Negative Essay: The Dream Of A College Athlete

There is never enough of anything in the life of a college student. there is never enough time to study, or enough food, or enough money, or enough time to sleep. But, if that student becomes a college athlete then all of the “or’s” change to “and’s”. Even though there are many struggles of a college athlete they are not going away. As the youth of America watches their older counterparts excel in many college sports, a dream to become an athlete at the collegiate level is sparked. This dream is fueled through high school sports and then disseminated by high school counselors. Counselors who are quick to remind that sports do not bring home a paycheck. Neverless, this dream of college sports thrives and is present in the mind of every high

This statement is inherently false. Paying starving, overworked athletes would make them better and capable of great performances. Paying these athletes could also cause many to remain in college for their full four year scholarship. Roughly 10% of National Basketball Association (NBA) players made their way back to college to finish their degrees. Had these high six figure and seven figure salaries not been their only way of surviving, then maybe they would have stayed and finished their degree on time. Players that left early are realizing the statistic that 60% of retired NBA players are looking for penny’s within five years; 78% of National Football League (NFL) players are under extreme financial distress after only two years (New York Times- Basketball). Professional athletes are out of a job after at an average age of 33 years old (VOA News). At 33, with many years to live, athletes need a degree to get a job and continue to make money. Once these athletes have exhausted their funds, they no longer have the means to return to college and earn that degree. College athletes are torn between immediate relief and potential lifetime success. If athletes were paid, then this decision would not have to be made and athletes would stay in college. If athletes were to stay in college for their full four years, then there would teams of ultimate status that would possess a wide array of athletes

Billions of dollars are spent by millions of people watching these events and expecting greatness from their school’s athletes. People give little thought to why they paid group A for group B’s talent. Athletes do not have time to give the people greatness and earn money in another fashion while maintaining a high academic profile. Athletes are seen more than any other person on any given campus. Athletes are being exploited. Running out of time is one thing, but running out of money to feed yourself and purchase necessities is much different. Major college athletes are running out of everything and there is a simple solution, pay