Bizarre. I used to respect Etan, but not so much now.
The 'article' is poorly written, misinformed, biased, and not well-reasoned.
Let's skip the obvious error in stating that a commercial "grossed" monies. Not sure what is expected in that circumstance anyway. Should we allow amateurs/collegiate athletes to make money on sports-related activities? How easily corruptible would the 'system' be in that case? Schools with the biggest 'recruiting budgets' would have a ridiculous advantage. There are so many ways to funnel money to players, and NCAA resources for investigating them are already too limited and slow to respond. To suggest that it's 'okay' for Samuels to have received the $200 "to feed his family" is just silly. Where, then, is the line? Is it random? Is it to be assessed on a case-by-case basis? You either have a rule or you don't.
Draconian measures? Imperialistic edicts? Jeez. These kids come from nowhere, are given not only an incredibly expensive education, but opportunities that really have no price. How many wealthy SU students would pay $100,000 for the opportunity to run out onto the Carrier Dome floor, being cheered by 30,000 people, in front of a tv audience of another 3 million, then parlay that 'glory' into the corresponding response from the ladies at the bar that night and for the rest of his SU career... then parlay, further, the personal and professional contacts accumulated during those four years? What's that worth? And, that's not even factoring in the chance to build your own brand toward a career in the NBA, where you'd be paid millions of dollars to play a game.
Yes, there are a lot of rules and restrictions attached. And, just like any other worthwhile opportunity, there is an incumbent responsibility to adhere to those restrictions. There shouldn't be any crying about it when you can't meet that obligation.
The one bit for which i do have sympathy is the item where a scholarship athlete can have a scholarship rescinded following any injury suffered during the practice or exercise of that sport, if that athlete can no longer perform at the necessary level. That shouldn't be the case. I wonder why there isn't an 'injury reserve' type of scholarship exception, whereby the athlete can continue to advance his education, but the school/team doesn't lose a player... There's no reason why, even with the tremendous financial implications, that education shouldn't still be the primary objective.
