Anyone feel sorry for college athletes and pro athletes

[Mr Mojo Lane]

b/c they don't get paid--only a stipend--and some of them are too dumb, so they blow all of their money. I work with a guy that believes we should all feel sorry for a guy like Terrell Owens.

 

[Rimbaud82]

Why would I feel sorry for someone that gets paid loads of money doing what they love, but is so stupid they blow it all? I don't know who Terrell Owens is or what he did...but I doubt I'd feel sorry for if thats what he did.

 

[LilMountain]

The only group I actually feel sorry for are serious college football players who generally dont give a crap about the free education, but basically have to play at a school to be considered by a pro team. I especially feel bad for anyone who sustains a career ending injury during this period. Virtually any other sport though they could skip college if they were good enough, so if they make the choice to get an education or hone their skills more, that's on them.

Pros can go fuck themselves if they dont handle their money well though

 

[UpaLoompa]

The only group I actually feel sorry for are serious college football players who generally dont give a crap about the free education, but basically have to play at a school to be considered by a pro team. I especially feel bad for anyone who sustains a career ending injury during this period. Virtually any other sport though they could skip college if they were good enough, so if they make the choice to get an education or hone their skills more, that's on them.

Pros can go fuck themselves if they dont handle their money well though

I too don't feel particularly sorry for anyone that makes that type of money, a couple years even at the league minimums and you can provide for yourself for a very long time if you're smart about it.

That doesn't mean there aren't problems though. At least for football and basketball the "education" systems are designed such that talented players are pushed through with little to no regard for their actual education and they're often dissuaded from actually pursuing more rigorous degrees. The system is highly exploitative because very few will ever be at a level where playing professional is a realistic dream but that's what they're sold and those aspirations generate massive money for universities and prestige for HS's.

It would be interesting to know the educational and employment outcomes for basketball and football scholarship students. I suspect such numbers aren't kept separate from other scholarship students.

 

[PUO3]

Yes I feel terrible for people who have the opportunity to get free education from the best schools, who otherwise could barely pass a high school GED test.

Top level athletes are spoon fed from a young age. Nothing to feel sorry for.

 

[UpaLoompa]

Yes I feel terrible for people who have the opportunity to get free education from the best schools, who otherwise could barely pass a high school GED test.

Top level athletes are spoon fed from a young age. Nothing to feel sorry for.

You realize their inability to pass a GED test is in part because of their being "spoon fed" from an early age, right? Highly talented kids are exploited pretty much from as soon as they show talent.

Universities aggressively recruit kids that have very little ability to actually benefit from the education they're being offered.

 

[LilMountain]

I too don't feel particularly sorry for anyone that makes that type of money, a couple years even at the league minimums and you can provide for yourself for a very long time if you're smart about it.

That doesn't mean there aren't problems though. At least for football and basketball the "education" systems are designed such that talented players are pushed through with little to no regard for their actual education and they're often dissuaded from actually pursuing more rigorous degrees. The system is highly exploitative because very few will ever be at a level where playing professional is a realistic dream but that's what they're sold and those aspirations generate massive money for universities and prestige for HS's.

It would be interesting to know the educational and employment outcomes for basketball and football scholarship students. I suspect such numbers aren't kept separate from other scholarship students.

Well, again that's on them, there are enough examples to show that if they want to make their education worthwhile they can and it need not impede their athletic career either. If they're only there because they dream of going pro they're getting screwed in terms of not getting a fair return on their value to the university, but the basketball player likely isn't good enough yet as he could have theoretically been drafted out of high school if he was good enough.

Agreed, that would be interesting

 

[faustian]

I think "student athletes" should be paid but I don't feel bad for a derp like Owens who ended up making millions. I feel bad for the majority of student athletes who don't ever make it to the pros or get paid yet have contributed to making millions for their university.

 

[UpaLoompa]

Well, again that's on them, there are enough examples to show that if they want to make their education worthwhile they can and it need not impede their athletic career either. If they're only there because they dream of going pro they're getting screwed in terms of not getting a fair return on their value to the university, but the basketball player likely isn't good enough yet as he could have theoretically been drafted out of high school if he was good enough.

