Thursday, May 7, 1998
Athletes still in college should make points, not smoothies
COLUMN NCAA’s plan allowing players to work riddled with
problems
You’re about to pay for your orange chicken in a rice bowl when
you hear that all too familiar, "Are you a UCLA student?" As your
eyes roll and you begin to blurt out, "Duhh, I’m wearing a frickin’
UCLA backpack," you realize the guy in the red polo handing you
your fortune cookie and napkin is none other than phenom guard
Baron Davis. An unlikely scenario, you say. Well, not any
longer.
The NCAA has recently passed Proposition 62, a bill that lets
full-scholarship athletes – mainly basketball and football – work
part-time. The catch is that they can only earn up to $2,000 in the
process. I know this is not exactly pocket change, but this new
rule does pose serious problems and seems rather unnecessary to
me.
With just 24 hours in a day, how can athletes be expected to
maintain their academic schedule, attend mandatory practices and
meetings, play rigorous games (half of which are on the road),
sleep, eat and keep a social life? Oh yeah, and hold a job on top
of all that? These kids may be super athletes, but they’re not
superheros.
If they do somehow manage to hold a job, it’s inevitably going
to take a toll on their game. An extra couple of hours a day
answering phones or selling scones means less R and R and less time
to perfect their skills.
These athletes get full rides because they excel at sports and
have the ability to earn championships for UCLA. If they’re too
fatigued come gametime, they won’t be able to do what they’re here
to do – kick ass on the field of play.
The NCAA is attempting to boost its image by appearing to be
caring toward its athletes, but they’re making the wrong moves.
Since the number of players jumping from high school to the NBA is
skyrocketing, the NCAA wants to appeal to these young stars. But
it’s a futile attempt indeed. There’s no way this rule will have an
impact.
I mean, would you rather be playing at the top with Grant Hill
or working at the HillTop Shop? Drinking Sprite on TV or selling it
as a trainee? Lots of honeys, money and a Laker deal, or female
students asking the price of Quaker oatmeal?
Now, I’m not advocating players head straight to the NBA without
making a four year detour through college. In fact, I think it’s
outright stupid – but this legislation isn’t going to ease the
problem.
Proposition 62 is like Pandora’s box waiting to be opened. It is
just too easy to abuse. The NCAA is trying to solve one problem but
is setting itself up for many more.
They’re allowing athletic officials to assist athletes in
getting work, thus becoming a sort of employment counselor. And my
psychic abilities are telling me these players are going to get the
best-paying and easiest jobs out there. And why wouldn’t they, with
big-shot alumni, boosters and coaches searching for the perfect
employment?
So now these players have jobs and an alibi to explain their
sudden influx of money. What if the forward who grabbed 16 boards
the night before gets a mysterious $250 tip for his
coffee-serving?
The Sylvia Brown in me sees most of these players racking up
their $2,000 quicker than the NCAA planned on. What if they earn
that much in two weeks? Well, they’re two Gs richer and have the
rest of the year to spend it.
And it’s not like Big Brother is keeping track of every paystub
and tip. Some players could actually rake in much more than the
imposed two grand. It could get out of hand in a heartbeat. These
athletes have all this dough to deal with, and I’m not even going
to mention that other huge collegiate issue that begins with a "g"
and ends with an "ambling."
So this new rule, passed with good intentions, is loaded with
problems. The NCAA says these athletes are just getting the same
opportunities as regular students. But the truth is they are not
regular students.
Athletes are given full scholarships as a reward for playing
their sport and filling UCLA’s pockets with revenue. For the most
part, they’re not here because of their GPA and SATs, but because
of their PPG and TDs.
Regular students are paying a lot to educated here, and many
need to work to afford books, food and that damned Internet fee.
Athletes on full rides don’t have these worries, so why should they
work?
If a basketball player has such a desire to work, he should work
on his free throws because that is his way of paying for
college.
For a good time, e-mail Jeff at [email protected]. And happy
Mother’s Day, Mom!