(applause)
John Donvan:
So very often, to be called an amateur is really kind of an insult. Except in the one place where the term is held to be sacred and that is in college sports. The idea that while they are still students, the men and women who participate in athletics, should only be playing for the love of the game. Classroom comes first, the playing field second, and money stays out of it. Except that we all know that there’s money all over college sports. Coaches are paid in the millions, there are billions in TV contracts, but who does not get paid a salary in all of this? The players themselves. And why not? Well, goes the argument, they’re on scholarship and to pay them to give them salaries would ruin the game. But the other side says, “Well,they’re workers anyway, they’re workers who are earning billions for their universities. It's only fair that they should get paid.” It's a thorny argument that's gone on for a long time, but it's flaring up again now, especially in the wake of corruption scandals.
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