College football’s plantation problem

[mamba]

College football’s plantation problem: The violent game — and billion-dollar industry — where black kids take all the risk for none of the profit

The very idea that our most popular and profitable sport features huge, muscled young men—two-thirds of them African-American—engaging in a contest violent enough to leave many of them brain damaged should be deeply troubling to all of us.

So should the fact that college football has become a billion-dollar industry in which the employees who incur 100 percent of the physical risk receive zero percent of the proceeds.

Instead, they are awarded a free education. But as any college football player at a major program will tell you, that “free education” includes up to 60 hours a week of practice, film study, workout time, conditioning and travel. That’s not counting the games.

Oh, and it’s also not counting classes.

Because let’s be honest: nobody—aside from the player’s family and the odd coach—actually gives a shyt whether players are getting an education. The only reason they’re on campus is to entertain us on Saturday afternoon, to serve as a gladiatorial focal point for our tribal worship of hyper-masculine spectacle.

When it comes to top tier football programs, at least, the term “student-athlete” is a joke. And everybody knows it.

But football hasn’t just distorted our academic priorities. It’s distorted our racial attitudes, as well.

Of course, one of the things that makes sports in general, and football in particular, so alluring is the notion that it’s a color-blind meritocracy. All that matters between the chalk lines is grace, speed, strength and valor—along with the capacity to inflict violence without remorse and to absorb it without complaint. This is all true enough.

But the essential role that football serves in our culture is to provide a massive distraction from the systematic inequality that keeps poor kids—mostly kids of color—locked in a cycle of poverty and incarceration.

Football’s many apologists are constantly justifying their consumption of the sport by proclaiming that it’s a “way out” for “certain kids.”

College football’s plantation problem: The violent game — and billion-dollar industry — where black kids take all the risk for none of the profit

 

[mamba]

 

[Big Blue]

The comparison is fukking dumb and that is a terrible article. Stop marginalizing slavery with this stupidity. Yes, they should be paid, but stop pretending that they aren't getting scholarships and special treatment. Not to mention a stage to present yourself to become millionaires.

 

[Supercoolmayo]

Make millions while they making billions

 

[Schmoove]

Slaves didn't have a choice and college football players aren't getting lashes and hung for not performing.

 

[Schmoove]

But the other similarities are too close for comfort

 

[Remote]

I think it's a crude/sensationalist way to address the problem.

But college athletes should be paid.

 

[tremonthustler1]

I think it's a crude/sensationalist way to address the problem.

But college athletes should be paid.

Morally this is correct. But you know where the money to fund EVERY student-athlete's pay is eventually gonna wind up coming from?

Other students' tuition.

 

[Schmoove]

Morally this is correct. But you know where the money to fund EVERY student-athlete's pay is eventually gonna wind up coming from?

Other students' tuition.

Yep. Its the new "tax"

Some states have regulations on that tho

 

[Remote]

Morally this is correct. But you know where the money to fund EVERY student-athlete's pay is eventually gonna wind up coming from?

Other students' tuition.

Right, that's because of how greedy people operate. Or maybe it's the nature of capitalism.
It's like the thing with fast food restaurants now.
The companies can afford to pay their employees a living wage. But they won't. And if they're forced to, they're going to cut back on employees or raise prices, or bring in kiosks and other machines to do the work.

But to blame this on the athletes is misguided.
Colleges already pass on tuition costs to students when they hire professors and coaches and other administrative "talent". Or when they make upgrades to the campus. And none of those areas are responsible for the revenues the colleges generate the way these athletes are.

The solution isn't: Let's keep things the way they are because they might raise rates.

 

[Serious]

@CrimsonTider

 

[CrimsonTider]

@CrimsonTider

This makes light of actual slaverly

The players should be paid. period.

@tremonthustler1 theres sensible ways of paying players