In my lifetime when so much of the world around us was a piece of crap we could believe in and enjoy HS and college sports. Now with so many schools shifting from one conference to another, in many cases eliminating regional rivalries. If all that has not been enough, there are forces at work to declare the athletes employees, unionize and openly pay them salaries. If those things come to pass, what will college sports be like? With athletes being represented by agents, they will likely go with the highest bidder. Where will it end? Could be UALR may end up better off not having football after all.

The top college athletes and families are already getting paid under the table.

For many years we have been told that athletes have been paid illegally by boosters. And we know the term "Student Athlete" is in many if not most cases a joke. Maybe something does need to be done. Being the old skeptic I have become, I'm thinking that the suit that has been filed against the 5 BCS conferences could very well be a sham. Meaning the 5 defendant conferences may have instigated the lawsuit. secretly hoping the plaintiffs prevail. I could be far out on this but maybe not. Truth is I no longer trust much of anything as it appears on the surface.

(03-26-2014 07:59 PM)DollarBill Wrote:  In my lifetime when so much of the world around us was a piece of crap we could believe in and enjoy HS and college sports. Now with so many schools shifting from one conference to another, in many cases eliminating regional rivalries. If all that has not been enough, there are forces at work to declare the athletes employees, unionize and openly pay them salaries. If those things come to pass, what will college sports be like? With athletes being represented by agents, they will likely go with the highest bidder. Where will it end? Could be UALR may end up better off not having football after all.

I don't think the union thing is going to fly. It was just one man's opinion, not the opinion of the full labor board. And if it does go into effect, it will only apply to private schools. Public institutions will not be affected. If it does, it will be like putting the inmates in charge of the asylum.

(03-27-2014 02:46 PM)outsideualr Wrote:  I don't think the union thing is going to fly. It

I don't either. Talk about opening a huge array of confusion!

(03-27-2014 03:53 PM)MICHAELSPAPPY Wrote:  

(03-27-2014 02:46 PM)outsideualr Wrote:  I don't think the union thing is going to fly. It

I don't either. Talk about opening a huge array of confusion!

They're not talking about paying the players. It's about medical issues after their football careers are over.

If they can get a union, they will be negotiating practice hours, who knows what?

I saw somewhere, could have been Wally's column that a 1 year full athletic scholarship had a value of $73,000. If that is so, seems to me to be pretty good pay for a jock who barely got through HS and probably don't have to do much to stay eligible in college. What they are saying is the jocks only want " a seat at the table". Sure, feed us more bs. With the Northwestern deal what they got is a foot in the door. Anyone believe they stop there? IMO what they are after is a much bigger share of the revenue. As some have said, it is potentially a big, complicated and confusing mess.