[ThePassionOfTheChryst]

Here's a thought experiment...

ESPN broadcasts the little league world series every year, which means that organization is making a fair bit of money on the backs of little league athletes.  So, should little leaguers be entitled to some proportion of the TV money?

BC

First, I feel it's pertinent to point out that little leaguers are minors and college athletes are adults, with very few exceptions.  That is a brobdingnagian difference.

Now, there's one thing we have to consider.  Athletes are the only college students who are forbidden from earning money for their skills.  If I'm a talented programmer I can leave school to go work at Google.  If I'm a musician, or an actor, or possess some other remarkable skill, there's nothing stopping me from pursuing a career in that at 18 or 19.  But if I'm a football player, I'm stuck.  I can't go to the NFL, even if there's a market for me.  I can't earn money from my skills.

To answer your question, I wouldn't oppose little leaguers being compensated somehow for their participation.  But the situations are hardly the same.

[ThePassionOfTheChryst]

Here's a thought experiment...

ESPN broadcasts the little league world series every year, which means that organization is making a fair bit of money on the backs of little league athletes.  So, should little leaguers be entitled to some proportion of the TV money?

BC

First, I feel it's pertinent to point out that little leaguers are minors and college athletes are adults, with very few exceptions.  That is a brobdingnagian difference.

Now, there's one thing we have to consider.  Athletes are the only college students who are forbidden from earning money for their skills.  If I'm a talented programmer I can leave school to go work at Google.  If I'm a musician, or an actor, or possess some other remarkable skill, there's nothing stopping me from pursuing a career in that at 18 or 19.  But if I'm a football player, I'm stuck.  I can't go to the NFL, even if there's a market for me.  I can't earn money from my skills.

To answer your question, I wouldn't oppose little leaguers being compensated somehow for their participation.  But the situations are hardly the same.