Northwestern players win right to unionize

[methodology]

Or at least cease to exist as we currently know it. I'm OK with that. Why is it incumbent upon the University system to act as the minor league feeder system for the pros?

Colleges/Universities already have the infrastructure and system set up to be the minor leagues for football, bball, etc. The professional leagues, outside of baseball, do not have the desire to spend what it will cost to build that infrastructure and put that system in place. They would have to hire more coaches, trainers, front office people, lease buildings/offices, build/lease stadiums, etc...

Baseball is a different animal and cant be compared as it has had their minor league system set up since the beginning. Also I highly doubt the top players in football and basketball would enjoy playing in the minors like in baseball. The minor leagues in baseball is a horrible living experience for 95% of the minor leaguers. Outside of those drafted who receive large bonuses the rest of the guys are getting paid squat. They cant afford food so they eat like crap, most of them have 2nd jobs outside of baseball to take care of their family and themselves, they live in either host family homes or places worse than dorms, they travel on buses and most of the facilities are not equipped with the essentials for a weight training regiment. Not to mention they are under team control for 6 years and get paid an extreme discount until they are arbitration eligible or FA eligible after the 7th year.

I highly doubt the football players and bball players realize how great they have it right now compared to the lower level minor leaguers in baseball. Let them spend a year or 2 in the minor leagues of baseball and I'm sure they will change their minds of wanting to be paid. They have better housing, better transportation, better weight training and meal programs not to mention they are receiving a free education while making valuable connections for after college.

 

[huskymedic]

Amid Cheers, Union Bid Stirs Concern for Women
http://www.nytimes.com/2014/04/04/s...sports-is-uncertain.html?hpw&rref=sports&_r=0

Read the article, but leave it to Geno (lol):

>>It is expected to be years before the issue of athletes and unions is settled. For now, there are mushrooming questions. If athletes are employees, will colleges have to hire as many female employees as male employees? What job security would athletes have if they did not live up to the conditions of their hiring?

What if a women’s basketball player at Connecticut, for instance, could not provide double figures in points and rebounds as expected?

“I’m actually in favor of paying them, but I’m also in favor of firing them if they’re not any good,” said Coach Geno Auriemma, who is seeking his ninth N.C.A.A. title. “I think that’s fair.”<<

 

[Jimmy Serrano]

I don't think that's true. Universities will still feel compelled to provide a college experience and that college experience could still include both intercollegiate and club sports. Thousands upon thousands of kids could still play sports in college, just not as a feeder system for the pros...and without a $350 million stadium and without a $5 million/year coach. Hundreds of colleges and universities around the nation do that today.

I don’t know how this thing is going to shake out but I assume it will take several years. If, in the end, the existing system is blown up, I’m ok with that. I’m confident that the Jadeveon Clowney’s of the world will still find a place to play football and develop their skills, you as a lover of minor league football will still be able to pay your money to watch him do that, and Wesleyan University will still have an intercollegiate football team and an equestrian club team.

At least you're missing the point by a mile. They will not feel compelled to do anything. Schools will no longer shell out the dough needed to run an athletics program with scholarship athletes. Club sports only. Meaning less kids go to college.

 

[Johnny Mac]

At least you're missing the point by a mile. They will not feel compelled to do anything. Schools will no longer shell out the dough needed to run an athletics program with scholarship athletes. Club sports only. Meaning less kids go to college.

I might be missing your point, but if I am, it's not by a mile. I accept that you think schools will no longer shell out the dough needed to run an athletics program with scholarship athletes. But who is really shelling out the dough? The cost of attending UCONN has increased about 2000% since I graduated and they're still teaching the engineering students from the same books as when I was there. How much of that is due to having to keep up with the Jones'?

What if we blow up the system? How about we create a system for football and basketball like they have in Europe for professional soccer? Double the number of NFL and NBA teams to perhaps 50-60. Get teams in places like OKC, Austin, San Antonio, Portland, San Jose, Columbus, etc. Then, have the NFL and NBA teams scour the planet for 14 year old phenoms, carry the responsibility of educating them, teach them football or basketball, care for them medically. They could have 18U teams, 21U teams, a reserve squad, etc. You'd have a Premier League and a second division with relegation and promotion.

Would the colleges and universities drop all athletic programs for men and women? I doubt it. While my proposal would be a game changer, I feel colleges and universities would continue to offer athletic programs, albeit in a reduced capacity. I need to be convinced that that is a bad thing.

 

[Carl Spackler]

Ha! Geno.

Problem with firing a union employee, is the union. Wouldn't stop Geno though I bet. That's an angle that didn't even occur to me. Probably because I actually like the concept of academics and athletics being symbiotic and not adversarial. But, to fire a union employee, you need to establish a track record of issues that warrant failure and you have to essentially demonstrate proof that it had to be done. If say - UCONN 'hires' an 'unionized athlete' to compete on the women's basketball court, and very clearly lays out "job responsibilities" including things like rebounds, and points and assists - and the player repeatedly fails to meet job standards.......fired.

