.

And if they don't play college sports, what are their options? Play rec-league ball for a year? They can't go to do the D-League, there is no minor league NBA, and then their only option is to move overseas and try to get an international contract, which would then prevent them from coming back because they NBA says they have to finish out their contract there.

In my mind, if they want to play basketball professionally in the United States, that pretty much means they have to go to college.

This isn't correct. Brandon Jennigs played one year contract in Italy instead of choosing NCAA basketball. He made 1.6 million playing for a year and a 2 million endorsement deal to be the face of Underarmor in Europe. Crazy thing is he produced better as a rookie than in Italy.

100s of euro teams, D league, and minor pro teams would be salivating to give a one year contract to any player legitimately good enough to go from high school to the NBA. In the Europe case, they'd be throwing fat cash UNLV could only dream of paying its players under the table.

 

[Cyclonic1]

Silly comment, considering I'm sure he gets as much meal plan food as he wants. But not going to get bent out of shape about it. People exaggerate how much they went through, what they make, how hard they work, etc. ALL THE TIME!

Plus this tool has had to go through life being called Shabazz. Okay name if you are a superhero but nothing else that comes to mind.

 

[TurbulentEddie]

I used to feel that way. In reality my feelings deal more with the growing inequities in a billion dollar business. And let's face it, if people didn't demand the product, we wouldn't be talking about it. But society demands Division 1 men's basketball and football, so that's why the money is there. I also understand that major college athletes are forced to make a choice, school or sports. Were I in that position I'm sure I wouldn't have been allowed to pursue engineering because it would've taken too much time away from practice or working out. Just look up the stuff about Coach K at Duke forcing his players to study certain majors so that he can control their time. (NOTE: I'm not saying this is the case for everyone, but it does exist, especially for the top tier programs and recruits)

The situation is much more gray than to pay or not pay the players like in the Pro leagues. But, people have a hard time understanding an issue if there are more than 1 side, so people determine a couple and then dig in on either one.

Personally, I feel like the biggest issues are the fact that the schools and the league can make money off the likenesses of their players but the players themselves can't.

And you admit, the system needs to have some changes made. Unfortunately, unless the players speak up (deemed as "complaining" by some), nothing will ever change -- because why would the people who run things want it to? They're making TONS of money!

I agree with a lot of what you're saying (especially that it's a very gray issue), except for the last statement that the main reason they don't want to change is just because some people are making a lot of money. I think a lot of it is the vitality of smaller schools and non-revenue generating sports.

I have a difficult time taking a hard stance one way or another because, I admit, I don't have the time nor tools to calculate the value of the benefits that student athletes receive -- the scholarship buys a whole lot more than just an education in the classroom (i.e. coaching, facilities, scouting) -- versus the value that they generate for the university and the NCAA. And also because almost no one is putting forward actual workable proposals on how to pay players while keeping everything else that we enjoy about college sports... it's all this "students-athletes are slaves" "no, student-athletes are overpriviledged" back-and-forth garbage that gets played in the media.

 

[HFCS]

I could be wrong, but I don't think they can choose the D-League until they are eligible for the draft, which means 1 year after high school. It would be nice if they could go to the D-League immediately after high school, but I'm pretty sure that isn't an option.

I thought D league was an option at one point but maybe it's not now. I'm absolutely positive 100s of Euro teams would love to give a one year contract to a high school kid good enough to be an NBA first rounder (which is who we are talking about). They'd be making way more $$$ than the D League and probably learning just as much about life living in a foreign country and traveling to lots of countries for a year than they would as a freshman in college.

 

[TurbulentEddie]

I could be wrong, but I don't think they can choose the D-League until they are eligible for the draft, which means 1 year after high school. It would be nice if they could go to the D-League immediately after high school, but I'm pretty sure that isn't an option.

They can: http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=2407522

 

[HFCS]

They can: http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=2407522

Unless the idea of being in another country horrifies them, they'd be taking over a 90% pay cut vs going Euro. That's why I don't see it happening.

I do wonder if someone as good as LeBron, or maybe this Thon Maker kid was involved if they could somehow sign a massive endorsement deal and go D League, that might be a good route. If I were Nike back in the day I easily pull that trigger on giving LeBron a fat deal while he plays D League for a year (if the one and done rule was around then).

