Analysis: Why Athletes Should Be Paid

College sports are one of the largest and fastest growing markets in today’s culture. With some college sports games attracting more viewers than their professional counterparts, the NCAA is one of the most profiting organizations in America. Recently there has been controversy in the world of college sports as to whether the college athletes that are making their universities and the NCAA money should receive payment while they are playing their respective sport. Many believe that these athletes should be paid. Others argue that they are already receiving numerous benefits for playing that sport from their universities. Many of the proponents of paying college athletes are current or former college athletes who believe their hard work and hours put into practice and competing go under appreciated. They feel that while the athletes are making the university money, the athletes do not receive any cut of these profits. Opponents feel that athletes already receive numerous perks and should not receive extra compensation on top of the perks they already receive.

Abstract:  Collegiate athletes participating in the two revenue sports (football, men's basketball) sacrifice their time, education, and risk physical harm for their respected programs. The players are controlled by a governing body (NCAA) that dictates when they can show up to work, and when they cannot show up for work. They are restricted from making any substantial financial gains outside of their sports arena. These athletes receive no compensation for their efforts, while others prosper from their abilities. The athletes participating in the two revenue sports of college athletics, football and men's basketball should be compensated for their time, dedication, and work put forth in their respected sports.

Athletes are dominated, managed, and controlled. They do not receive a wage compensation for their contribution to economic returns. Athletes are sometimes mistreated physically and mentally; and denied rights and freedoms of other citizens. The debate over whether or not to pay collegiate athletes, specifically Division 1, has increased greatly. Many people believe college athletic associations; such as the NCAA (National Collegiate Athletic Associations) treat college athletes unfairly. College athletes have been dedicating time, hard work, and much more to their schools' athletic departments. People are making millions of dollars off of these athletes while, they are living in poverty. Things need to change; these players need to

Athletes are overpaid by their couches and businesses just for playing in their team’s games and doing commercials. Even after they retire they still make more money than they work for. They are paid millions every year, Shaqeel Oneel made enough money that he could hire builders to make him a full sized basketball court in his basement. Furthermore, Peyton Manning makes about 700 thousand after he retired. Most athletes don’t know how to handle that much money a pro football player bought a Ferrari even though he didn’t know how to drive. Another pro NFL player spent 30 thousand dollars on earrings. Some pro athletes know how to spend money a few athletes invested their money in companies. Other athletes donated to charities and other organizations. Few athletes do

Every athlete has experienced winning and losing, and most can tell you that money is the last thing on their mind after a win. “About two percent of high school athletes are awarded athletic scholarships to compete in college” (NCAA, 2011). Common sense tells people that it is a privilege to get to play at the collegiate level as well as to be awarded an athletic scholarship. Being given such an opportunity should not be taken for granted. College athletics are driven by passion and desire to succeed, through research this paper will address a lot of different issues, from if college athletes should be paid and why, as well as the consequences of them being paid for everybody

Sports were created for the enjoyment of beings and friendly competition. Today society has shifted the friendly competition to more of a money based system rather than fun and games. The typical athletes’ road to success is starting from a young age, playing in high school, and then receiving a scholarship for College and all athletes overall objective is to constantly get better and play professionally. Universities have really manipulated athletes in the world today giving them “free education” for the exchange of their blood, sweet, and tears, while they receive revenue that athletes bring in yearly. It is very evident that College athletes deserve to be paid, and universities need to find a way to pay them a reasonably amount because

The authors begin the article discussing the creation of the NCAA and how they came to the creation of their amateurism laws, providing a background to as to why college athletes are not allowed to receive any form of monetary payment. Johnson and Acquaviva then present five arguments as to why college athletes should not be compensated. These arguments are that athletes are being paid with their education, new issues would arise with fair pay if college athletes were compensated, college athletes are receiving more than just an education, paying college athletes would eliminate competition, and that college athletes already know what to expect when they sign to play for a university. The authors then provide counter arguments that help to prove that college athletes should be paid for their play. These are that the cost of living is not covered in college scholarships, college athletes don’t understand that they will be set aside if they are injured or benched, and college athletes do not receive more than an education due to their full schedules. The authors then explain some of the plans that could help to fairly compensate college athletes, such as allowing them to receive endorsement deals. Finally, Johnson and

One of the most important choices a person if given throughout their life is the choice of what college to go to and what to study. Few people are gifted with athletic talents that allow them to receive an athletic scholarship to pay for their college expenses. When it comes to the issue of whether a college athlete should be paid one can see that the players are being cheated out but the NCAA. The NCAA could very easily incorporate a system in which the athletes could earn a salary while playing their sport which earns their school money.

