the more I read about the KU deal and really any of the sanctions the NCAA has handed out over the last 20 years it seems to me it’s been about one thing: protecting their market share at all costs. For the first time I believe the NCAA is actively cutting off it’s nose I spite of it’s face in the general public’s eyes with this basketball case (really they did that when they turned a blind eye to the shoe companies paying players however many years ago, but I digress).
Think about it the NCAA is trying to protect their market share (in the short run) under the guise of “amateurism” with principals that were established when Teddy Roosevelt was president. Since that time the NCAA has actively resisted evolving as a sports sanctioning organization while society’s sentiments towards paying players has changed.
Today in the face of this pressure the NCAA now feels backed into a corner and must lash out on its member institutions to maintain credibility instead of evolving like all other sports organizations have over the past 100 years.
What the NCAA should be doing and should have been doing for the last 20-30 years was sanctioning an environment where it’s member institutions must play under a salary cap like structure spread out across all sports offered by its member institutions. By doing this they would be protecting their long term market share and who knows they could even grow it (the passion for college basketball and football throughout the country rivals and in some cases surpasses the passion for nfl and nba teams). They would also be moving their organization forward.
Caveat: I realize with as many members as the organization has this is much more difficult then the other sports leagues, but the schools have already decided on their willingness to spend in athletics with the advent of divisions in the ncaa. The other item that makes it infinitely harder then the other leagues is Title IX, but I believe reasonable answers can be found to ensure access to sport for everyone.
Also, I don’t buy the argument that these kids are getting paid with college scholarships. I knew plenty of non athletes at school that had non athletic scholarships and they still worked on the side to earn extra income.
Just my thoughts... ps I hope they throw the book at ku.
Think about it the NCAA is trying to protect their market share (in the short run) under the guise of “amateurism” with principals that were established when Teddy Roosevelt was president. Since that time the NCAA has actively resisted evolving as a sports sanctioning organization while society’s sentiments towards paying players has changed.
Today in the face of this pressure the NCAA now feels backed into a corner and must lash out on its member institutions to maintain credibility instead of evolving like all other sports organizations have over the past 100 years.
What the NCAA should be doing and should have been doing for the last 20-30 years was sanctioning an environment where it’s member institutions must play under a salary cap like structure spread out across all sports offered by its member institutions. By doing this they would be protecting their long term market share and who knows they could even grow it (the passion for college basketball and football throughout the country rivals and in some cases surpasses the passion for nfl and nba teams). They would also be moving their organization forward.
Caveat: I realize with as many members as the organization has this is much more difficult then the other sports leagues, but the schools have already decided on their willingness to spend in athletics with the advent of divisions in the ncaa. The other item that makes it infinitely harder then the other leagues is Title IX, but I believe reasonable answers can be found to ensure access to sport for everyone.
Also, I don’t buy the argument that these kids are getting paid with college scholarships. I knew plenty of non athletes at school that had non athletic scholarships and they still worked on the side to earn extra income.
Just my thoughts... ps I hope they throw the book at ku.
