Now that we are at the end of a great NCAA Basketball tournament
for the men and women, the players are on my mind. This year’s tournament (2013)
was some of the finest college basketball play I have seen in some time. The
seeds meant nothing; this is elite competition.
I watched as many men’s games
as was humanly possible. I only managed to see the women play when UCONN was on
the court. I have to support Connecticut’s only "professional” team. WE WON! Now coach, Geno Auriemma has 8 championships with
UCONN, tied for second total wins.
While I watched the celebration, I thought about how much
money UCONN is going to make for this championship win; and how much coach Geno
makes. The Hartford Courant reported that his salary was about $8 million over
the last 5-year contract. In addition, it is reported that he receives bonuses
for making it to the tournament, the final four, and the championship.
More Money, More Money, More Money.
I can only imagine the multiple millions UCONN earns for
being the top team in the nation.
That just leaves the most important people, the student athletes.
What do they get? I have to acknowledge that that top high school players get
recruited and receive a full scholarship for their education; and if they
continue to perform at a high level they, MAY
get a contract in the NBA/WNBA.
However, the percentage of NCAA basketball players that go
on and play in the NBA is about 1%. According to the NCAA “about one in 75, or
approximately 1.3 percent, of NCAA male senior basketball players will get
drafted by a National Basketball Association (NBA) team” and that “Less than
one in 100, or approximately 0.9 percent, of NCAA female senior basketball
players will get drafted by a Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA)
team” (Research, 2012, p. 2). This
leaves 99% of the student athletes without a windfall after their 4 years of
hard work and dedication.
The juxtaposition between what the players receive in
comparison to the NCAA, the colleges and the coaches is a joke. This was especially
highlighted in the ESPN documentary “Fab
Five” of the University of Michigan. The film is about the best freshman
basketball team to ever play. One of the
players recounts that during the season, the boys decided to go to the mall.
While there, they were asked to sign autographs for the jerseys being sold at a
sporting goods store,. As they signed and gave high-fives, they realized that
they couldn’t afford to buy the very jersey with their name and number. Something is wrong with that reality.
The film did point out that there were alleged financial
scandals that followed the freshman. But after all that you saw, could you
blame them for trying to get a piece of the pie, if they did do it? The gross
negligence by the authorities to ensure that their student athletes want for
nothing is disturbing.
History tells us that those at the top continue to line
their pockets, selling the pipe dream about these students’ futures, and them
send them off their way to face the hard world. This should be a crime!
During one of this year’s semi-finals on the men’s side, a
Louisville player, Kevin Ware suffered one of the worst injuries ever witnessed
on the court in front of a national television audience. Luckily, for him it
was not a career ending injury; but it could have been. What would happen to
Kevin Ware, a sophomore? What if it ended the way it had for Hank Gathers? There
would be no life following his last play. FLASHBACK: Basketball Player Hank Gathers Dies on Court
I think it is time to acknowledge that student athletes give
their all for their team, and in the end, they should get cash in return.
Perhaps, a one-time lump sum at the end of their collegiate career, based on a
similar bonus structure the coaches receive. At least they would get something,
even if they failed to make it professionally.
What do you think should happen?
For the full article about Geno Auriemmas contract, click
the following link: http://courantblogs.com/uconn-women/geno-auriemmas-new-deal-will-give-him-time-to-make-more-history/
NCAA Research. (2012). Estimated
Probability of Competing in Athletics
Beyond the High School
Interscholastic Level. Retrieved from http://www.ncaa.org/
2 comments:
So far so good LaLa. Keep up the good work!!
I have to give it to you. The concept of incentive payments at the end of these athletes collegiate careers is one of, if not the best options for compensation I've heard.
You're correct. These kids put it all on the line daily. Unlike pros, they play hurt because they have to. They only have a few games to prove their worth and try to become that 1%. I enjoy college ball more than pro ball for that reason.
It is unfair and a solution needs to be agreed upon ... soon.
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