Debating the controversial issue regarding
the compensation for amateur
athletes is by no means a fresh topic. Prior to 1978, the Amateur Athletic
Union (AAU) ruled as the governing body over sports and athletes intending to
compete in the Olympics. The AAU, like the NCAA, was created to monitor and
protect amateur athletes. The founders of the AAU succeeded in their pursuit to
prevent amateur athletes from the harsh temptations of money and the evils of
professional life. However, while reigning with immense power over defenseless
athletes, AAU officials quickly became corrupt while making significant
fortunes from the labor of amateur athletes.
Unfortunately, truth continually
reveals various people accumulating a healthy salary as a reward from the
dedicated amateur athlete’s hard work and skill. This very injustice
contributes to the possible upheaval of the NCAA. Many who oppose the NCAA
suggest that collegiate athletes be compensated by moving to an “Olympic model.”
Taking that into consideration, it wasn’t so long ago that the United States
and the AAU did not allow its very own Olympic athletes more than a mere $3 a
day. In 1978, the US Congress voted to disband the AAU and opted to allow
amateur athletes the possibility of compensation while being able to
participate in the Olympic Games.
The NCAA has sturdily demonstrated
its intention to not pay student-athletes. This is simply a statement that suggests
amateur athletes have seen this episode before, and they have seen it changed
before.
When I think of AAU I think of select teams made of high school athletes that are playing to get a scholarship for college. Many of these athletes are great players that have a chance to become pro athletes. That being said there are a lot of corrupt people in AAU. You see all the time amateur athletes getting money from scouts or other people for either clothes, cars, or for their family. This is against NCAA rules. I believe that these athletes shouldn’t get paid even though they make their sponsor a lot of money from tournaments won. These athletes at this age should be playing for the love of the game and because of the passion to play college ball that should be good satisfying enough to just get that chance. In today’s society unfortunately this is not true. Athletes and people in general love money and anyway they can get it they will even if it’s against NCAA rules.
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ReplyDeleteTo me, the NCAA is full of a bunch of sticklers. They will suspend athletes, put schools on probation, and make them forfeit wins and scholarships for every little rule violation. They sit here and make hefty financial gains off the student-athletes that play for the universities around the US. Obviously the athletes don’t get paid, but they should, in my opinion. It doesn't have to be a huge sum but give them a stipend and do a little profit sharing for all your hard working “employees (athletes).” At least cover half of their tuition. Furthermore, from what I can tell, no body governs or puts regulations on the NCAA, which is unfair to the universities, athletes, and coaches. Things need to change.
ReplyDeleteI like the purpose and the main intent for AAU. There are many different types of people and organizations who are trying to benefit off of amateur athletes. The people who try to benefit off of young people should be ashamed of themselves. The AAU and the United States didn’t allow Olympic athletes more than $3 a day a while back. I think that was terrible. Athletes are out there putting their bodies on the line and are spending time training and prepare for their competitions. All of that time they spend working on their sport they, could have a job and be making money for their pockets, but they can’t do that. I’m glad it’s changed from $3 dollars a day, but I’m sure it’s probably not near enough money that they deserve.
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