I like it.

 

[methodology]

I might be missing your point, but if I am, it's not by a mile. I accept that you think schools will no longer shell out the dough needed to run an athletics program with scholarship athletes. But who is really shelling out the dough? The cost of attending UCONN has increased about 2000% since I graduated and they're still teaching the engineering students from the same books as when I was there. How much of that is due to having to keep up with the Jones'?

What if we blow up the system? How about we create a system for football and basketball like they have in Europe for professional soccer? Double the number of NFL and NBA teams to perhaps 50-60. Get teams in places like OKC, Austin, San Antonio, Portland, San Jose, Columbus, etc. Then, have the NFL and NBA teams scour the planet for 14 year old phenoms, carry the responsibility of educating them, teach them football or basketball, care for them medically. They could have 18U teams, 21U teams, a reserve squad, etc. You'd have a Premier League and a second division with relegation and promotion.

Would the colleges and universities drop all athletic programs for men and women? I doubt it. While my proposal would be a game changer, I feel colleges and universities would continue to offer athletic programs, albeit in a reduced capacity. I need to be convinced that that is a bad thing.

Who is funding this minor league system you speak about?

I don't think you are realizing how expensive and how much money NFL and NBA would have to shell out to put a minor league system in place.

If its not the NFL and NBA funding it what incentives do universities have to continue to fund this system?

The NFL and NBA are perfectly happy with the current setup. They don't want to be the ones funding a minor league system.

 

[FAIRTIDES]

Well northwestern isn't non-conforming. They released a statement saying they're going to fight the ruling and they don't agree with it.

And here comes the New York Times and Joe Nocera.

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/04/01/o...in-college-sports.html?partner=rssnyt&emc=rss

 

[Johnny Mac]

Who is funding this minor league system you speak about?

I don't think you are realizing how expensive and how much money NFL and NBA would have to shell out to put a minor league system in place.

If its not the NFL and NBA funding it what incentives do universities have to continue to fund this system?

The NFL and NBA are perfectly happy with the current setup. They don't want to be the ones funding a minor league system.

Of course they are happy with the current system; of course they don't want to fund a minor league system. F'em. They've been printing money for the last 50 years, reaping the benefit of me funding player development. Time for things to change.

 

[J187Money]

I wonder what happens when the IRS decides that the value of the education should be taxed for those in a union.

 

[Carl Spackler]

I wonder what happens when the IRS decides that the value of the education should be taxed for those in a union.

Would put unionized intercollegiate scholarship athletes into an interesting tax bracket - huh?

 

[J187Money]

Would put unionized intercollegiate scholarship athletes into an interesting tax bracket - huh?

Be careful what you wish for? Can't have it both ways.

 

[NotreDameJoe]

I wonder what happens when the IRS decides that the value of the education should be taxed for those in a union.

SIAP but tuition paid is an above the line deduction.

 

[SAMCRO]

If student-athletes feel they're being exploited by the universities, then they shouldn't accept the scholarship. No one is forcing them to. Enroll in college, pay your own way, and play IM or club sports at the school you choose to attend. That way you're no longer being exploited, problem solved.

As for unions, I cannot wait for the first "strike" in college football, and it will happen eventually if they unionize. I'm all for a stipend (always have been) but not as a result of unionization. As others have stated, it would be the last straw for me as well. CR has already lessened my enthusiasm for college sports to the point where I don't watch ESPN unless UConn is playing, and really don't watch much more than UConn games regardless of the network with exception of March Madness. This would put it over the top.

 

[tower1]

This is a showstopper for me. I have battled unions and have seen the destruction they have caused in the Northeast and the Rust Belt states for 20 plus years. I have been physically assaulted, threatened, spat at, had vehicles egged, tires slashed, and have been prevented from entering facilities due to erroneous picket lines. I have seen their actions add up to thousands and thousands of dollars of additional cost to my customers due to her arcane rules and regulations. I have been escorted out of many facilities for violating the most minor union rules, thus costing the customer and companies thousands of additional dollars. I have seen them protect the worst of the worst of employees have no business being employed. There is a reason heavily unionized Northeastern and Rust Belt states are losing population. I really enjoy watching college football. I already cut the cable cord because of what ESPN (I'm from Bristol ) has done to us concerning our conference realignment situation. I won't support ESPN why we are in conference purgatory. I simply will not support college football if it goes to a union pay system. Student athletes receive tens of thousands of dollars a year in compensation in the form of tuition, room and board, full medical, academic support, and numerous other benefits. I have no problem with student athletes receipt of a small stipend. Everything that unions get involved with they simply destroy. It's no surprise this started in Chicago.

uconntailgater
Listening to your anti union RANT, That's why unions exist. To protect employees from people like YOU!