 

[TurbulentEddie]

Unless the idea of being in another country horrifies them, they'd be taking over a 90% pay cut vs going Euro. That's why I don't see it happening.

I'd like to see the NCAA relax some rules on agents or do something to provide (3rd party) agents to (highly ranked?) recruits so they can know exactly what their options are without ruining their eligibility. I wonder how much they really know about foreign leagues, the D league, or endorsement opportunities because they have to be careful (see: scared) not to ruin their NCAA eligibility by pursuing any of them.

 

[HFCS]

I'd like to see the NCAA relax some rules on agents or do something to provide (3rd party) agents to (highly ranked?) recruits so they can know exactly what their options are without ruining their eligibility. I wonder how much they really know about foreign leagues, the D league, or endorsement opportunities because they have to be careful (see: scared) not to ruin their NCAA eligibility by pursuing any of them.

I hadn't thought of that, but it's a really good point. It's easy for me to say, if some team and company gave Brandon Jennings 3.6 million for one year, a handful of players every season could make at least half that. Because it's probably a slam dunk that it's true. But if you're an individual…you know playing for Kentucky or Kansas is going to get you a solid shot at being a lottery pick…and you can't even hire an agent to really market yourself to all your potential pro options. Don't many of these one and done kids take out some kind of insurance policy too?

 

[cyclones12321]

I liked watching his talents, and I was a fan of Shabazz. But really???? "there were some nights he goes to bed starving"
You mean the meal plan that was paid for with your scholarship was too expensive for you?
SMH. Unions will ruin college sports.


Discuss.

100% agree. Wonder how he would react if he had to pay college loans

 

[CycloneCarter]

Shabazz is going to bed hungry and Kane is out there eatin' like the king he is!


But really, I don't understand how Shabazz was struggling to eat some days. He could probably show his face at any resturant in Storrs and someone would offer to pick up his meal.

 

[Wesley]

I used to feel that way. In reality my feelings deal more with the growing inequities in a billion dollar business. And let's face it, if people didn't demand the product, we wouldn't be talking about it. But society demands Division 1 men's basketball and football, so that's why the money is there. I also understand that major college athletes are forced to make a choice, school or sports. Were I in that position I'm sure I wouldn't have been allowed to pursue engineering because it would've taken too much time away from practice or working out. Just look up the stuff about Coach K at Duke forcing his players to study certain majors so that he can control their time. (NOTE: I'm not saying this is the case for everyone, but it does exist, especially for the top tier programs and recruits)

The situation is much more gray than to pay or not pay the players like in the Pro leagues. But, people have a hard time understanding an issue if there are more than 1 side, so people determine a couple and then dig in on either one.

Personally, I feel like the biggest issues are the fact that the schools and the league can make money off the likenesses of their players but the players themselves can't.

And you admit, the system needs to have some changes made. Unfortunately, unless the players speak up (deemed as "complaining" by some), nothing will ever change -- because why would the people who run things want it to? They're making TONS of money!

I am not sure schools are breaking even on athletes, schools like UNI. My guess is if we go union, their will be a lot of athletes having no team's or schollies. I do not think UNI is going to cough up more money.

 

[TensasCy]

If things go the route of paying college players, wonder if there will eventually be a draft.

 

[MaccloNe]

He just mad he has a girly name.

 

[Wesley]

#FeedMe
#HungryOnWeekends
#SpareMeARib
#Mac&Bbball
#FeedAHusky

 

[NorthCyd]

If things go the route of paying college players, wonder if there will eventually be a draft.

If things go the route of paying college players anything more than a modest stipend there won't be anymore college sports.

 

[Wesley]

If they are paid as college employees, are they not then pros?

 

[MaccloNe]

She-bad don't be spenden dat $ on 20/20 and girlz. Ask momma for sum food, look like she getting plenty.

 

[BallSoHard4Cy]

This is just an example of someone who thinks they're better than everyone else. How many other college students go to bed hungry but aren't given free education and an allowance? Yeah you can't get a job, but on the bright side, YOU DONT HAVE TO GET A JOB.

I think the NCAA is stupid, but they're right that college athletes shouldn't be paid. Paid for advertisements? Sure. Paid for their likeness? Maybe. Paid for playing? No.