alex
ok so my opening: college sports is a business. the NCAA pulls in over a billion dollars a year, coaches make millions, and the players who generate all of that get a scholarship and told to be grateful. if you produce the value you should get paid for it
? UNVERIFIED“the NCAA pulls in over a billion dollars a year, coaches make millions, and the players who generate all of that get a scholarship and told to be grateful.”
Could not verify against available sources. Checked encyclopedia and news sources.
tedd
I get the appeal but a scholarship isn't nothing. tuition, housing, food, coaching, medical care. for a lot of these kids that's worth six figures over four years. they ARE being paid, just not in cash
? UNVERIFIED“for a lot of these kids that's worth six figures over four years.”
Could not verify against available sources. Checked encyclopedia and news sources.
alex
a scholarship covers costs, it's not a wage. and plenty of athletes still can't afford basics. they put in 40+ hours a week in season, how are they supposed to hold a job on top of that
◐ NEEDS CONTEXT“they put in 40+ hours a week in season, how are they supposed to hold a job on top of that”
Topic is documented but the specific claim needs more context. Checked encyclopedia and news sources.
tedd
fair point on the hours. but here's my real issue, most athletic departments lose money. it's really only football and mens basketball at the big schools that turn a profit. who pays the rowing team or the track athletes if everyone gets a salary?
alex
so pay from the revenue sports and let the market sort the rest. we already do this with coaches, nobody says the football coach and the swim coach must earn the same
tedd
coaches aren't covered by Title IX though. athletes are. if you pay the football team you have to deal with equity for women's programs, and that's a legal mess, not a market question
alex
honestly that's a solvable problem, not a reason to keep paying them zero. revenue sharing is basically already happening after the House settlement, schools can now share revenue with athletes directly. so the question isn't if anymore
tedd
revenue sharing and salaries aren't the same thing tho. salary means they're employees. employees can be fired, taxed, unionized. do you really want a 19 year old fired from his team mid-season because he's in a slump?
? UNVERIFIED“do you really want a 19 year old fired from his team mid-season because he's in a slump?”
Could not verify against available sources. Checked encyclopedia and news sources.
alex
pro athletes deal with that and nobody calls it unfair. and NIL deals since 2021 show athletes can handle money just fine. the sky didn't fall
✔ SUPPORTED BY SOURCES“and NIL deals since 2021 show athletes can handle money just fine.”
Key terms align with the evidence. Checked encyclopedia and news sources.
tedd
NIL kind of proves my point actually. the money went to a tiny group of stars and it's become a recruiting arms race. fewer than 2% of college athletes go pro, the other 98% need the degree way more than a paycheck
? UNVERIFIED“fewer than 2% of college athletes go pro, the other 98% need the degree way more than a paycheck”
Could not verify against available sources. Checked encyclopedia and news sources.
alex
the 98% aren't the ones being exploited for billions though. pay the ones generating the revenue and keep scholarships for everyone. that's not either/or
? UNVERIFIED“the 98% aren't the ones being exploited for billions though.”
Could not verify against available sources. Checked encyclopedia and news sources.
tedd
I think that's where we actually disagree. the moment it's a salary, the 'student' part goes away and it's just a minor league. I'd rather fix it with bigger stipends and guaranteed medical coverage