Northwestern Players Win Bid To Unionize

[jaxvid]

In a potentially game-changing moment for college athletics, the Chicago district of the National Labor Relations Board ruled on Wednesday that Northwestern football players qualify as employees of the university and can unionize.


NLRB regional director Peter Sung Ohr cited the players' time commitment to their sport and the fact that their scholarships were tied directly to their performance on the field as reasons for granting them union rights.


Ohr wrote in his ruling that the players "fall squarely within the [National Labor Relations] Act's broad definition of 'employee' when one considers the common law definition of 'employee.'" Ohr ruled that the players can hold a vote on whether they want to be represented by the College Athletes Players Association, which brought the case to the NLRB along with former Wildcats quarterback Kain Colter and the United Steelworkers union.



http://espn.go.com/college-football...rn-wildcats-football-players-win-bid-unionize

 

[Riddlewire]

I can't see anything good coming from this.

Except maybe the eventual elimination of college athletics (which I'm in favor of).

 

[davidholly]

Alternate title for this topic, "Northwestern Players Win Bid To Destroy Team".

 

[Riddlewire]

After considering the matter for a day and listening to a lawyer podcast about it, I'm convinced this outcome, if not eventually struck down by the Supreme Court, will destroy college athletics. At the very least, Title IX will guarantee that.

 

[Leonardfan]

Honestly as corrupt as the NCAA is, this just shows the mentality of these spoiled, entitled college kids. Seems like the ring leader is mulatto Kain Colter. They should not be offered full scholarships anymore, they don't appreciate the fact they get to go to college for free - that is payment enough.

 

[Don Wassall]

The players at major college football programs are no more "amateurs" than are many of the U.S. athletes at the Summer and Winter Olympics. The big schools make lots of money off of their football programs, which serve as the equivalent of the minor leagues that baseball and hockey utilize. The vast majority of black players in particular are not "student-athletes" and don't think of themselves as such -- their purpose is to use the university as a stepping stone to the NFL. College football has been turned into corporatized big business like every other facet of society.

The solution would be for the NFL (and NBA) to have minor leagues and let college programs be based on the principles of amateurism again, but no way that's going to happen short of a revolution. I'm for anything that would help end the institutionalized discrimination against Whites in sports, but paying college football players probably isn't going to help; in fact, it would likely turn big-time college football into even more of a racial entitlement program for blacks than it already is.

 

[Awake in America]

If they start paying the players, then the entire facade of "student-athlete" falls apart. That is probably a good thing. It's a complete joke, and pretty much everyone knows it. If they pay the football players, they have to pay them all, and it's not going to be a stipend; not when it comes out of collective bargaining. Let it all burn down. :icon_twisted:

 

[davidholly]

These athletes are shooting themselves in the foot. They've got riches in their mind but the truth is the average college athlete isn't all that valuable. Take a look at leagues like the CFL, many of its athletes were top tier college players but now they only make about $82,000 a year. Most of these college athletes aren't even good enough to be in the CFL let alone the NFL.

Let's say the average college athlete is only worth about $25,000 a year and that's being charitable. He loses his full ride scholarship now. He now has to pay income tax, social security and all those other programs. He has to pay for his own food, housing and other basic needs. Once it's all said and done he'll probably be in a worse off state than when he wasn't getting paid.

 

[Deus Vult]

These athletes are shooting themselves in the foot. They've got riches in their mind but the truth is the average college athlete isn't all that valuable....
... He loses his full ride scholarship now. He now has to pay income tax, social security and all those other programs. He has to pay for his own food, housing and other basic needs. Once it's all said and done he'll probably be in a worse off state than when he wasn't getting paid.

These deluded children, NCAA athletes who think they are underpaid, who whine about exploitation, really have no grasp on the expense side of the equation. They don't value the tremendous perqs they receive, along with the tuition ride.

 

[Leonardfan]

Honestly, when it comes to college athletes I stop with the fact they are given athletic scholarships, that for the most part are wasted on people who cannot read past a 6th grade level. They are given to blacks who are recruited for football due to their skin color only - it has nothing to do with academic merit. Look at all the white walk-ons who have had to pay to play football.

The value of these scholarships depending on the school can be between 10-15 k a semester (for a state school) and much higher (15-30k) for private institutions. Granted those are guesstimates but I would say the range is fairly accurate. Over four years (given they actually stay and do not fail out) we are talking a 100k plus paid for their "education". The fact that these players are complaining about this illustrates the farce that is the student athlete (in basketball and football anyways). Who's fault is it if these bums cannot grasp the value of a FREE education? Why are schools allowing them to be recruited and signed as students (i know the answer $$$). It baffles me that alumni, students and parents paying money to these colleges do not complain. If they decide to let these players make money from football generated income that is fine, but they should either have the choice to have a full ride and take advantage of free education or just get paid and spend their money frivolously and ultimately screw themselves over after two-three years of playing college football. They can't have it both ways.

 

[white is right]

These athletes are shooting themselves in the foot. They've got riches in their mind but the truth is the average college athlete isn't all that valuable. Take a look at leagues like the CFL, many of its athletes were top tier college players but now they only make about $82,000 a year. Most of these college athletes aren't even good enough to be in the CFL let alone the NFL.

Let's say the average college athlete is only worth about $25,000 a year and that's being charitable. He loses his full ride scholarship now. He now has to pay income tax, social security and all those other programs. He has to pay for his own food, housing and other basic needs. Once it's all said and done he'll probably be in a worse off state than when he wasn't getting paid.

This is probably all they are worth except for Johnny Football and a few other elite athletes. I have argued in other threads that they are the ones really getting ripped off. Also what does a starting tailback at Toledo demand on the open market vs the starting tailback at Alabama? I can't see a one size fits all approach....

 

[celticdb15]

College players already get paid. A former HS teammate of mine plays for the Gophers and he said they get $500 a game.

 

[Colonel_Reb]

This is nuts, but everything is trending that way, so why not college football? Maybe it is for the best that other (more important) interests now occupy my mind and time.

 

[wile]

One player from Mizzou who might not be getting a union card is Greene Beckham the WR, allegedly he beat a woman last night.