One of the side issues in this whole debate about student-athletes’ rights/concerns/compensation/unionization that strikes me as remarkably two-faced is this assumption that amateurism implies kids should be held to a higher standard than the adults around them. That’s the reasoning (using the term in its loosest sense) behind this absurd Matt Hayes column in which he argues that as a result of unionization and compensation, college athletics should impose a zero tolerance policy on its student-athletes for rules violations. That’s a level of accountability nobody, including Hayes, has seen fit to apply to other moneymakers in the arena, like coaches (hi, Bruce Pearl!) or schools.
Or take the reprimand the Big 12 solemnly handed out to Texas’ Steve Redmond for saying Baylor was “trash”.
“Mr. Edmond violated the Conference rule that prohibit coaches, student-athletes, athletic department staff and university personnel from making negative public comments about other member institutions,” said Big 12 commissioner Bob Bowlsby. “Consistent with our standard for such violations he is being issued a public reprimand.”
Very noble. Except that same standard didn’t compel Bowlsby to speak out when nationally renowned asshole Jeff Orr admittedly called OSU basketball player Keith Marcus Smart a “piece of crap” (or worse, if you believe Smart and others) and generated an ugly incident. At least not about Orr.
“Mr. Smart’s actions were a clear violation of the Big 12 Conference’s Sportsmanship and Ethical Conduct Policy,” Bowlsby said in a statement. “Such behavior has no place in athletics, and will not be tolerated.”
Or this – and I know citing Colin Cowherd is like shooting fish in a barrel:
“…I don’t think paying all college athletes is great, not every college is loaded and most 19-year-olds [are] gonna spend it–and let’s be honest, they’re gonna spend it on weed and kicks! And spare me the ‘they’re being extorted’ thing. Listen, 90% of these college guys are gonna spend it on tats, weed, kicks, x-boxes, beer and swag. They are, get over it!”
True ‘dat, Colin, because we all know that adults in the real world are totally practical in how they spend their money.
Double standard much, fellas?
Get The Picture 
The older folks should be able to get rich off this stuff and the young labor should shut up and be grateful they’re allowed to make the older folks rich.
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Compelling arguments…Do these people actually hear themselves?
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Cowherd is an ESPN troll. He doesn’t even believe what he says, just tries to generate phone calls to his show. Tomorrow he may argue athletes should unionize and be paid like the NFL.
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Marcus Smart, not Keith Smart
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D’oh! Brain fart alert… thanks.
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In a world where the “days of enabling and coddling are over” and Sharia Law applies to the employees…
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Yeah everyone should adopt zero tolerance policies and full transparency with the media.
How well did that work out for THUGA?
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It’s like coworkers resenting the employee that gets some accomodation; they don’t care if they get it too, they just don’t want their coworker to have it. That’s how a lot of people are treating college athletes. It doesn’t bode well that they haven’t even gotten anything yet and already people want to take whatever it may be away.
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The only co-workers that resent another employee earning an accommodations are the ones that can’t go out and earn their own accommodations.
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Why don’t they give them a card like a welfare card? Every time they use it, it will show what they spent their $ on, like a credit card statement. Yes, they would probably figure a way to exploit that, but at least it’s not giving them cash. Maybe that’s too simple.
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Why do we care how they spend it. Again, why do people want to treat these players like this. If you give them money, it because theirs and they should spend it as they see fit. My boss doesnt give me my paycheck on a debit card where he can review the purchases…that would be crazy.
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+1
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Senator, I typically agree with the majority of your posts and topics, but on this one, I take a minor issue. While I’m all for getting these guys something extra (they 100% deserve some beer money!), Title IV will kill that. You pay the football players, you gotta pay the women’s soccer team the exact same dollar amount. And while the Alabama’s, Texas’, UGA’s of the world can stroke that check, only about 25 D1 Athletic departments turn a profit each year. So I’m all for finding a way to get these guys some money, but I am firmly against unionization. I enjoyed the Matt Hayes piece. While I agree with your points, you and I didn’t read that in the same light. When I read “employee” I thought if myself and the standards that I’m held to at my job. There is no second or third chance. Anyhow, sorry for being long-winded.
By the way, I’m still waiting for you to rank the top 10 games you’ve ever witnessed in person. Keep up the good work.
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Please dont worry about title 9. I dont think that it applies. Title 9 is about access, but about everyone equal.
Talented people are allowed many mistakes, at the office or on the field. If you dont get second chances you didnt earn them.
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While I was at the University of Georgia, I earned a useless degree in Sport Management. A very large portion of the coursework involved Title IX. While I’m no expert, I know my way around it, and I’m certain it would apply.
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It always bothers me when someone states they “earned a useless degree from UGa”. I dont believe you earn anything from Georgia that is useless. I’m glad you posted. Hope you found your niche and I enjoyed your imput. Thanks.
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No, the degree itself is not useless. It helped me get my job as a State Farm agent. All I meant was that I’ll never use the degree in the field it was intended for.
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Being paid for your likeness is not a title 9 issue. At least I dont think that it is and I know that the judge in the case action has decided that title 9 isnt a defense.
Either way, Title 9 isnt going to be a roadblock moving forward. Just something to manage.
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Correct, being paid for your likeness is not a Title IX issue. A $2,000 stipend for the football players would be a Title IX issue. Listen, I’m not arguing with you, I fully support getting the football players some cash. But as a realist, Title IX will be an obstacle.
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