Panel questions NCAA's tax status
U.S. lawmakers ask group to explain why college sports deserve educational exemption
This is long overdue. Collegiate sports -- primarily football and basketball -- are nothing but cash cows for universities when you consider all the TV money, astronomical coaches' salaries, and so forth. Not to mention the constant recruiting violations that occur simply because the only real way to get ahead in this game is to cheat.
I've said for years that we ought to give up the pretense that college athletes are in college to get an education. Maybe some are, but look how many don't complete college and go (or try to go) pro. Why not give up this crap and start paying players? Have a draft. Pay standard salaries (this isn't the NFL or the NBA, it's essentially a development league) to everyone -- including coaches. If you must, establish merit bonuses for special achievements.
For sports that don't have a farm system like Major League Baseball, this would be a huge boon. In point of fact, you'd think that the NFL and NBA would be happy to help underwrite it. (You wouldn't? What a bunch of pikers.)
And universities and colleges that don't want to be part of that don't have to be. But they should still get at least regional coverage, paid for out of development league profits.
Ah well. Just a pipe dream. Never happen. Kind of like hoping someone will throw a bucket of water at Myles Brand and make him melt. Or that universities will someday get back to focusing on education instead of sports.