College athletes should not be paid six figure salaries each year. Instead, the American people as a whole should recognize the fact that Division 1 universities are generating millions of dollars in profit and still do not want to reward the young men who earn this money for them. It defies all sane logic that an organization “dedicated to the well-being and lifelong success of college athletes” (Jacobs) proudly defends its exploitation of these young men, as sports fans across the country look the other

This scholarly article by Debra Blum attempts to legitimize the argument that athletes should be compensated for their hard work from the perspective of former Duke University player Dick DeVenzio. It describes his struggle in day to day life and shows that players need to receive compensation to survive. This source provides primary source evidence for my argument.

Every Saturday this fall, quarterback C.J. Beathard puts on his uniform of black and gold for the University of Iowa football team and works hard at his job for his beloved Hawkeyes, all the while being battered and bruised in his line of work. Similarly, quarterback Tom Brady of the New England Patriots in the National Football League (NFL) faces comparable work-related physical abuse in his job as a football player. Although these two athletes are alike in many ways, there is one major difference. Tom Brady is paid over $20,000,000 per year, while C.J. Beathard is working for free being compensated only by an athletic scholarship. Imagine getting paid for playing the sport you love. Professional athletes can. They are highly paid for their skill and expertise. They are a symbol for their organization, have name recognition, and represent commercial interests for lucrative contracts. When athletes make money for their teams, they deserve to be compensated for their efforts, which professional athletes are. College athletes, on the other hand, do not receive the same sort of consideration. In major college markets, athletes represent their schools and have key name recognition. The schools make money from the hard work of these student athletes. Fans from all around come to see their favorite school and athletes play to win against the hated opposition. Colleges and universities earn substantial profits from the commitment of their sports teams’ players, but pay out little

In today’s society many will argue whether or not professional athletes are overpaid. In the present time athletes are being paid phenomenally large amounts of money for their entertainment. It is my claim that all professional athletes are overpaid because they do not offer society an essential function that improves or enhances our world in comparison to other professionals such as medical doctors, lawyers, and teachers. Society does not value entertainment enough to warrant such high salaries such as those of many professional athletes. There is no reason that these athletes should demand these tremendous amounts of money. This is why you have to put into question their reasoning for demanding

Did you know that a Cardiothoracic surgeon in the Atlanta area only makes 2% of what professional football player, Michael Vick, makes? Depending on the terms and clauses in a player’s contract, unforeseen circumstances that leave them benched, such as an injury or a performance defect, may not negatively impact his or her wallet. It is believed by Mackenzie Carro that they deserve how much money they get, however, some people think that these athletes are getting paid way too much. Worldwide athletes are being much too overpaid in today’s generation due to the need for entertainment.

The passages present a discussion about arguments concerning whether or not professional athletes are overpaid. This is an important debate since professional sports represents a multi-billion-dollar-per-year industry. The two positions argue whether or not professional athletes should be paid the large yearly salaries they are paid. Both viewpoints have valid claims warranting consideration. For example, evidence suggests that people with far more important jobs are paid much less than professional athletes; in contrast, opposing evidence suggests that since professional athletes generally have short careers and must train very hard to build and maintain their skills, the higher salary is justified. While both sides of the issue have valid points, the viewpoint that professional athletes are not overpaid is the best-supported position, the position supported by the preponderance of the evidence cited in the passages. The strongest and best reasons supporting this position are that professional athletes must endure grueling and intensive training, they generally have short careers that often end in injury, and the amount that they are thought to be paid is often inflated. Accordingly, these reasons and opposing viewpoints will be discussed next.

In recent years, it is acknowledged that sport professionals earn huge salaries that exceed other respected professionals by far. This situation has sparked a heated debate with opinions on both sides, in favor and against.