yes, youre right.
in a society where every last inch is commoditized to the hilt it is easy to just take the social view of it all and be glad that the little guys = the players = are (legally) getting paid finally.
to me, it is separate issues.
i can be happy that players are getting theirs (i am) and also see that these changes threaten everything that this sport is built on.
in the abstract, yes of course I want these players to be compensated and have a fair share of what they are creating.
but in the frame of what college basketball is - this is not going to work.maybe I have naively bought into the illusion that these players havent been paid since the 70s...but the allure of ncaabb has a lot to do with its amateurism, imo..especially march madness.
i see it in all aspects of US society and its systems. overly convoluted to maintain an image of fairness and openness and honest competition when it is anything but.
hypocritical to the core.
looking through orange-colored glasses, i dont see this as a threat but an advantage...but for the sport as a whole it is really bad news, imo. the orange already have a great brand and tradition - they oughta be able to capitalize big-time on this...in ways other schools have no chance to.
there must be a way to compensate athletes fairly AND also shepard the sport into fairness and high-level competition...but only imo if they drop the charades that they cling to.
just make them professional college athletes and pay them all the same - get snake oil salesman and boosters and grimy coachs and programs out of it...keep the field level...or its going to tip up and sink to the bottom of the ocean, imo.
a million dollar recruit playing against a 50k recruit is just bad business for ncaabb, imo...it wont appeal at all the way the previous model did...maybe i am just idealistic and it wont bother most people...idk...i know i personally wont like it.