South Park Episode: Should we pay student-athletes?

[IrishLax]

I thought it was one of the worst South Parks I have ever seen and you can tell Parker and Stone were not college athletes.

 

[koonja]

What was it about? I watch it religously but didn't get a chance to last night.

 

[IrishInFl]

Crack Baby Athletic Association (Season 15, Episode 5) - Full Episode Player - South Park Studios

 

[Veer option]

What did you find so disagreeable about the episode? Once you get past the crude presentation they made a couple of valid points about the treatment of student athletes.

 

[BestBIrish47]

What was it about? I watch it religously but didn't get a chance to last night.

SPOILER ALERT
quick synopsis- After being inspired by a Sarah Mclachlan Crack Baby Commercial, Kyle decides to donate his time to a crack baby ward at a local hospital. He soon finds Cartman has beat him to it and founded a Internet sensation, "Crack Baby basketball". The boys are working to sign a deal with EA sports for the Video game rights, but they need one last piece to the puzzle, Slash to preform for them. After trying to track Slash down, they are notified by their parents that Slash is actually a made up person from Dutch Proverbs, or is he?
(SOUND AT THE END OF A "LOST" EPISODE)

 

[IrishInFl]

I just watched it, and I don't know why you're offended when the NCAA and EA do what they said.

 

[Green Goblin]

What did you find so disagreeable about the episode? Once you get past the crude presentation they made a couple of valid points about the treatment of student athletes.

Totally agree.

I'd like to see college sports stay amateur but I don't like the way the NCAA and the Universities make obscene amounts of cash while imposing insane rules on the kids to the point where they can't even stay in a hotel room a friend has paid for for a party.

All the while, they're laughing to the bank selling that same kid's jerseys and their likeness in video games.

"Sure that player might have the same jersey number, same height, same weight, same skin color, same position, and same signature wristband setup....but if you take off their helmet, you'll see he has red hair!"

They took away Dez Bryant's senior year because he had lunch with Deion Sanders? Really? I think there should be some subjectivity in the rules when it comes to the kids and who and how they interact with people. There are obvious lines that can't be crossed to keep it amateur but to be so inflexible where if you eat lunch with the wrong person, you're gone, is WAYYY too much.

 

[irishpat183]

Hilarous. I don't watch much South Park, but I found it really funny.


FYI- I'm totally against paying college athletes

 

[BestBIrish47]

It is a satirical show... very crude at times but usually on point.

 

[IrishLax]

What was it about? I watch it religously but didn't get a chance to last night.

Started off good... it was about the Crack Baby Athletic Association (I'm sure you can already see the allegory they're going for)... but just tried wayyyyyy too hard... and if you're someone who has been through college athletics you'll probably be rolling your eyes for the entire episode.

 

[IrishLax]

What did you find so disagreeable about the episode? Once you get past the crude presentation they made a couple of valid points about the treatment of student athletes.

Have you been a student athlete at a DI program? Just curious.

 

[IrishLax]

I just watched it, and I don't know why you're offended when the NCAA and EA do what they said.

Agreed on EA, I think it is very valid point that any person should get royalties when their likeness is used. Period.

Not agreed, in general, on the NCAA/schools.

 

[IrishLax]

Totally agree.

I'd like to see college sports stay amateur but I don't like the way the NCAA and the Universities make obscene amounts of cash while imposing insane rules on the kids to the point where they can't even stay in a hotel room a friend has paid for for a party.

Fun fact of the day... the Universities, as a whole, do not even net positive on their athletic programs. The NCAA also does not make "obscene amounts of cash"... and on of the biggest issues with compliance is that they cannot afford the investigative/enforcement staff necessary to protect amateurism.

 

[IrishInFl]

College football's profit tops $1 billion for first time - Dec. 29, 2010

 

[IrishInFl]

Side note: we should change the title to something related to NCAA and participating universities making profit, paying student-athletes, something like that.

 

[IrishLax]

College football's profit tops $1 billion for first time - Dec. 29, 2010

COLLGE FOOTBALL.

Not college athletics. I seriously don't understand what the disconnect is. Seriously, where do you guys think the money goes?

If the NCAA is rolling in cash, why is there a two-flight rule for the lacrosse playoffs (aka they don't seed the last 8 teams in the field and do matchups geographically to limit costs to schools)?

If schools are making crazy bank off of football, why did CAL (which is big time school... not some little fish) recently move to cut multiple guys and girls programs including BASEBALL? It's because most colleges run net negative even after their profits from football are considered.

There are dozens of examples I can make to this effect. You have to understand the burdens that Title IX has placed on college athletics. The "big bad NCAA," by trying to give women more scholastic/athletic opportunities, has ensured that the vast majority of athletic programs run in the red.

