There is a major misrepresentation of the enormous impact that college sports and their athletes have on the overall success of a university. This is especially true in the context of SUNY University, in which considerable funds are invested in collegiate athletic programs in order to produce athletic excellence. However, the problem lies in the true motivation for this considerable spending, the overall goal of which is to produce a team that can benefit from cable television and professional recruiting. Yet, due to the strict excellence required of these athletes, many universities are still hesitant to offer a salary to their athletes, who in many ways share the same responsibilities as a professional athlete with an annual salary. It is for this reason that so many students in these situations are now refusing to accept only scholarships or financial aid, but now an actual salary, for their athletic abilities and the value they bring to their organization. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get an Original Essay To many people, the idea of ​​a salary paid to college athletes may seem utterly ridiculous, and at first glance for good reason. It is often common knowledge that student-athletes receive enormous benefits from their institutions, such as, but not limited to, full-ride scholarships, free housing, and even free meals. It is because of these enormous benefits that any rational person may find it difficult to understand the idea of ​​adding salary to the long list of benefits. Yet contrary to this argument is the considerable popularity of the college football season in the United States, which results in a massive season of games captivating the attention of fans across the country. This level of attention given to college sports in the United States can match the enthusiasm and fan base of their counterparts in the professional leagues. These college-level events not only draw massive crowds (even reaching 100,000 people), but they are also televised, watched by hundreds of thousands of devoted fans; while being the subject of endless scrutiny and publicity in newspaper columns and on sports radio shows. Barstool Sports, one of the best examples, is a satirical sports and college news outlet that closely monitors and reports on college athletics. Even more fascinating is the fact that many student-athletes at this formidable level also balance all of their full-time work. whose student courses consume all of their time, making the possibility of working completely out of the question. To many students, this may seem relatively inhumane, as these student-athletes will not even have time to work to earn income to use outside of athletic and academic life. This represents a complete injustice to students who make televised sports appearances a reality for the institution. Worse, it's also not impossible to pay these students, due to the remarkably high level of intensity and interest in college sports like football and basketball. Likewise, this means that the NCAA, the primary nonprofit organization responsible for running collegiate-level competition, is swimming in the benefits of the abilities of the student-athletes who make up the organization. According to CNN, this is also confirmed by the incomerevealed from broadcast rights and ticket sales, estimated to be worth around $3 billion in 2014. Interestingly, none of this revenue reaches the athletes themselves; On the other hand, and not surprisingly, the salaries of university coaches and NCAA employees are not capped. This article is also not the first call to action regarding the debate over whether student-athletes should be paid, as it is a commonly debated issue. with some people referring to the fact that college level sports should be viewed and treated as an amateur endeavor. However, as we have already discussed, many people still choose to ignore the fact that college level sports attract many attention and financial investments; however, many wonder where college sports stand in relation to playing school or university sports elsewhere in the world. For this reason, these individuals argue that being part of a collegiate sports team is considered part of the education for which these students pay their way, rather than a semi-professional job or career. However, the problem with those who take this view is that they ignore the increasingly high cost of attending these universities. This is a result of the common misconception that all athletes graduate from college debt-free or studied on a full financial scholarship. In many cases, especially among students who do not have the ability to compete professionally after college, many of these student-athletes struggle financially. Likewise, the majority of athletes who make up the NCAA come from underprivileged, inner-city African-American families. These poor families unfortunately have to rely on loans to cover essential costs such as housing and food. So a serious injury or loss of composure could mean the difference between a professional sports career and a lifetime of heavy debt. It is evident that the racial divide is a major factor that drives students to demand financial compensation for their services and skills. Therefore, the NCAA's growing revenue creates additional pressure to pay student-athletes. In 2016, NFL player Michael Bennett made a statement about the injustices faced by student-athletes to ESPN, saying, "Hell yeah, college players should get paid. The NCAA gets paid. Rose Bowl is paid. Everyone gets paid except those who make the product. In some countries this is called slavery. Although the comment made is not directly related to any race, it speaks volumes about the negligence and misrepresentation of college athletes and the unfair compensation for their contributions. As previously mentioned, African American athletes make up the majority of athletes who represent the NCAA and contribute to the marginalization of society. Many are disproportionately affected by the decision not to pay student-athletes. This is also supported by a public poll conducted to gauge public support for paying college athletes. However, the poll found that while there is still a strong presence in favor of paying student-athletes, far more African-American individuals support the idea, while 43% of white respondents oppose it. . Soon after, another study found that "Views of blacks were the leading indicator of white opposition to paying athletes." Inas such, racial bias was considered a more powerful predictor than