Is the NCAA morally acceptable?

[Latias]

I was inspired by watching the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament and satirical references to the NCAA’s “amateurism” policies as being tantamount to slavery (that is certainly hyperbole), particularly a South Park episode “Crack Baby Athletic Association”.

What would consist of “defrauding a worker of his wages”? Would “student-athletes” (a term that has a euphemistic quality to it) be considered “workers” since they spend plenty of time and risking their health in order to compete (although many of them are offered scholarships) while the schools and the NCAA make money off of the images of the players.

 

[Lost_Sheep]

I was inspired by watching the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament and satirical references to the NCAA’s “amateurism” policies as being tantamount to slavery (that is certainly hyperbole), particularly a South Park episode “Crack Baby Athletic Association”.

What would consist of “defrauding a worker of his wages”? Would “student-athletes” (a term that has a euphemistic quality to it) be considered “workers” since they spend plenty of time and risking their health in order to compete (although many of them are offered scholarships) while the schools and the NCAA make money off of the images of the players.

The players are not being forced or compelled to play. They do so voluntarily. They are free to quit any time they want if they fell they are being exploited.

 

[mikekle]

Im not into sports, but personally I believe the student players should be paid, the amount of money made off college level sports is utterly ridiculous, the players are the reason for this income.

 

[Operalan]

They also get their college education paid for. That is not some small amount of pocket change.

 

[unstoppable_II]

I was inspired by watching the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament and satirical references to the NCAA’s “amateurism” policies as being tantamount to slavery (that is certainly hyperbole), particularly a South Park episode “Crack Baby Athletic Association”.

What would consist of “defrauding a worker of his wages”? Would “student-athletes” (a term that has a euphemistic quality to it) be considered “workers” since they spend plenty of time and risking their health in order to compete (although many of them are offered scholarships) while the schools and the NCAA make money off of the images of the players.

Here we have a legal transaction that is completely voluntary. Can’t anything be left alone?

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“What started as a demand for basic civil rights has mutated into a demand to overturn the whole society, along with its traditions and norms, its standards and laws, its history and heroes.” – Lawrence Auster

 

[GEddie]

Here we have a legal transaction that is completely voluntary. Can’t anything be left alone?

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“What started as a demand for basic civil rights has mutated into a demand to overturn the whole society, along with its traditions and norms, its standards and laws, its history and heroes.” – Lawrence Auster

+1.

The kids get to go to school on somebody else’s chit. That’s the purpose of the exercise.

“Exploitation” is not intrinsically wrong IF both parties are satisfied. No-one whines about the pay of workers on Broadway shows that make $billions.

ICXC NIKA

 

[unstoppable_II]

… No-one whines about the pay of workers on Broadway shows that make $billions.

Roger that.

America is such a magical place that a woman can get paid $375,000 to make a 20 minute speech complaining about inequality, and not draw a single criticism.

 

[commenter]

Here we have a legal transaction that is completely voluntary. Can’t anything be left alone?

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“What started as a demand for basic civil rights has mutated into a demand to overturn the whole society, along with its traditions and norms, its standards and laws, its history and heroes.” – Lawrence Auster

The secularists won’t leave anything alone. There is an agenda here. You can see how far we have gotten from the medieval understanding of work, play, justice, money, and other things. Every new initiative for “justice” creates new “inequities”, which must be addressed by new initiatives.
What about grammar school athletes, whose “play” generates enthusiasm and donations for the school?
What about people who offer intercessory prayer? If you must pay a dollar to light a candle in church, shouldn’t the person who prays for you claim equal compensation?
What about wives, who provide not only cooking, child rearing, and other services, but also sexual gratification for their husbands? Shouldn’t women get paid the same hourly rate that the Sex Workers Union demands for their members?

I am not trying to be sarcastic, just saying there is no analogy so ridiculous that the secularists won’t be attempting soon.

 

[unstoppable_II]

… there is no analogy so ridiculous that the secularists won’t be attempting soon.

“Soon”? The first time I heard of paying wives was about 40 years ago.

 

[SuperLuigi]

=unstoppable II;12872371]Here we have a legal transaction that is completely voluntary. Can’t anything be left alone?

Apparently not. Everyone (except able-bodied straight white males of Nordic/Saxon descent) are “victims”.