Lastly, 98% of college athletes don't go pro, get an awesome experience that they treasure forever playing college athletics, and get thousands of dollars of tuition scholarship... not to mention all of the tutoring, career help and other benefits.

The only people who get a "raw deal" are the very very few DI football/basketball athletes that have no interest in a college/education and are also capable of being a professional. That's far less than 1% of college athletes. You want me to feel sorry for them? If it's such a bad deal, THEN DON'T GO TO COLLEGE!!!!!

But hey, even if you do think they're being treated soooo unfairly.... do you really think all rules should be changed to protect that <1%? If you did, you'd see tons of programs cut at other universities across the country to make up the money to pay NCAA football/basketball players as universities would now find necessary to stay competitive.

I think its outrageous how many people would rather baseball/soccer/volleyball/track/lacrosse programs be cut from kids genuinely interested in an education so that Joe Schmoe, who has no interest in an education and just wants to be paid to play "ball," can buy a Caddy.

 

[IrishLax]

Side note: we should change the title to something related to NCAA and participating universities making profit, paying student-athletes, something like that.

Not a bad idea. Mod? How about "South Park: Should we Pay College Athletes."

 

[Veer option]

Have you been a student athlete at a DI program? Just curious.

No, but since I was not, am I not entitled to an opinion?

 

[koonja]

On a lighter note, last week's episode was one of the funniest I've ever seen.

 

[IrishLax]

No, but since I was not, am I not entitled to an opinion?

No, but I do always find it interesting how opinionated some people are on the "treatment" of athletes when they have never been in their shoes.

 

[johnnykillz]

No, but I do always find it interesting how opinionated some people are on the "treatment" of athletes when they have never been in their shoes.

And now that I gather you have walked twelve miles in their shoes, after being inducted into the College Ping-Pong Hall of Fame, you now devote all of your time to no longer laughing at ridiculous episodes of South Park...?

I love you man.

<iframe width="425" height="349" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/XtYt9k5WbNY" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

I found you: YouTube - ‪Excessive Ping Pong Celebration (Adam Bobrow)‬‏

 

[Green Goblin]

Fun fact of the day... the Universities, as a whole, do not even net positive on their athletic programs. The NCAA also does not make "obscene amounts of cash"... and on of the biggest issues with compliance is that they cannot afford the investigative/enforcement staff necessary to protect amateurism.

Fun fact of the day: I don't care about the total athletic program.

Football and basketball should be governed differently than the rest of the sports and here's why.

1) Football and basketball make money. The other don't.

2) There is no NCAA tennis video game.

3) The national press scrutinize the hell out of these kids. I'm sure the tennis players can get away with a lot more parties and stuff than the football or basketball kids can.

4) What are the sales of the tennis jerseys again? Oh yeah.

Now I'm not saying pay the kids but they should be given a lot more room with which to work in. You should not miss your entire final season for having lunch with someone. That is bull****.

 

[ACamp1900]

I agree with some things being too harsh... like the above poster stated... but overall LAX is DEAD ON... just like with playoffs v BCS, far too many people tend to knee jerk react to this issue and not actually think beyond that...

 

[Veer option]

No, but I do always find it interesting how opinionated some people are on the "treatment" of athletes when they have never been in their shoes.

So you can be condescending towards the opinions and statements of others because you were a D1 athlete?

 

[IrishLax]

On a lighter note, last week's episode was one of the funniest I've ever seen.

Yeah, I put that one darn near the top with Chinpokomon and the fish stick joke episode.

 

[irishpat183]

1. Can't pay the players. Because then you'd have to pay the women athletes as well. No knock on them, but their sports don't make a penny. Let's be honest, Football carries the load in a big way.

2. How much is enough? My God. they're getting a free education (whether they use it or not is up to them) and free room and board for 4-5 years of their lives. In some cases, it's a whole lot nicer than where they came from.

3. Set amount of pay? Does the star QB get more than the 3rd string guard? Can USC spend more than, say, Fresno state? These doors absolutely will be opened. How can you rationalize to a bigger school, that makes and spends twice what another school, why they have to pay the same as everyone else. If you allow the big schools to pay more, then you have the age old "rich getting richer" deal going...Cause recruits are gonna follow the dough. Hell, they already do.

4. Family compensation? After all, it's mom and dad that brought him here.

Remember, when you give them an inch, they will take a mile. And I'm almost certain in this case it will end up like that. Horrible idea. What no recruit seems to understand is the value of his education and the value of that exposure that he's bitching about in the first place. NFL scouts aren't gonna come watch you in your backyard.

Besides, are the same recruits that bust in CFB, paying back any of that tution money the school wasted on them?

 

[IrishLax]

So you can be condescending towards the opinions and statements of others because you were a D1 athlete?

I'm sorry you feel that way, I'm not sure what parts of my statements were condescending. To quote:

"Have you been a student athlete at a DI program? Just curious."

