Slow down guy, of course I wasn't forced to play at the threat of being whipped, it's why I said "modern day", but that's not the point.
Let's look at some facts:
- Currently the NCAA produces over $11Billion in annual revenue from college sports, more than the estimated total league revenues of both the NBA and the NHL.
-the NCAA loves to refer to college athletes as "students", the truth is they have no problem with said "students" missing classes due to the NCAA's own tournament schedules. (March Madness can require a "student athlete" to miss up to a quarter of all classes during the spring semester)
- typical Div 1 athlete devotes
43.3 hours per week to his sport (3.3 more hours than the typical American work week.)
- a substantial share of college schools sports revenue stays in the hands of a select few admins, athletic directors, and coaches)
-Success in college sports is also believed to improve the application rates and caliber of admitted students at certain universities. Not only are the college athletes producing the product, they are the best asset towards marketing a school as well.
Free tuition and room and board does not begin to make up for what college athletes provide to their universities in today's age of TV contracts.
Slavery, yes was a bad example (no threat of physical violence), but one can see correlations to picking and producing cotton for the plantation owner, to college athletes and the University. Slaves were give room/board and food as well. Maybe this doesn't totally apply in bball (G league/ Euro) but in football there really is no other option but to play in college.
The only plausible solution might be to take the very best athletes and make a minor league/club akin to European soccer.
The current trajectory of college sports is not sustainable, and the money gap will only increase in the future.
Btw Metsfan, my intellect is just fine, but thanks for your concern...and Go Yankees!!!