Last Week Tonight w/ John Oliver: The NCAA (HBO)

I always enjoy catching LWT and this episode nails it,  right down to the official ladder! Did you catch the FIFA episode over the summer?  Good stuff!

John Oliver is brilliant!  

 

 

He is brilliant. That was funny stuff.

I saw this and agree it is right on the money...pun intended.

The thing though is I am not sure playing college sports is a privilege, rather I think it is something earned via some incredible talent, dedication and work.  It is the whole concept that somehow being on a college campus playing for State is something near holy that allows for this system to function.

 

I believe that has to be demystified for change to occur.  It is stuff like this that is getting us there.  The utter hypocrisy and arrogance of the bandits running college sports should be exposed.  Frankly I think some are nothing more than criminals sucking off the talent of young people who are entering into incredibly one sided contracts and forbidden representation.  It is an absolute outrage. 

 

I expect and hope the NCAA loses every single legal challenge and the players in football and basketball demand and receive about 40-50% of the revenue those sports generate.  So the teams making the final 4 in  this years basketball tournament will earn their conference $9.5 MM.  I say let the 15 players split $4.75MM and the conference gets the rest. 

 

 

 

So, true.  Great bits.  Richard Sherman had a great point and Oliver compared it to a nurse getting no salary but free trumpet lessons.  That was just spot on.

 

When all is said and done, many moons from now, we are going to wonder how did the NCAA con us for so long.  It has to be the best cons of all time.

I don't agree with the players getting a bunch of the revenue.  If that is the way it should/will be run, they need to just get rid of college sports all together, and just have a semi-pro/minor league for these players.  Especially since a lot of the elite football/basketball players could give two @*&%+ about education.  Having the Final 4 Teams split 9 million dollars with their 15 players is quite honestly ridiculous.

Ryno, the current system is so cobbled together from years of the NCAA and NBA trying to protect their interests that I wouldn't have any idea how to fix it, but I don't think that the idea of paying basketball players Final Four bonuses is ridiculous. A few of these kids (especially on Kentucky) are losing a year's income because of a system that deliberately exploits their highly marketable talents. Andrew Wiggins (2014 1st pick overall) made about $5.5M this year as a rookie in the NBA. Would $500K have been ridiculous for his year at Kansas? I honestly don't know.

 

If the players don't get the revenue who does?  The schools?  Okay, I can live with that. But as it is the NCAA has dozens of officials making 6-figure incomes and  dozens of coaches making 7-figure incomes, not to mention broadcasters and beer companies making millions.  But the people actually doing the work that creates the product that generates all that cash are getting zilch.  That is simply not fair.

I never realized the revenue that came in. That is ridiculous.
Why do you think they dont care about school?  Unlike baseball they are forced to play for the NCAA before becoming professionals.

Many, many examples of big time athletes not going to class and receiving credit for classes they never attended.  Just look at North Carolina Basketball for one.  Just make a semi pro league, or let them go straight to the pros at 18.  Personally, I don't understand whey they can't go straight to the pros.  You can fight for your country at 18.  You are responsible as an adult in a court of law at 18.  You can be drafted into Pro Baseball at 18.

Also, I don't have a problem with giving players some money to live a normal college life, because of the time commitment it takes to play big time sports.  If however, we are talking about large sums of money, they are then not amateur athletes.  They are professionals.

Thats the point.  They are already professionals in every way except older and more savvy people keep the money and the kids get scammed.

Dont use one program as an example.
The whole system needs a revamp.
I never felt that way about baseball..it essentially is a non revenue sport for most programs.
But the amount of money in basketball and football is crazy.  Most probably get everything they need.paid for through their scholarships..which might include a stipend. Increasing this amount wont hurt anyones status.
Alabama is a perfect example of how winning improves programs. Better facilities mean better recruits.  Those that do help in gaining that wealth should be compensated.
Where there is a will there is a way.
JMO

ryno - Did you watch the video?  It is long, but it talks about UNC and is one of the most egregious examples of how 'student athletes' were used (and abused) by an institution.  And I'm a UNC fan and season ticket holder!!

 

Frankly, I thought the snippets from the NCAA chief provided some of the most compelling reasons why college athletes should be paid in one way or another.  At least for football and basketball.

 

The system is broken...badly...IMO.  Lets just talk baseball.  The idea that you lose your eligibility for having formal representation in dealing with a professional organization who negotiates similar transactions year-after-year...is one of the most ludicrous things I've ever heard of.  No one in their right mind would go into any other business negotiation that involves tons of 'fine print' and worth millions of $$ without a legal/financial expert listening (not allowed) and representing your interests (not allowed) to make sure your (or your 17/18 year old son's) interests are protected.

 

IF...(big IF)...the NCAA was all about the "student athlete" they would drop that nonsense and they'd likely find out that more kids, with the correct legal/financial advice, would make the decision to go to college after all.

 

It took a hungry superstar (Shabaz Napier) on a national championship team (UConn) embarrassing the he!! out of the NCAA to make a single and very simple change to make sure the athletes were properly fed.  Simply stunning that it took that long to react to something many...and I mean many...already knew.

I think that you may have a lawyer present - or at least the NCAA doesn't want to push the envelop that far. (On the NCAA form S indicated that the only people to have contact with pro clubs beside himself were lawyers; there were no bad ramifications.)

If thats true, the rule has changed I believe.  Used to not be allowed to have a lawyer in the room.  Could be next room, but not face-to-face.

 

I won't say 100%, but thats the way I remember it and I thought that is what got Ben Wetzler in trouble.

There are a lot more examples than NC in football and basketball...

Send your son off to college. Then we will talk.

I don't even know what you are saying here.  Seems a somewhat condescending, and I don't believe it is warranted, but to each his own.