DGS49
Diamond Member
Imagine a world where Colleges, whose raison d'être is, you know, education, in attempting to provide harmless diversions for their students when they are not in class or studying, fielded a variety of teams to play games and compete with teams from other schools. Now imagine that some of those colleges took the games more seriously than any rational person would recommend, and they decided to try to attract skilled game-players by offering them a "free" college education if they came and played games for the school.
So in this world, skilled high school grads getting these offers had the option of playing their games in exchange for getting a fine college education, or growing up, getting a job, and starting the process of becoming an adult.
To be clear now, the "deal" is, "You play a game for me, and I will give you a free college education." The EDUCATION is the compensation you get for playing your game for our school.
While I don't support this in even the least measure; I think it is stupid and counterproductive (as does the Rest of the Civilized World), I understand it.
But...
This is insane. And I suspect that it would not exist if the NFL and NBA each supported a true "minor league" system, such as MLB has had for eons. The result is,
I have no personal interest in this world of college sports, and I didn't have any interest when I was actually in college, but it is a national embarrassment. One of the few good things about it is that former student-athletes are not drowning in a sea of college loan debt.
So in this world, skilled high school grads getting these offers had the option of playing their games in exchange for getting a fine college education, or growing up, getting a job, and starting the process of becoming an adult.
To be clear now, the "deal" is, "You play a game for me, and I will give you a free college education." The EDUCATION is the compensation you get for playing your game for our school.
While I don't support this in even the least measure; I think it is stupid and counterproductive (as does the Rest of the Civilized World), I understand it.
But...
NCAA, leagues back $2.8 billion settlement, setting stage for dramatic change across college sports
The NCAA and the nation's five biggest conferences said Thursday night they have agreed to pay nearly $2.8 billion to settle a host of antitrust claims,...
www.post-gazette.com
This is insane. And I suspect that it would not exist if the NFL and NBA each supported a true "minor league" system, such as MLB has had for eons. The result is,
- Millions of hours of kids's wasted time playing games rather than doing something productive, in the hope of getting a college scholarship to study Art History,
- Thousands of college students who have no business being in a college classroom,
- Colleges creating bullshit courses and majors, and dedicating armies of student-tutors trying to keep the athletes academically eligible,
- Thousands of Yoots spending 4-5 years in college and ending up with either no degree or a degree in something worthless,
- Actual college students wasting untold hours in and around games and other sports events.
I have no personal interest in this world of college sports, and I didn't have any interest when I was actually in college, but it is a national embarrassment. One of the few good things about it is that former student-athletes are not drowning in a sea of college loan debt.