Should College Athletes Get Paid - Research Paper Example

?Should College Athletes Get Paid? Introduction Truly, the debate on whether college should get paid has been ongoing for a very long time. Both sides of the arguments present many reasons why college athletes should get paid or not. However, the debate seems to become more contested with time since college games and athletics have increasingly attracted income from promoters, sponsors, and advertisers. Whereas, college athletics are part of learning for many students, it is worth noting that some of the college athletes actually go to college due to their special ability and interest in athletics. Therefore, many factors need to be considered while dealing with college athletes. This paper seeks to discuss the issue of paying college athletes. This paper supports that college athletes should actually be paid. One of the most compelling arguments in favor of paying athletes is that college athletics has with time, become a money generating business. College athletics began as a form of exercise and competition for colleges. It was just like any other school event. Students used to hold internal or inter college athletics competitions. However, most of these formalities have changed and business has entered into college athletics. For instance, most of college athletics have attracted advertisers and promoters. It is common to find college athletics being aired on TV (Burget web). Whereas this offers entertainment for the viewers, airing and advertising through college athletics generates a lot of money. Since the athletes are the primary source of the money, they should then be paid. Although proponents argue that athletes usually get paid in form of scholarships, this is not enough compared to what is made through college sports (Alwoods web). It is undeniable that most of the college athletes are actually qualified as their counterparts in professional athletics. This is more evident in colleges that offer college athletics as one of the courses. When these college athletes play in the field, their expertise in athletics is equally the same as that of professional players (Burget web). It therefore, does not seem rational to pay professional players heavily and leave college athletes unpaid. In addition, some of the college athletes have gained fame through great talents. Therefore, they are potential candidates for endorsing and advertising products. It is thus justified to pay them especially noting that athletes have a limited time for fame. Although some critiques argue that it is difficult to determine how much to pay each player, a good mechanism can be devised. It is ironical that athletic organizers can be able to organize college athletics and fail to make a good payment scheme for the players. It is also important to note that most of the college athletes who get into college with scholarship are actually from low-income families. Additionally, most of them are particularly talented in athletics and not in books. Whereas their academically talented counterparts are in class making their future, college athletes are on the field practicing. Therefore, they can hardly get formal employment in the job sector. This makes it important to consider them for payment since athletics is their career. If they do not start to be paid in college, they will hardly make it in life since other better talented athletes will come and replace them with time. However, it is strongly argued that paying college athletes will turn college athletics into businesses such as FIFA. Rich colleges will attract the best talents and other colleges will be denied a chance to nurture their own talents. However, it is worth noting that colleges, including college athletics cannot be run without rules, laws, and regulations. Therefore, efficient and effective control mechanisms can be used to regulate how colleges source for athletes. Figures and statistics show that not all college athletes make to professional teams. This is because college athletes are large in number and therefore, cannot fit in the national or professional teams. Although few make it through, those who are not lucky end up in poverty. It is thus justified to pay them while they are still in college. This way, they will be able to save some money for their studies. If well paid, they can even have enough money to start good businesses when they leave college. Those who do not make it to professional teams will thus be able to establish their lives from college savings. It is true that many colleges do not make profits out of college athletes. Actually, there are colleges that claim to have spent more on athletics programs than what they get out of the athletes. However, college athletics can generate a lot of money through proper management. Additionally, colleges will be able to show more seriousness to college athletics if they are obliged to pay the athletes (Burget web). It is very ironical that coaches and managers who are manage college athletics get paid handsomely. Many of college coaches, trainers and managers make millions of dollars every year. Additionally, coaches get better contracts when their teams perform profoundly (Alwoods web). However, the college athletes, who are the primary source of this money are not paid. Instead, they are offered free education, scholarships, and enticements. If this is the case, coaches should also not be paid. They should also be put on the same scale with the players. Therefore, it is rational to support pay for college athletes. Everybody involved in college athletes, especially coaches, go home with pockets full of money whereas the money generators go home with nothing at all. Lastly college athletes hardly complete their degree programs in time due to the busy schedules in athletics (Alwoods web). This calls for extended learning period for the athletes. However, this comes with additional expenses, which are usually met by the athletes. It is thus important to pay them while still in college so that they can afford to pay for the extended learning period they are left in school after other students have left for the job market. Conclusion Indeed, there is a lot of support for pay for college athletes. Since the athletes are the primary source of athletics money, they should then be paid. College athletes are potential candidates for endorsements and advertising products. It is thus justified to pay them especially noting that athletes have a limited time for fame. If they do not start to be paid in college, they will hardly make it in life since other better talented athletes will come and replace them with time. Athletes should be paid while in college. This way, they will be able to save some money for their studies. If well paid, they can even have enough money to start good businesses when they leave college. Works Cited Alwoods. “Should College Athletes be Paid?” Street Directory. 2007. Web, 29 March 2012. Burget, Joe. “NCAA Football Analysis: Why College Athletes Should Be Paid to Play.” 2011. Web, 29 March 2012. Read More