Agreed, that would be interesting

Sure, at an individual level it is on them as individuals and adults. Your stance seems to ignore, however, that these systems actively dissuade these kids from developing that sort of introspection (and the doubt that comes from it). Also, basketball and football players at high level programs do indeed have their education impeded by their athletic careers.

Point being it is not quite so simple.

 

[LilMountain]

Yes I feel terrible for people who have the opportunity to get free education from the best schools, who otherwise could barely pass a high school GED test.

Top level athletes are spoon fed from a young age. Nothing to feel sorry for.

That's exactly why it's of no benefit to them. That's like giving a kid who can't swim an advance scuba class, they're so out of their depth (pun intended) it's of no benefit to them.

 

[faustian]

How is a student on a NCAA basketball team supposed to take advantage of their educational opportunity when they're playing weekday road games and attending practice throughout their college career? It's not very realistic

 

[LilMountain]

Sure, at an individual level it is on them as individuals and adults. Your stance seems to ignore, however, that these systems actively dissuade these kids from developing that sort of introspection (and the doubt that comes from it). Also, basketball and football players at high level programs do indeed have their education impeded by their athletic careers.

Point being it is not quite so simple.

I'm not ignoring it, I'm just of the mindset that one shouldnt look to the system for that introspection, but to friends, family and one's self. The programs definitely don't encourage the students' education, but I dont see them as actively impeding it unless the students allow it.

 

[Mr Mojo Lane]

I too don't feel particularly sorry for anyone that makes that type of money, a couple years even at the league minimums and you can provide for yourself for a very long time if you're smart about it.

That doesn't mean there aren't problems though. At least for football and basketball the "education" systems are designed such that talented players are pushed through with little to no regard for their actual education and they're often dissuaded from actually pursuing more rigorous degrees. The system is highly exploitative because very few will ever be at a level where playing professional is a realistic dream but that's what they're sold and those aspirations generate massive money for universities and prestige for HS's.

It would be interesting to know the educational and employment outcomes for basketball and football scholarship students. I suspect such numbers aren't kept separate from other scholarship students.

Yeah, there are some problems no doubt, but in a way, we are all exploited. No company is going to offer anyone a job unless they think they can make some money off of the situation.

I couldn't even get away with saying that there are no simple solutions. Yeah, they were saying that even someone like Terrell Owens was a victim b/c the coaches didn't allow him enough time in school to learn how to manage his money.

 

[UpaLoompa]

I'm not ignoring it, I'm just of the mindset that one shouldnt look to the system for that introspection, but to friends, family and one's self. The programs definitely don't encourage the students' education, but I dont see them as actively impeding it unless the students allow it.

While not actively impeding education, I do know that coaches have, do, and will continue to suggest particular majors and discourage students from pursuing others. When you've got an 18 or 19 year old kid, the coach is a pretty influential person.

I don't disagree with your general view, by the way, I just think it is worth pointing out that athletics in education is very exploitative on the whole.

 

[Rimbaud82]

Why did the US sports system develop in this way? It really is fucking bizarre that you need to go to uni in order to go into the big leagues. I mean why? As people have said, academia isn't for everyone.

 

[Cantalope]

Why did the US sports system develop in this way? It really is fucking bizarre that you need to go to uni in order to go into the big leagues. I mean why? As people have said, academia isn't for everyone.

It's not about education it's about colleges making money off of said athlete.

 

[OverCoronavirus Pressure]

No.
No fucking way.

 

[PUO3]

You realize their inability to pass a GED test is in part because of their being "spoon fed" from an early age, right? Highly talented kids are exploited pretty much from as soon as they show talent.

Universities aggressively recruit kids that have very little ability to actually benefit from the education they're being offered.

Youre basically rewriting what I said but ok.

 

[PUO3]

That's exactly why it's of no benefit to them. That's like giving a kid who can't swim an advance scuba class, they're so out of their depth (pun intended) it's of no benefit to them.

I dont feel sorry for anyone who is too dumb to take advantage of their privileges and opportunities.

 

[PUO3]

How is a student on a NCAA basketball team supposed to take advantage of their educational opportunity when they're playing weekday road games and attending practice throughout their college career? It's not very realistic

But people who have to work full time jobs, often more than one job, manage to do it. People who still have to actually take care of their own housing, food, etc on top of that.