More than a Game
There is an industry where individuals can earn more than $1 million per year. In fact, an individual who is exceptionally talented, and works extra hard, can increase their earnings to up to 35 million dollars. While a job in this industry seems very attractive to most people, there are some downsides. For one, the average career in this industry is less than 5 years. The job constantly exposes you to bodily harm. Many of these work related injuries will end your career in the industry, and some of the harm sustained by individuals will have detrimental effects on their long term health. Secondly, most individuals are not physically or mentally fit, only the exceptional will be able to perform in this industry. If you do not possess the natural ability, there is no amount of training that will adequately prepare you to be successful in this industry. And finally, there is a regulatory body that has mandated that you must complete an unpaid apprenticeship between one and four years long. In this apprenticeship, you will be exposed to the same risks that you will experience in your actual job capacity. If you happen to succumb to one of these risks in your apprenticeship, you are just out of luck. There is no safety net, no worker’s compensation; your potential for future earnings has ended without having the chance to use your skill to earn any income. You must now find a new industry in which to make a living.
The regulatory body places strict rules on all its apprentices. The apprentices are to make no money whatsoever. They are still expected to go to work and produce, but all their earnings will go directly to the regulatory body and the companies they are apprenticing for. The apprentices will be subject to long hours of work, little food, cramped housing, expected to work on holidays such as Thanksgiving and Christmas, while also attending educational seminars put on by the companies. Furthermore, the majority of these apprentices who hope to earn a substantial income one day are African-Americans, and many come from areas that are extremely impoverished. The allure of escaping poverty is hard to resist. This industry is a means to escape poverty, and many African-Americans have escaped poverty through this industry and have gone on to become rich, famous, and powerful, and then used their influence to continue to help the communities they came from. However, the regulatory body controls access to the industry, and you must adhere to their rules and regulations in order to have a shot.
The apprentices can choose to do their apprenticeships at various companies around the country. Each company hires managers to oversee the apprentices, and these managers can make upwards of $10 million per year. Most of these managers, unlike the apprentices, are white. Last year the regulatory body, by benefitting off the unpaid labor of these apprentices, reported a revenue of $1 billion. On its face, this industry may seem very unfair, and even predatory. The regulatory body is taking advantage of these potential apprentices just looking for a way to utilize their skills in order to achieve social mobility for themselves and their families. However, this industry is one that is one that is revered in the United States, and the regulatory body plays a part in our culture.
Some may have realized by now, but the regulatory body I am alluding to is the NCAA. The managers are actually the coaches, and the apprentices are student-athletes, specifically those participating in men’s basketball and football (the two most profitable sports). These student-athletes are forced to attend college before being eligible to be a professional athlete. When we characterize Division-I college athletics in this manner, it is difficult to rationalize the way student-athletes are treated. Yet the debate of whether student-athletes should be paid is a spirited one, with passionate stakeholders on each side.
I was an NCAA student-athlete in undergrad, playing basketball at Millsaps College. While my college was smaller than the more notable universities (Division-III as opposed to Division-I), I believe I still have a good understanding from my experience as to what a student-athlete has to go through to be successful in their sport but also in the classroom.
Athletes who attend an NCAA Division-I university as a student athlete may or may not have ambitions of playing their sport professionally. However, those who do have the ability to play at the next level are forced to go through the NCAA funnel to enter the world of professional sports. While there are other alternatives to enter professional sports leagues, these alternatives consist of playing your sport on another continent. On top of being heavily burdensome, opting to play overseas rather than attend a traditional university is a riskier option. Additionally, this overseas alternative is only available to basketball players, no such alternative exists for football players.
As I explained in the hypothetical introduction, these student-athletes are subjecting themselves to potential injuries that could significantly decrease their opportunities for a career, or even completely end their careers. These injuries are more common in football than basketball. Additionally, we now have the scientific studies to confirm the dangers of concussions that occur while playing football, and the long term health effects it can have on the brain and brain development. In order to utilize their skills, they must be exposed to these hazards which could potentially ruin their futures.
Student-athletes face harsh conditions while at schools, this is well documented, and I can confirm from my own experience. College on its own can be a challenge to navigate and find success, but these athletes have to face these challenges while also dedicating up to 40 hours a week to their sport. On top of this, the African-American student-athletes often find themselves as the minority of the student body, which can pose a whole new set of problems.
These are all relevant problems that NCAA student athletes face, but the issue I would like to focus on is the problematic paternalism of the NCAA. This organization purports to be a non-profit organization, yet they do a remarkable job in making a profit. According to their “core values”, the collegiate model of athletics is one where students participate as an “avocation”.
This seems highly hypocritical. The NCAA has realized the economic power of a talented player. A top recruit, whether it be in football or basketball, through his athletic performance can net the university millions of dollars. The NCAA and the university, through their policy of amateurism, have ensured that they can keep all this revenue for themselves. This model should be familiar to Americans. A rigid system where African-Americans are not entitled to the fruits of their labor, but rather the white overseers take the profits for themselves with the reasoning that that white overseers know what is best of the African-American workers.
There is somewhat of a national debate on the issue of paying college athletes. The Washington Post conducted a poll in August of 2017 on this very issue. They found that one’s race is the best predictor on whether someone would support paying college athletes. Fifty-four percent of African-Americans would approve of compensating college athletes compared to only thirty-one percent of whites.
Political scientist Tatishe Nteta found that negative racial views towards blacks was the single strongest predictor of white opposition to paying athletes. Through her research, she believes it may be because a policy of paying college athletes would be seen as a policy directly benefiting African-Americans. There is a long history of whites voicing strong opposition to policies where African-Americans are the beneficiaries. It is a direct challenge to their white privilege, and when one is used to privilege, equality can seem like oppression.
This line of reasoning makes me think of the Derrick Bell short story “Space Traders”. In the short film directed by Reginald Hudlin, there is a scene where the main character is attempting to convince a congregation of African-Americans of his unorthodox plan. This plan consists of convincing the white people that African-Americans would prosper under the Aliens; that this space trade was an ultimate benefit to African-Americans. His reasoning was that white people would oppose the trade because they cannot stand to see African-Americans have anything that white people cannot have. I think there are similarities here. While paying college athletes would actually help many white student-athletes (who make up a sizable portion of this population), it is the optics that matter. This policy is perceived to directly benefit African-Americans, which is the reason for its unpopularity among whites.
The other aspect to this debate is the view of the black athlete in America. According to many whites, black athletes should be grateful for their wealth and opportunity. White people feel as though they are owed thanks for the position that black athletes are in. When it comes to college athletes, white people believe that a college scholarship is more than enough compensation for their athletic performance.
There are several problems and many possible solutions to this problem. I think the easiest and most common-sense solution is to allow the free-market to dictate whether, and how much, these players should get paid. Any rational person can see that these athletes bring in a ridiculous amount of money for these schools and the NCAA, and they should be justly compensated. They should not have to rely on underground black-markets to receive the compensation they deserve, because when they are caught, it is often the players not the institutions who suffer.
It is march, and that means March Madness, the annual college basketball tournament is upon us. Millions of Americans will fill out a bracket and enjoy watching the basketball games with family and friends. But let us not forget that the NCAA makes a bulk of its revenue from this tournament. And while the white collar executives in the box suites are raking in the big bucks, the players who are sweating on the floor are entitled to nothing besides the opportunity to attend class next week. The plight of the NCAA student-athlete is not often analyzed through a racial lens, but I believe it is worthwhile to do so.
