Introduction
Background
There is a different perspective of this issue that differs with this opinion and says that college athletes deserve everything that other players and sports persons get. They need to be paid so that they could improve their performance in sports. Diet, training, exercise and equipments cost a lot and if sportspersons are not paid substantially, they will not be able to carry out their sports activities. People who believe in this opinion say that college athletes should never face lack of resources else their performance will be severely affected and it will also discourage teenagers who want to do something in the field of sports.
Major reasons why college athletes should be paid
There are various reasons why college athletes should be paid and the first reason is their time and efforts. College athletes do not spend less than forty to fifty hours per week in practicing. They rigorously work during their exercises and physical trainings. Tough training of college athletes make them tired both physically and mentally. If their efforts are taken into consideration they do not work less than people who are doing full time jobs. If college athletes work like full time employees why they should not be paid like full timers. Good payment is a right of college athletes and they should not be deprived of their rights (Gregory).
Various tournaments that NCAA organizes compel college athletes to miss their classes. College athletes do not have any option than missing their classes for these tournaments with hope of getting money, reputation and pride of their college. If they are not paid why would they compromise with their studies and their future? Sacrifice and contributions of college athletes should not go unrewarded in any case. Like other people, college athletes also help a college in growing. They should be paid similarly like other people because of their contributions towards sports and towards their college.
Considering the increasing importance of sports in the world, sports persons should be encouraged to play games. Inciting them from childhood is a good option and rewarding college athletes may influence other teenagers to play games and winning medals for their college and nations at a later stage. Not paying college athletes may discourage teenagers from participating in sports. College athletes should be encouraged by paying them amply for their expense of dieting, lodging, training and all other expenses.
Colleges are earning huge money by the participation of college athletes. College athletes are the most important part of this whole scenario. If college athletes are not paid amply and this fact becomes public, sponsors and other parties may stop paying the money and it will certainly affect the functioning of colleges, as well as, various sports activities. Paying college athletes is the most effective medium of making all these activities continued.
Contradictory opinion
Having considered all the efforts and contributions of college athletes in sports, it is right to say that college athletes should be paid but at the same time other aspects of this issue cannot be ignored. Increasing money in college life has converted college athletes into money making machines. They get enough money but desire to get even more (Block). College athletes do not hesitate from indulging in corrupt practices. There are several cases that suggest involvement of college athletes in corruption activities. College athletes earn a huge amount of money and this money distorts the face of sports (Barrett). All associated parties including college authorities and private companies convert college sports into money minting activity and college athletes become a medium of their manipulations. College athletes get ample money in their college life and indulge in numerous unwanted activities. College athletes may be distracted from sports because of huge money that they get in immature stage of their life (Branch).
Atwell (2012) mentioned that huge payment to college athletes creating several challenges and colleges & universities have become more of entertainment enterprises. According to the author, good payment attracts attention of the players and they prefer games over their study. A huge number of student dropouts from the college just to play basketball or football. It is observed that student who make sports as their main career often do not focus towards education. Payment to the college athletes keeps large number of students aloof from good academics (Atwell).
Analysis
There are two opinions on this issue that talk differently but if both are analyzed, there are certain reasons behind both of them. College students are not mature enough and it has been observed in various cases that when teenagers get excessive money, they incline towards negative activities. But at the same time, the fact cannot be overlooked that college athletes need money in order to carry out their activities. College athletes need huge money because sports are a costly affair and require a lot of money. College students must e paid, not excessively, but substantially.
Currently college athletes are paid enormously and this has been a bone of contention. Many people say that college students are paid exceedingly and it represents wrong examples before our society. Due to their heavy pay, every youngster aspires to become a sportsperson instead of a doctor, engineer or manager. If this trend continues our society will face a difficult situation in the future. College athletes are not serving our society and they have no contribution in the making of our society like teachers or engineers but they are paid enormously and this fact is embarrassing. But the same time, it becomes imminent saying that merely criticizing high payments of college athletes is not reasonable and the issue should be considered more reasonably. The traditional opinion is that why college athletes should be paid for playing but there is a need for analyzing the growing needs and challenges in new perspectives. Now people should start thinking why college athletes should not be paid equal to other athletes and sports persons.
Conclusion
After observing the abovementioned analysis, it can be concluded that efforts and contributions of college athletes cannot be underestimated. They do not only play for pride of their colleges but also earn huge money for their colleges. College athletes earn billions of dollars for their colleges every year that ensures smooth functioning of colleges. College athletes play the most important role in making money but they are not the sole beneficiary. This money benefits various related parties. College athletes put a lot of things on stake in order to play for their colleges. They miss their classes, studies and even examinations in order to play and compromise with their future. Considering their efforts and contributions, college athletes should be paid.
Works Cited
Atwell, Robert. "College Athletics." Change: The Magazine of Higher Learning, 44(4) (2012): 7. Print.
Barrett, T. G. "Pay for Play: a History of Big-Time College Athletic Reform." American Educational History Journal, 40 (2013): 385-390. Print.
Block, Molly. "College Athletes Should Not Receive Pay for Playing." <i></i>. 10 Sept. ." n.d. Star.txstate.edu. 11 November 2014.
Branch, Taylor. "The Shame of College Sports." Atlantic (7 Sept. 2011). Print.
Gregory, Sean. "Some College Athletes Will Now Get Paid-a Little." 7 Aug 2014. Time.com. Electronic. 11 November 2014.
Johnson, D. A. and Acquaviva, J. "Point/counterpoint: paying college athletes." The Sport Journal, 15(1) (2012). Print.
Parent, Christopher M. "Forward Progress - An Analysis of Whether Student-Athletes Should Be Paid." Sports & Entertainment L. Journal (2003-04): 226-256. Print.
Weaver, Karen. "A Game Change: Paying for Big-Time College Sports." Change: the Magazine of Higher Learning. 43(1) (2011): 14-21. print.
