If I want to pay somebody to mow my lawn, I should be able to. If I want to pay them extra as a bonus for doing a good job, I don't think there's anything wrong with that. I don't think any reasonable person would argue that an organization with no authority over me should have any say about this transaction. The dude who mows the lawn is happy, I'm happy, and my lawn looks great. There are no victims, except for maybe jealous neighbors who didn't bother to fertilize, water and maintain their lawns properly.

If I have a few spare bucks and want to give it to some college kid because he provided something I value, I think that's okay. Maybe he delivered a pizza and I think he deserves a $2 tip. Maybe he detailed my car and I think he deserves $100. Maybe he decided to play football at my alma mater and I think he deserves $1,000 (as a gift in this case; not as compensation). Maybe I also want to thank his mother for giving birth to him, so I give her a car (that her son might have occasional access to). What's wrong with any of these things?

If alumni were not restricted from paying players, I think (mostly) good things would happen.

1. Prices would go down. WAY down. With rules as they are, "dirty" donors often have to give huge sums of money to kids in order to make the risk worthwhile. If everybody was able to freely give money to other adults as both parties saw fit (and without fear of endangering their school), things would just be easier. The market would be wide open, and the money would mean less. The same players would still end up in the same places, but they would enjoy college a little bit more. Do you think San Jose State is suddenly going to become a football dynasty because boosters can finally pay players? Of course you don't. That would be stupid. Big programs will always have the big money. Even if every program was 100% pristine, the SEC would still be better than the Sun Belt. Even if they aren't being paid, kids are going to want to play college sports.

2. Graduation rates would go up. Ever heard of some talented (but not NBA-caliber) point guard who got in trouble for robbing somebody while in college? Of course you have. If they had a few extra bucks in their pockets from people who would gladly give it to them, maybe they wouldn't be robbing pizza guys. And maybe they would have graduated. And maybe they would now have a degree and a career instead of a felony conviction. Who is the victim when this guy gets paid?

3. Generous donors wouldn't have to hide in the shadows thinking up creative ways to assist their beloved schools...and then be shunned for it. These guys are trying to do something nice for people. Help out the program, help out the fans, help out the player and his family. What's so awful about this?

4. If everyone is permitted to have alumni throw money around, there is no competitive advantage. Want more money thrown around your progam? Graduate smarter alumni. It's your motherfucking job in the first place, college.


CLIFFS:

I think adults should be able to give each other money without consequence. Even if one of those adults is a running back.

Some of you may find my take on this absurd. In spite of your silly opinion, this is not a level.

Why are you drunk posting so early in the day?

As an economics major this makes sense to me. However, as you probably you know many people cannot think this way. There should be a shift in the property rights here especially when the benefits are greater than the costs, which in this case they are. I almost think this would be a Pareto improvement if this did happen.

 

Originally Posted by MonkeyCowboy

Why are you drunk posting so early in the day?

Because you touch yourself at night.

 

Originally Posted by nlindley7

Are you serious? Because there shouldn't be a Yankees of college athletics. We ARE talking about UNIVERSITIES after all.

who said the millionaire who graduated from San Jose State cannot give players some money?

All universities have rich alumni who would give money to players. They will still be bottom feeders, but it would still create positive outcomes.

 

Originally Posted by El Burro

2. Graduation rates would go up. Ever heard of some talented (but not NBA-caliber) point guard who got in trouble for robbing somebody while in college? Of course you have. If they had a few extra bucks in their pockets from people who would gladly give it to them, maybe they wouldn't be robbing pizza guys. And maybe they would have graduated. And maybe they would now have a degree and a career instead of a felony conviction. Who is the victim when this guy gets paid?
.

I'm not disagreeing with most of the post, but you can't really believe this. Come on.......

 

Originally Posted by dams

Some guy tipped me 20 bucks today and I felt like a criminal.

Must have been one hell of a lap dance.

EXCEPT... the issue I have with the argument is the same as the NCAA.

You are only gonna tip the running back or the 7'2" from ugotSLAVA.

So, don't even try to tell me you are gonna give the same tip to the dude playin' the piccolo flute in the marching band.

How about this compromise.... CAP all the salaries of Coaches/Administrator and anyone else you wanna add to the list.

With the extra loot... CAP the amount of money the NCAA can keep from all the deals they cut and.... REINVEST EVERY LAST PENNY... and make college FREE for everyone who wants to go.

Ok, before i get off my soapbox. If education was soooo important to those in power (with cash).. then where is an online college that is completely free?

Lectures on podcasts... exam by computer.. etc..etc..etc..

when i take certification classes... oh, never mind. this isn't about me.

I don't feel well.. .i'm sick as a dog... dam* flu....

I HATE GREED but I HATE involuntary PERSONAL wealth distribution even more.

NOW WERE THE HELL ARE MY MEDS???????? aarrgghhh...

(CAn ya tell i feel like crap? good.. GTFO yourself_

oh.. one more thing. I tipped the two furniture delivery guys 20 bucks EACH today.

I'm hoping the smell of fine corinthinan leather on my NEW sofa, love seat, chair and ottoman) chases the flu virus away

i'm sick...leave me alone. or call 911 cuz my temp is 103.5 right now... FFFFFF!!!!!

i'll get back to you in a minute.. let me puke first then I will read your original post... i admit.. i think i read the 1st...2nd...and maybe part of line 6 or 8.. or something.

Just sigh, college athletes get no help from anyone. Then we wonder why they do stupid things for a little pocket change. They can't work a part time job, they can't do anything. At SU, I was treated like a god by the football/basketball players because I got them free cable and some pizzas so they could watch a movie and eat. It's pathetic how bad they got it moneywise if they come from a poor backround.

OP is a pretty novel idea and I am actually shocked the idea of paying college athletes has never been put forth before now.

Kb pays a hundo to get into bars with no cover, he'd prolly pay a point guard 7 billion


Zing!

 

Originally Posted by killingbird

meh, because of my career I did not have to pay to get in to any club. but for you common folk, you were probably looking at $100.

Are you and voorh33s having a contest or something?

 

Originally Posted by El Burro

Because you touch yourself at night.

icwudt

If he touched himself all day long he'd be ok, right?