[chimera]

Stephanie White, head coach of the Indiana Fever, said this about the current circumstances of collegiate basketball, “Basketball wasn’t built on contracts and bidding wars — it was built on sweat, loyalty, and legacy. Now the game is drifting into a marketplace where the highest bidder wins, not the most committed team. If this continues, what once was a brotherhood of passion will become nothing more than a business fueled by money, not meaning.”
From my vantage point, White’s fear has already manifested and there doesn’t seem to be any avenue for return. What was once an exciting world of collegiate sports, has, for this fan, become an irreparable travesty.

I don't want this to be true.  But it is.

Same.  I have lost most of my interest in college sports.  They are just pro sports with no rules, just a wild west or musical chairs every season.  Education has very little to do with it, just where is the money and is the system one that gives playing time or a certain style, whatever.  If I was boss of the world, I'd make it so anyone of any age who was good enough could be a pro in FB, the NBA, whatever.  If you are 14 and good enough, go for it.  If you want to play in college, all you get is your scholarship plus the (hopefully) expert coaching to help you improve, and maybe an additional small stipend, same for all.  You'd get one free transfer but after that you have to sit out a year unless something very bad happened like an abusive coach.  You get 5 years to play four seasons, no more even if you miss time due to injury.  No more 25 year-olds playing against 18 year-olds.  If you want to make money at sports, you can be a pro but you can't be a pro in college like now.  If the NBA and NFL don't like that their developmental league (college) is gone, they can create or change their own and pay those players for playing in those leagues.  

I find it utterly ridiculous that some college players who are not good enough to be in the NFL or NBA (or WNBA in some cases) make as much or more than NFL or NBA or WNBA players who are way better at their sport just because so many colleges are chasing players and overpaying for them.  I don't fault players for getting what money they can.  System is broken.  I also don't think that hopping around between different schools looking for a bigger pay day or a perfect system is great for young people.  Not good for academics and very stressful I imagine for many of them.  Not to mention what this all does to fans.  Who do I root for now?  Just anyone who wears my team's jersey in any season?  I don't enjoy that.  I don't think most college athletes are doing anything particularly valuable or deserving payment beyond a scholarship, which at some schools is worth almost 100k a year.  That's plenty enough.

Rant over.

[chimera]

Stephanie White, head coach of the Indiana Fever, said this about the current circumstances of collegiate basketball, “Basketball wasn’t built on contracts and bidding wars — it was built on sweat, loyalty, and legacy. Now the game is drifting into a marketplace where the highest bidder wins, not the most committed team. If this continues, what once was a brotherhood of passion will become nothing more than a business fueled by money, not meaning.”
From my vantage point, White’s fear has already manifested and there doesn’t seem to be any avenue for return. What was once an exciting world of collegiate sports, has, for this fan, become an irreparable travesty.

I don't want this to be true.  But it is.

Same.  I have lost most of my interest in college sports.  They are just pro sports with no rules, just a wild west or musical chairs every season.  Education has very little to do with it, just where is the money and is the system one that gives playing time or a certain style, whatever.  If I was boss of the world, I'd make it so anyone of any age who was good enough could be a pro in FB, the NBA, whatever.  If you are 14 and good enough, go for it.  If you want to play in college, all you get is your scholarship plus the (hopefully) expert coaching to help you improve, and maybe an additional small stipend, same for all.  You'd get one free transfer but after that you have to sit out a year unless something very bad happened like an abusive coach.  You get 5 years to play four seasons, no more even if you miss time due to injury.  No more 25 year-olds playing against 18 year-olds.  If you want to make money at sports, you can be a pro but you can't be a pro in college like now.  If the NBA and NFL don't like that their developmental league (college) is gone, they can create or change their own and pay those players for playing in those leagues.  

I find it utterly ridiculous that some college players who are not good enough to be in the NFL or NBA (or WNBA in some cases) make as much or more than NFL or NBA or WNBA players who are way better at their sport just because so many colleges are chasing players and overpaying for them.  I don't fault players for getting what money they can.  System is broken.  I also don't think that hopping around between different schools looking for a bigger pay day or a perfect system is great for young people.  Not good for academics and very stressful I imagine for many of them.  Not to mention what this all does to fans.  Who do I root for now?  Just anyone who wears my team's jersey in any season?  I don't enjoy that.  I don't think most college athletes are doing anything particularly valuable or deserving payment beyond a scholarship, which at some schools is worth almost 100k a year.  That's plenty enough.

Rant over.