“What started as a demand for basic civil rights has mutated into a demand to overturn the whole society, along with its traditions and norms, its standards and laws, its history and heroes.” – Lawrence Auster

 

[unstoppable_II]

… Everyone (except able-bodied straight white males of Nordic/Saxon descent) are “victims”.

I would modify that to read, “straight white males of non-Hispanic European descent…”

Victimhood is where it’s at. If there aren’t enough real victims, new ones must be created.

 

[1ke]

I was inspired by watching the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament and satirical references to the NCAA’s “amateurism” policies as being tantamount to slavery (that is certainly hyperbole), particularly a South Park episode “Crack Baby Athletic Association”.

What would consist of “defrauding a worker of his wages”? Would “student-athletes” (a term that has a euphemistic quality to it) be considered “workers” since they spend plenty of time and risking their health in order to compete (although many of them are offered scholarships) while the schools and the NCAA make money off of the images of the players.

I think I’d be more concerned with whether or not watching South Park is morally acceptable.

 

[on_the_hill]

They also get their college education paid for. That is not some small amount of pocket change.

This.
College student athletes should **not **be paid. Period.

Or how about this? The college can say, “We’ll pay you, but then you have to pay for your tuition, room, board, books, and activities fees out of your own pocket. No scholarship. And, as an employee, you’ll have to comply with all the rules, regulations, and requirements that all university employees are held to. If you want a day off, you have to fill out a leave request two weeks in advance and have it approved by your supervisor. You will have to pay deductibles for your healthcare and and retirement contributions. You will have to pay mandatory union dues.” Wonder how that would go over.

And what would you pay them? Should a college basketball player get paid more than a college wrestler? Who’s worth more, a college football player or a softball player?

 

[1ke]

They also get their college education paid for. That is not some small amount of pocket change.

It is a common assumption that college athletes get full scholarships, but this is not the case for many of them.

 

[Latias]

Apparently not. Everyone (except able-bodied straight white males of Nordic/Saxon descent) are “victims”.

This thread has been blown way out of proportion. I thought someone may have some insights about the status quo of intercolleigate athletics, and I also thought I could contribute a thread on a somewhat interesting topic that is outside of government redistribution programs, charity, gay marriage, and abortion – topics that I avoid because they galvanize and polarize.

Why do people reflexively think it is my intention in this thread to victimize “student-athletes” in order to advance some “liberal agenda” (that term is justified because the term “victims” in quotation marks is often used to denigrate liberal sensibilities). Do you think Trey Parker and Matt Stone intend to create liberal agitprop out of “student-athletes”?

 

[stinkcat_14]

What is unjust is the rules are set in place to limit how much student athletes can get paid. In the NFL or NBA, players essentially sell themselves to the highest bidder. Student athletes do not have the same options. College coaches can more relatively easily from school to school in search of a better contract. The athletes cannot do this, so in that sense, the employment contract is unjust. I think it was a good first step when the Northwestern athletes were seeking to unionize because when the system is unjust then collective action is warranted.

 

[pnewton]

What would consist of “defrauding a worker of his wages”?

This is one of the sins that cry to Heaven. Voluntary cooperation may make it less sinful, but I still believe the NCAA to be a bastion of exploitation when it comes to athletics. Sweat shops may also use voluntary labor, but can still be sinfully abusive. Universities have a track record of putting athletes in paper classes and ignoring their obligation to provide a quality education in favor of a more grueling workout schedule. The have no obligation to provide anything, education or medical care, when an injury eliminates one of their cash cows from playing.

No, I have zero respect for the NCAA. That organization is as a greedy, money-grubbing, exploitive cadre as has ever existed.

Oh, and I think many athletes are victims of con artists that play on their dreams to exploit their talent. Enjoy your brackets, everyone.

 

[mikekle]

This is one of the sins that cry to Heaven. Voluntary cooperation may make it less sinful, but I still believe the NCAA to be a bastion of exploitation when it comes to athletics. Sweat shops may also use voluntary labor, but can still be sinfully abusive. Universities have a track record of putting athletes in paper classes and ignoring their obligation to provide a quality education in favor of a more grueling workout schedule. The have no obligation to provide anything, education or medical care, when an injury eliminates one of their cash cows from playing.

No, I have zero respect for the NCAA. That organization is as a greedy, money-grubbing, exploitive cadre as has ever existed.

Oh, and I think many athletes are victims of con artists that play on their dreams to exploit their talent. Enjoy your brackets, everyone.

I totally agree…Could not have said it better myself!