EL SEGUNDO HERALD April 2, 2015 Page 5 One Man’s Opinion Another Man’s Opinion He Made Me Do It College Sports Is Cash Cow Visit us online: www.heraldpublications.com STARS & STRIPES A M E R I C A N M A D E C L O T H I N G S T O R E COME CHECK US OUT! GREAT CLOTHING INCLUDING DENIM, HATS, BAGS, SHOES AND MORE 1107 Van Ness Ave.Torrance, CA 90501 • 310.320-3207 LEE 101 USA, WOOLRICH, SAVE KHAKI, MINNETONKA MOCCASIN, PENNY, JAN SPORT, DULUTH, REYN SPOONER, TRETORN, BALL, BURTON, STANCE, RAINBOW SANDALS, FILSON, TEVA, NEW YORK HAT, PADDY WAX, RICHER & POORER, SCHOTT USA, STRATHTAY Open Mondays through Saturdays Noon to 6pm By Cristian Vasquez Like millions of other Americans, I too am caught up in the spectacle of March Madness. However, despite my love of sports, the way these student athletes are exploited by the National Collegiate Athletic Association is troubling. I’m not arguing for these student athletes to receive contracts worth millions of dollars but there should be some type of compensation. Some people will argue that these kids receive a free education in exchange for their commitment to athletics and that is a fair argument. Yet, for as much money as collegiate sports generate for the schools, four years worth of tuition is the amount of pocket change that these institutions can more than afford. Let’s be honest with ourselves and admit that the NCAA is abusing these college athletes. USA Today reported that the NCAA registered a $61 million surplus in 2013, making it the third consecutive year that the association garnered more than $60 million. The NCAA itself reported that most of its revenue [81 percent projected for 2012-13] is derived from media rights. The majority of those media rights monies are the result of a $10.8 billion, 14-year agreement with CBS Sports and Turner Broadcasting, just for the rights to the Division I men’s basketball championship. In addition to this billion-dollar deal, schools and the NCAA earn millions of dollars every year from the sale of merchandise, merchandise that the student athlete represents, for which they do not see a single dime. One can argue that it’s not the student athletes’ place to receive royalties for the merchandise since they are amateurs. Wrong: it is wrong to have the schools and NCAA continue to profit from the every athlete’s image even after they graduate. Jersey sales and NCAA basketball games on video consoles “Republicans and some Democrats are saying this deal with the bully better work out or they’ll slap more sanctions on Iran and make you look like an even bigger fool than you’ve made yourself.” For Everyone Except Athletes like the Play Station series or XBOX are just some of the merchandising tools that will generate profits for the NCAA for years; yet the student athlete sees none of it throughout their lifetime. As if that wasn’t enough, let’s not forget that sponsorship generates a substantial amount of money during official NCAA tournaments. So when NCAA President Mark Emmert says that college athletics is about the integrity and spirit of the game, hence why student athletes shouldn’t get paid, it’s hard for me not to yell malarkey [in my head]. If coaches can agree to endorsement deals with sponsors and the NCAA generate millions of dollars a year in the spirit of the game, why can’t the student athletes that give the organization life receive at least a stipend? Not all student athletes are start running backs or nationally recognized point guards who benefit from media exposure, and who can maybe benefit from their highprofile image. The tennis stars, the lacrosse players, the amazing swimmers and great golfers or stellar track and field athletes are also part of this system that generates millions, and they too are denied royalties. There’s nothing wrong about the schools and NCAA generating money from something like sports, which are very profitable. However, it is a crime to have a group of people sell that product and not receive proper compensation. It’s disingenuous at best for NCAA representatives to say that college athletics is about the prestige and love of the sport when they make billions of dollars on the back of the student athletes. I’m a UCLA fan and that will not change. Yet, I can’t bring myself to buy official merchandise knowing that many of these athletes at times are struggling to eat a decent lunch while some coaches, several athletic directors and many NCAA officials are stuffing their pockets with money. • By Gerry Chong “Waaaaaaa,” cried the little boy, as his mother pulled him along “Waaaaaa, he made me do it.” “Now stop it, Barack. Stop the temper tantrums. Either play nicely with the others or you can’t go out and play anymore,” said his mom. “But I don’t like Israelis so I left the old man sitting downstairs alone in the White House and came up to have dinner with you.” “That was horribly rude, child. He was the oldest playmate we have in that part of the world. Now he hates us. And by the way, did you have to send one of your political operatives to oppose his re-election and say you did not want to interfere in foreign affairs? Honestly, Barack.” “Waaaaaaaa,” squalled the child, “he made me do it.” “Barack, there’s this other bully in the schoolyard the other kids hate. His name’s Iran, but then you know that. He’s kicked sand six times in the principal’s face since 2006, sponsors state terrorism throughout the Middle East, is sanctioned by nine individual nations, lies about possession and development of nuclear power, and has a history of deception and human rights violations, but you want to be his friend! What’s with you, child?” “Waaaaaaa, he made me do it.” “All the aother kids in school now want to pick on you too. Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Jordan, and most of the 22 member Arab States have banded together militarily to oppose you and your schoolyard bully pal. Are you happy about that? I could just shake you, Barack.” “Waaaaaa, he made me do it.” “And just to prove he’s going to make you a sucker, he waited until the last week of his negotiations with you to tell you he isn’t going to sign any agreement with you. Then he waits until the last day to say he changed his mind about the most important provision in the agreement. Barack, he’s made a fool of you. He wiped the floor with you and John Kerry. Now he may get economic sanctions lifted, will keep the nuclear ability he developed, and get a nuclear weapon whether he cheats or not, because he knows you’re desperate for a star on your legacy.” “Waaaaa, he made me do it.” “Now look at the mess you created among your classmates. Republicans and some Democrats are saying this deal with the bully better work out or they’ll slap more sanctions on Iran and make you look like an even bigger fool than you’ve made yourself.” “Waaaaaa, he made me do it.” “Then there’s all this pro-Muslim foolishness you’ve spread on campus, saying Terrorists aren’t Islamists when Islam is their middle name. Come on, boy, what’s gotten into you? It seems like you’ve lost your balance, and are willing to throw your entire being away over defending Muslims.” “But don’t you see, Mom? He made me do it. It was the Dream of My Father.” •
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