March Madne$$

I'm not sure exactly where I stand on whether Division 1 NCAA athletes should be paid. I'd probably be happy with generous per diems and looser rules that aren't related to cash.  Despite all of the revenue the big sports bring in, and thus allowing a profit on the backs of kids who will never see the big professional dollars, I'm not sure the right thing is to start paying them what would be akin to salaries.

One of the stronger arguments I've heard against paying them is that for the Division 1 colleges that don't make the huge profits that the Ohio States of the world make, paying the athletes on the big money teams might necessitate canceling sports that 

To that, some say, "So what? If you're upset that you don't get a free ride as part of the rowing team, learn to shoot a three-pointer."

Strawman, yes, but I'm probably not too far off.

Regardless, I find the amount of money being made on the backs of athletes who mostly are getting average educations, albeit free, is disgusting.  So when I was watching a kid interviewed after one of the games tonight, impressed at his articulation and eloquence, and ability to say all the right things and how great a game the next one will be, my mind wandered off, imaging something I would have liked him to say.

I'll preface it by saying that in addition to the obscene amount of money, I'm disgusted by the gall and arrogance of the NCAA.  They no doubt would have a thing or two to say if any athlete publicly blasted them after a big tournament game (or any game, really).  But what if his post-game comments went something like this:

"You know, we're really looking forward to playing Wisconsin on Saturday.  We lost a heartbreaker to them last year, so we really want to prove something.  They are a talented team, so I'm sure they want to prove something too.  So it should be a great game - one the advertisers will be happy to spend big bucks on and making a lot of people a lot of money.  I'm just glad to be a part the awesome ratings it will bring and commerce that will come with it, knowing that some people's nest eggs will be enriched."

I would love to see the athletes take a united stand in this; using irony that you can't prove to bring attention to the absurdity of big time college sports Imagine if every interview became just as predictable as they already are, only instead of "giving 110%" and other cliches, we'd hear about what great ratings and ad revenue it will bring in for the corporations, colleges, and NCAA.