18 replies to this topic

[Oriole85]

ESPN: NCAA athletes can pursue TV money

http://espn.go.com/e...elevision-money

[SammyBirdland]

"The players deserve a piece of the pie."

Amen.

[You Play to Win the Game]

Well, this is sure to be a game changer. Huge news. It was only a matter of time.

[BSLMikeLowe]

I recall reading a little about this suit several years ago. That would be huge if the plaintiffs can get class-certification. A big part of me hopes that they are successful, as it only seems fair. Although if they are, college sports (revenue-producing sports, that is) will never be the same.

[DJ MC]

I remember when this was just Ed O'Bannon upset over the use of his image in a video game. I'm so happy it is getting a legitimate day in court, and possibly beyond.

I recall reading a little about this suit several years ago. That would be huge if the plaintiffs can get class-certification. A big part of me hopes that they are successful, as it only seems fair. Although if they are, college sports (revenue-producing sports, that is) will never be the same.

Good. The colleges and the NCAA bring in money that is far out of proportion to what they provide in scholarship value. The system needs a real shakeup and this would be the knockout blow.

[Oriole85]

If athletes are eventually compensated (other than stipends, scholarships, etc), how does this effect viewership? College sports to begin with has a bit of a different audience in that many who don't care about pro sports still which to support their school. And even some, who watch during the somewhat fallacy of amateurism (I think we can all agree that players getting paid goes on to some extent or another). Once these athletes are officially compensated besides the school spirit part, how does it differ from minor league baseball, the D-League, and other minor leagues? How many people are going to watch second-tier sports?

[DJ MC]

If athletes are eventually compensated (other than stipends, scholarships, etc), how does this effect viewership? College sports to begin with has a bit of a different audience in that many who don't care about pro sports still which to support their school. And even some, who watch during the somewhat fallacy of amateurism (I think we can all agree that players getting paid goes on to some extent or another). Once these athletes are officially compensated besides the school spirit part, how does it differ from minor league baseball, the D-League, and other minor leagues? How many people are going to watch second-tier sports?

I find it difficult to believe that anyone who isn't already turned off by the various scandals and hypocrisy would be turned off by everyone being honest.

[Oriole85]

I find it difficult to believe that anyone who isn't already turned off by the various scandals and hypocrisy would be turned off by everyone being honest.

So you expect the ratings/attendance/interest to remain relatively the same?

I don't think the various scandals or hypocrispy will go away, you're always looking to get an edge up on the competition. More money, more problems?

[DJ MC]

So you expect the ratings/attendance/interest to remain relatively the same?

I don't think the various scandals or hypocrispy will go away, you're always looking to get an edge up on the competition. More money, more problems?

Decriminalizing anything won't completely eliminate crime, but it does get rid of a lot of the pointless crimes that don't actually hurt anyone.

[Oriole85]

Decriminalizing anything won't completely eliminate crime, but it does get rid of a lot of the pointless crimes that don't actually hurt anyone.

So do the ratings/attendance/interest stay about the same as it currently is?

[DJ MC]

So do the ratings/attendance/interest stay about the same as it currently is?

If people are unable to realize that what they would be watching is exactly the same as what they were watching, only a lot of both the mystique and the seediness have been stripped away, that just continues to prove negative opinions about the general population.

People will still connect through the associations with their school. Others will still watch to see future professional talent. Others will just watch from the love they have for the sports in question. The basic concept remains the same.

[Oriole85]

If people are unable to realize that what they would be watching is exactly the same as what they were watching, only a lot of both the mystique and the seediness have been stripped away, that just continues to prove negative opinions about the general population.

People will still connect through the associations with their school. Others will still watch to see future professional talent. Others will just watch from the love they have for the sports in question. The basic concept remains the same.

Well you didn't exactly answer the question, instead told what people "should" do as a result.

I do think the "mystiqueness" of amateurism does play a large role on the popularity of college football/basketball, the whole "love of the game." I do agree though that many watch because of school pride. If it's because of seeing future talent or just because they love the sport, not as much IMO. If the former were the case, minor league baseball would be a lot more popular.

I've said this before, I think there should be a minor league system for football, there's no other way for the current athletes to make $, so they have a legitimate gripe. In terms of basketball, there's the D-League and Europe. I'd go to the baseball draft system for college baskebtall, either right away or 3 years in college or you could go to JUCO. Also as an alternative to paying players directly, I'd suggest the "Olympic model," where they could accept endorsements.

[BSLMikeLowe]

For the first time, I am now rethinking UM's decision to join the B1G.

http://sportsillustr...y-ncaa-obannon/

Ohio State versus Mount Union in a regular-season football game? Wisconsin against Wisconsin-Whitewater in a regular-season basketball game?

