College Athletes Deserve Compensation

856 Words2 Pages

Millions of devoted fans eagerly watch their favorite sports players and teams year round. Some people watch professional sports, while others prefer college. College basketball and football are passionately described topics on television and radio. College and professional sports are analogous in every way; the only difference between them is the lack of payment to student athletes. The National Collegiate Athletics Association (NCAA) receives millions of dollars in revenue from college men's basketball and football, and college coaches of top schools are paid the same amount as professional coaches. Fans of both college and professional athletes can proudly show their commitment by purchasing jerseys or other merchandise. Student athletes should be paid because, even though they are considered amateurs, they need money for their social life, and their own institutions already exploit them, making enough money to pay athletes fairly. Many people view college athletics as a pastime, not a profession, and paying athletes would make these sports seem like a profession, not just a representation of the school (Sobocinski 289). The NCAA, and others who oppose compensation, believe in amateurism, the idea that college students should focus on academics first and athletics second (Amateurism 1). Also, they think student athletes are already receiving fair compensation for their work. College athletes receive full scholarships that cover tuition, fees, and books (How 1). Furthermore, these scholarships are granted for at least one year, in case a student suffers a sports injury, the student does not play as well as expected, or the coaching staff is changed (How 1). Some people argue that full athletic scholarships are enough ... ... middle of paper ... ...tball. 2014. CBS Interactive. Web. 30 Apr 2014. "College Athletes Worth Six Figures, Live Below Federal Poverty Line". DrexelNow. 2011. Drexel University. Web. 29 Apr 2014. Division I Manual. Indianapolis: The National Collegiate Athletics Association, 2014. Print. "How Do Athletics Scholarships Work?". NCAA. n.d. Turner Sports Interactive. Web. 29 Apr 2014. Nelson, Darrin. “NCAA Rules Regarding Jobs for Student-Athletes”. Stanford. n.d. Stanford. Web. 4 May 2014. Nocera, Joe. "Let's Start Paying College Athletes." The New York Times. 2011. The New York Times Company. Web. 30 Apr 2014. Phillips, Scott. “Shabazz Napier: ‘There Are Hungry Nights That I Go To Bed and I’m Starving”. College Basketball Talk 2014. NBC Sports. Web. 3 May 2014. Sobocinski, Eric J. "College Athletes: What is Fair Compensation?" Marquette Sports Law Review 7(1996). 257-294. Print.

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