Are colleges and universities stealing money from the athletes that generate millions of dollars of revenue a year? Hall of Fame running back Jim Brown thinks so; he recently made a point to slam the NCAA for their practice of prohibiting compensation to college athletes, while at the same time making huge profits off the athletes' contributions. It's time to pay up.
Whether being addressed in film like Blue Chips and The Program in the 90's or on sports talk radio, the debate rages on in the media on whether college athletes should be paid (via USA News):
"The NCAA basketball tournaments, or 'March Madness,' have become a huge business. As Forbes' Chris Smith wrote, CBS and Turner Broadcasting make more than $1 billion off the games, 'thanks in part to a $700,000 ad rate for a 30-second spot during the Final Four.' Athletic conferences receive millions of dollars in payouts from the NCAA when their teams advance deep into the tournament. The NCAA, as a whole, makes $6 billion annually.
"But the players themselves don't see any of that money, even as they risk career-ending injuries every time that they step onto the court, field or rink. Just last weekend, Louisville's Kevin Ware suffered a gruesome broken leg."
One man who is not afraid to speak out against the NCAA is former footballer Jim Brown (via ESPN):
"Jim Brown is not a fan of the NCAA, a truth he made more than evident Saturday at the Pro Football Hall of Fame Fan Fest.
"'The NCAA is probably the most reprehensible organization God ever created,' the Hall of Fame running back said.
"Total exploitation. The kind of money they make, the kind of life they live, it's embarrassing."
What do you think? Should college athletes be compensated when they are contributing to the financial windfalls of an entire network of organizations and business?
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