Today, in just askin’

I’ve asked this question a couple of times in the comments and been ignored, so I thought, what the hell, I’d make it the subject of a post.  (I ask in good faith, not rhetorically or snarkily.)

Here goes:  those of you who think that football and basketball players are fairly compensated under the current NCAA amateurism protocol, what exactly worries you about the free market?  After all, if they’re already getting what they’re worth, won’t an open market simply validate that?

Occam’s razor would suggest otherwise — why screw with a cartel if you don’t need to? — but I’m legitimately curious to hear your logic. The floor is yours in the comments section.

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UPDATE:  Those of you who have trouble figuring out how compensation would be valued in an open market ought to read this.

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Beef in the spring

If you believe the keys to playing winning football in the SEC are stout offensive and defensive lines, it sounds like Jeremy Pruitt’s got his work cut out for him.

Star offensive lineman Trey Smith is expected to miss at least some of Tennessee’s upcoming spring practices, according to multiple media reports.

Smith is dealing with a medical issue, according to 247Sports.com, which was among the first to report on the matter. The report did not specify Smith’s injury and said his family has requested privacy regarding his health.

The 6-foot-6, 320-pound Smith was the only offensive lineman to start all 12 games for the Volunteers last season after coming in as ESPN’s top-ranked prospect in the 2017 signing class, according to ESPN. He was named to the Football Writers Association of America’s Freshman All-America Team…

Pruitt implied during his signing day news conference this month that at least a couple of returning offensive linemen would be unavailable for spring practices. There are 13 offensive linemen listed on the spring roster — four of them walk-ons — but Pruitt said at the time that only 11 would be healthy enough for practice.

“We’d like to have 16 to 18 offensive lineman on scholarship,” Pruitt said.

This reminds me to a certain extent of the state of the Florida offensive line going into the Gators spring game a few seasons ago.  As I recall, that didn’t work out too well in the regular season, either.

Musical palate cleanser, don’t ask me what I think of you edition

From the first generation of Fleetwood Mac, it’s the Peter Green-penned “Oh Well”, a song I spent many of my high school days listening to.

Green is also on the short list of greatest Jewish rock guitarists.  And, yes, indeed, it is truly a short list.