age, experience, political affiliation, or social class. This represents a critical and necessary awareness that the reluctance to fairly compensate college athletes is an immediate injustice, one that hinders the academic and social progress of higher education in the United States. Tatishe Nteta, a professor at the University of Massachusetts Amherst and one of the study's authors, further elaborated on the study's findings, stating that the founding of the NCAA still inherently relies on many biases in the with regard to the representation of minorities within its own organization. As such, this bias hinders progress toward true equality and fair representation for student-athletes, due to the marginalization of the organization itself. The fact is that student-athletes should receive a proportionately designated salary based on skills. these people bring to the organization. There is no reasonable or valid objection as to why college student-athletes should not be paid for their participation. The college sports scene is one of the most successful industries across the world, and it continues to grow. As a result, such factors only promote that college athletes enjoy the same financial opportunities as their professional counterparts. Likewise, the main argument put forward to justify the lack of compensation for college athletes is the lack of professional certification, which does not merit salary. Although the argument is based on narrow logic, it is not enough to defend the apparent greed of the NCAA, which makes huge revenues from commercializing the skills and showmanship of student-athletes and using them for their own purposes. own profit. Many people would be confused. to discover that the increasing amount of money coming from college sports marketing each year makes it extremely more difficult for organizations to withhold payment from their players. This can be reinforced by a Time article (Gregory 2018) by sportswriter Sean Gregory, discussing the eleven million dollar salary of Nick Saban, the head coach of the Alabama Crimson Tide football team, who made $11 million last season, and assistant coaches earning more than $1 million in salary. Such statistics make it difficult for anyone to agree to pay players, even taking into account purses and exclusive privileges; however, this is not adequate given the time, physical and emotional commitment that each player must dedicate to their team. Additionally, these benefits are also not representative of the physical risk for each player, which could potentially result in a career-ending injury at any time while playing. The lax safety regulations of each sport alone are enough of an incentive for players to receive income in some way for their sacrifices for their schools. In a 2011 NCAA survey, it was stated that student-athletes train on average at least thirty hours per week. , while others may even approach forty or older. As noted earlier in the document, with a combination of great classes and the expectation to practice as regularly as a full-time job, the ability to find free time to work and earn an income is virtually impossible. These requirements often quickly turn into restrictions that often do more harm than good. There is no reason behind the lack of supportto college athletes, because people on academic rather than athletic scholarships still receive free tuition, as well as room and board; however, college scholarship recipients often have the luxury of free time, during which they may also have time to work. As such, huge changes are needed to enable the future success of NCAA athletes, with a first step being the ability for athletes to sign endorsement deals with brands like Nike and Adidas. Allowing sponsors to step in and offer financial assistance to athletes would be a huge step forward, while also benefiting both players and businesses. There are many examples of successful amateur relationships in all respects and sponsorship agreements, with mutual benefit for both parties. In sports specifically, major shoe companies routinely offer incentives to college athletes and/or even their family members to entice them to attend certain popular universities. Establishing a path to legal freedom for students to enter into brand endorsement deals with companies would help weaken the crippling poverty caused by the rising cost of education. To this end, by reforming the inequality of college athletes by allowing them to market themselves equally for the brand. Through matching and sponsorship, many students may be more likely to stay in school until graduation, while also allowing hugely successful student-athletes to achieve financial success, which would allow these students to support their families who are struggling to succeed. Given the current situation of NCAA student-athletes, there is no foreseeable downside to granting students the legal freedom to engage in financial endeavors. Another article from ESPN that indirectly supports the need for change. The article goes on to state that while early resentment and opposition from paying student-athletes might have initially made sense with scholarships and benefits, the NCAA's instability in offering compensation is becoming increasingly big. difficult to defend. This is evidenced by the announcement of a successful contract between the NCAA and Time Warner Cable, worth an estimated total of $10.8 billion. The article states that while it would not be in anyone's best interest to distribute funds equally or even pay every college athlete. However, what can be done is create outlets for successful student-athletes to earn a salary throughout their time at a school, and open up the possibility of cooperating with brand sponsorships. For many people, obtaining an athletic scholarship can be the key to success. realize their dream of creating a better life for themselves and their families. As is the case with the NCAA today, for many people these dreams can turn into nightmares, especially when they have to follow the NCAA's harsh restrictions as it oversees all athletic scholarships. Under current education law, student-athletes are prohibited from making personal financial gains during their scholarship. Worse still, beneficiaries often come from families already in difficulty, and these families are required to cover the expenses necessary to make student life possible. What is even more infuriating is the fact that a college or university can make huge revenues from college sports by using the names, images and skills of its players to.