This isn't an outreach program between Big Ten schools and their Division III neighbors. It's one possible future Big Ten commissioner Jim Delany envisions if the plaintiffs prevail in Ed O'Bannon vs. the NCAA. In a declaration filed last week in federal court in support of the NCAA's motion against class certification, Delany threatened that any outcome that results in athletes getting a piece of the schools' television revenue could force the schools of the Big Ten to de-emphasize athletics as the Ivy League's schools did decades ago.

[DJ MC]

For the first time, I am now rethinking UM's decision to join the B1G.

http://sportsillustr...y-ncaa-obannon/

Delany's blowing smoke. "De-emphasizing" athletics to the level he's talking about would do far worse damage to the schools than giving players some of the cash they actually deserve.

By the way, in case anyone thinks that a scholarship alone is fair compensation for these athletes:

http://www.freakonom... ... -athletes/

To illustrate, consider the Indiana Hoosiers this season. An examination of the player statistics reveals that Victor Oladipo produced 7.37 wins for Indiana (the Wins Produced calculation for college basketball was similar – in fact, amazingly similar — to what has been done for the NBA). We are working on the economic value of a win in college basketball, but a conservative estimate is that a win is worth at least $100,000 for a program like Indiana. Given the number of wins Oladipo produced and the conservative value of a win, Oladipo’s production was worth (i.e. his Marginal Revenue Product) about $737,000 (and again, this is a crude and conservative estimate).

[BSLMikeLowe]

Delany's blowing smoke. "De-emphasizing" athletics to the level he's talking about would do far worse damage to the schools than giving players some of the cash they actually deserve.

By the way, in case anyone thinks that a scholarship alone is fair compensation for these athletes:

http://www.freakonom... ... -athletes/

He would meet some huge resistance, from the league's presidents on down, no doubt. But the simple fact that he would espouse such a notion gives me pause (I couldn't recall his 1996 op-ed, so this was the first I'd heard about his position).

EDIT: The more I think about it, the more I think what Delaney proposes would be almost impossible. Too many, if not all, of his schools have invested way too much money in their athletic infrastructures to cut them off like that. If you suddenly go to a Division III model, removing pretty much all TV revenues, and eventually revenues from full stadiums and donations too, then the schools will get crushed under a mountain of debt they can't pay back....like UM's expansion of the luxury suites.

The words "too big to fail" come to mind here.

[DJ MC]

He would meet some huge resistance, from the league's presidents on down, no doubt. But the simple fact that he would espouse such a notion gives me pause (I couldn't recall his 1996 op-ed, so this was the first I'd heard about his position).

EDIT: The more I think about it, the more I think what Delaney proposes would be almost impossible. Too many, if not all, of his schools have invested way too much money in their athletic infrastructures to cut them off like that. If you suddenly go to a Division III model, removing pretty much all TV revenues, and eventually revenues from full stadiums and donations too, then the schools will get crushed under a mountain of debt they can't pay back....like UM's expansion of the luxury suites.

The words "too big to fail" come to mind here.

No chance the colleges go for it. Even if the presidents don't have him removed from power, the fans themselves would go nuts. We just saw a guy sentenced for poisoning trees at Auburn simply because of that rivalry with Alabama. Somebody would actually try and hurt Delany himself over such an attempt.

Also, I'd like to agree with Staples that, should the Big Ten go down that path, they ought to be applauded. However, considering the reason for it would be such an awful version of taking one's ball and leaving, it would just make them even worse hypocrites then they are now.

[Pedro Cerrano]

Jim Delaney: I'd like our league to resemble DIII

14 school presidents: uh, you're fired?

[BSLMikeLowe]

Also, I'd like to agree with Staples that, should the Big Ten go down that path, they ought to be applauded. However, considering the reason for it would be such an awful version of taking one's ball and leaving, it would just make them even worse hypocrites then they are now.

Yeah, touting the noble idea of de-emphasizing athletics under the principle that universities are higher learning institutions first and foremost is one thing. But when you're just hiding behind that because it really comes down to you not wanting to share your money with those most responsible for helping you to earn it, and cutting off your own limbs in the process, it makes you look downright petty and spiteful. Of course, the ACC/Big 12/SEC/Pac 12 are probably all thinking "Go right ahead, we think it's a great idea! But not for us....we'll be going in a different direction."

[BSLMikeLowe]

One last word: Ask the president of Florida-Gulf Coast if he/she thinks the investment in athletics is worth all of the priceless marketing the school will receive over the next few days.