College+Sports

=Should College Athletes Be Paid?=

NCAA Athletics are big business, especially in the Division I sports of Basketball and Football. Coaches have multi-million dollar scholarships. Merchandising brings further millions into the programs. Athletes are often offered scholarships and admission to their universities in exchange for their play. Success in college can sometimes lead to lucrative professional careers post college.

However, the athletes are worked more as full time professional employees than as students on top of being expected to maintain grades and a full time class schedule. For many athletes who don't go professional following their college years, this is the most marketable their athletic skills will ever be. It is their performance that brings the budgets and the income from tickets, alumni, and merchandise sales to their schools. Isn't it time to pay them for their contributions of time, energy, and in some cases where careers are cut short by injury- their health?

Time Magazine argued YES in a recent cover story. Here is a link to a summary:

http://content.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,2151167,00.html

Further, here is a link to a Time Info-Graphic on the topic (Time in the name of a Big Sports University such as Ohio State and check out the numbers that result:

http://keepingscore.blogs.time.com/2013/09/05/infographic-how-much-does-your-alma-mater-owe-its-top-athletes/

ESPN argues NO in a rebuttal. Here is a link.

http://espn.go.com/college-sports/story/_/id/9666004/pay-play-answer-college-athletics

=What do you think?=

This discussion will run through Sunday, September 22nd.