You could've easily answered, "yes, and this is my opinion because.." or a multitude of other ways. This was not a rhetorical question or meant to be a slight.

"No, but I do always find it interesting how opinionated some people are on the "treatment" of athletes when they have never been in their shoes."

Clearly states that you're entitled to have an opinion. I'm sorry I disagree with others, and there are many college athletes that would disagree with me as well, but the overwhelming majority are perfectly fine with their treatment. In fact, they love being athletes and get all kinds of perks/help/benefits that their peers do not have. So I, respectfully, disagree with the overwhelming sentiment these days that college athletes are somehow getting a raw deal.

That 1% or so of athletes that could be doing better in a free market system would do so at the severe detriment of tens of thousands of other sports/athletes. If being a student athlete is such 'slavery' you would never see the Andrew Luck's and Matt Leinart's of the world returning to school when they were surefire #1 draft picks.

 

[irishpat183]

I'm sorry you feel that way, I'm not sure what parts of my statements were condescending. To quote:

"Have you been a student athlete at a DI program? Just curious."

You could've easily answered, "yes, and this is my opinion because.." or a multitude of other ways. This was not a rhetorical question or meant to be a slight.

"No, but I do always find it interesting how opinionated some people are on the "treatment" of athletes when they have never been in their shoes."

Clearly states that you're entitled to have an opinion. I'm sorry I disagree with others, and there are many college athletes that would disagree with me as well, but the overwhelming majority are perfectly fine with their treatment. In fact, they love being athletes and get all kinds of perks/help/benefits that their peers do not have. So I, respectfully, disagree with the overwhelming sentiment these days that college athletes are somehow getting a raw deal.

That 1% or so of athletes that could be doing better in a free market system would do so at the severe detriment of tens of thousands of other sports/athletes. If being a student athlete is such 'slavery' you would never see the Andrew Luck's and Matt Leinart's of the world returning to school when they were surefire #1 draft picks.

True that. I played at a small 1-AA school and loved it. The food, the free clothes, parties, women...yeah, at a 1-AA school. So I'm sure "T-Peezy" is loving it at OSU and not missing any meals.

 

[Green Goblin]

1. Can't pay the players. Because then you'd have to pay the women athletes as well. No knock on them, but their sports don't make a penny. Let's be honest, Football carries the load in a big way.

2. How much is enough? My God. they're getting a free education (whether they use it or not is up to them) and free room and board for 4-5 years of their lives. In some cases, it's a whole lot nicer than where they came from.

3. Set amount of pay? Does the star QB get more than the 3rd string guard? Can USC spend more than, say, Fresno state? These doors absolutely will be opened. How can you rationalize to a bigger school, that makes and spends twice what another school, why they have to pay the same as everyone else. If you allow the big schools to pay more, then you have the age old "rich getting richer" deal going...Cause recruits are gonna follow the dough. Hell, they already do.

4. Family compensation? After all, it's mom and dad that brought him here.

Remember, when you give them an inch, they will take a mile. And I'm almost certain in this case it will end up like that. Horrible idea. What no recruit seems to understand is the value of his education and the value of that exposure that he's bitching about in the first place. NFL scouts aren't gonna come watch you in your backyard.

Besides, are the same recruits that bust in CFB, paying back any of that tution money the school wasted on them?

Is this a response to my 4 points?

If it is you put a lot of words in my mouth and totally missed my point....

 

[IrishLax]

Fun fact of the day: I don't care about the total athletic program.

Football and basketball should be governed differently than the rest of the sports and here's why.

1) Football and basketball make money. The other don't.

2) There is no NCAA tennis video game.

3) The national press scrutinize the hell out of these kids. I'm sure the tennis players can get away with a lot more parties and stuff than the football or basketball kids can.

4) What are the sales of the tennis jerseys again? Oh yeah.

Now I'm not saying pay the kids but they should be given a lot more room with which to work in. You should not miss your entire final season for having lunch with someone. That is bull****.

That's honestly one of the more practical solutions people float around... to completely separate "big time" football from everything else. There would be about 40-60 that could afford it. Notre Dame would likely stay out of it... as would most academics-first places like Stanford, Vandy, Northwestern. In general, there has been a lot of support to separate football from Title IX requirements for some years now.

I, personnally, think the most practical solution is to simply sanction things this way:
1. Allow for a couple thousand dollars in "living expenses" to cover full cost of attendance. Some cash in pocket would go a really long way to some guys.
2. Force EA or whoever to pay athletes whom they want to use their likeness, cover photo, etc... this is just a no brainer. Therefor, if EA sees 'value added' in your likeness, you'll get paid... or you won't be used. One or the other. Problem solved. Right now it's just weird how a 3rd party can use someone like that without paying them. You would never see that with, say, Kobe Bryant.