Summary: Should College Athletes Get Paid

Words: 1386
Pages: 6

“Capitalism makes everything fair. What is more basic in our system than getting paid for your sweat and creativity?” (Cash, Check, Or Charge?”. “In 2006, colleges that were members of the NCAA earned $4.2 billion for their basketball programs- about $1 billion more than the revenue generated by all NBA teams combined in the 2004-05 season.” (Paying College Athletes: Should the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) pay college athletes?). Everyone here can probably think of some friend or family member that has gone on to do their sport in college, but do you know their stance on getting paid in college for their sport? College Athletes, and society itself are divided on how the NCAA is using its’ revenue that the athletes generate. …show more content…
They say that Athletes receive compensation in the form of scholarships and other special benefits their college provides. “In Division I, the NCAA’s highest level, they may receive full, multiyear scholarships covering the cost of their attendance.” (Compensation for College Athletes). The athletes also get special benefits that normal students wouldn’t get like, “They train in state-of-the-art athletic facilities; relax in their own student centers; have excellent coaches, trainers, nutritionists, and medical care; wear free clothes from apparel companies; and receive intensive academic tutoring.” (Compensation for College Athletes). College athletes are getting paid, just not in the form of cold hard cash, but in ways that help decrease the cost of their education and life during college. Opponents of athletes being paid also argue that paying athletes would make college recruitment like a market and creates unfairness for colleges in the NCAA. If colleges had to pay athletes, the top colleges would be able to pay more than other colleges and athletes would choose their college based on how much money they could make. “… he chose Michigan not for its academic quality, tradition or beautiful campus but because it outbid all other suitors, a connection to the university’s values would be lost.” (The Call to Pay College Athletes Misdiagnoses the Problem). Not only would this create problems for less funded colleges but, “Less-wealthy programs might have to cut non-profitable sports, reduce scholarship funds for lower-profile athletes, borrow money from other parts of the university, and raise ticket prices and student fees.” (Compensation for College Athletes). If the colleges end up paying its’ athletes, it will only create a difference on what schools can offer it its athletes and athletes will only chose the college that gives them the most money,