Amateurism and College Sports
TYPE: Argumentative, problem-solution paper.
FORMAT: Typed, double-spaced. Please note special format for paper 5: All the bold items listed below should appear over corresponding material as paper section headings. Center and double-space labels. Use only the bold items as headings.
Section # Heading/Description Target Length
I. Abstract (of your paper) 1 paragraph
II. Hypothesis (your prediction) 1-3 sentences
III. Introduction 1-2 paragraphs
IV. Methods and Materials 1-2 sentences
V. Results
(A.) Results, Discussion
(1.) State the topic; 1-2 paragraphs
(2.) State the problem; 1-2 paragraphs
(3.) Demonstrate a
connection between
the topic and problem 1-2 paragraphs
(B.) Results, Conclusions
(1.) State your solution 1-2 paragraphs
(2.) State 2 objections to
your solution 1-2 paragraphs
(3.) Refute the 2 objections 1-2 paragraphs
VI. Conclusion 1 paragraph
VII. Works Cited Last page
SOURCES/CHECKLIST: Please use a total of 6 sources and observe the following guidelines:
___(1.) Use at least one but no more than 2 books.
___(2.) Use no more than 3 Internet sources (this does
not include journal articles from an on-line
database like ProQuest).
___(3.) Use at least one journal article, electronic or
bound, but no more than 4 of either.
___(4.) Periodicals, interviews, and pamphlets are fine,
too.
___(5.) You may use more than 6 sources.
___(6.) If you feel that an exception applies to you, please see me.
___(7.) If unsure as to whether a source is appropriate
or not, see me.
GUIDELINES (CHECKLIST): Your completed research paper should:
___(1.) Follow the prescribed format.*
___(2.) Make a clear and obvious statement of a problem;
___(3.) Make a clear and obvious statement of a solution;
___(4.) Anticipate 2 objections to a solution.
___(5.) Unify clear and obvious statements of both a
problem and solution with a concise, focused, and
controlling hypothesis.
___(6.) Use MLA documentation(Cf. Textbook: 640-662).
___(7.) Use an MLA works-cited page(Cf. Textbook: 662).
___(8.) Be approximately 3,000-4,000 words long.
GRADING CRITERIA: The Statewide “C” standard applies; additionally, I will focus on the following:
(1.) A close observance of prescribed paper format.*
(2.) A use of 6 appropriate sources (more voluntary but not
graded).
(3.) A use of MLA textual documentation (i.e., citations).
(4.) A use of MLA documentation on the works-cited page.
(5.) The use of a concise, focused, and controlling
Hypothesis statement (labeled hypothesis).
(6.) The use of a clear topic statement.
(7.) The use of a clear problem statement.
(8.) The use of a clear solution statement.
(9.) supported by 2 refutations of 2 objections.
(10.) The use of an effective conclusion.
(11.) The richness of your writing.
(12.) The depth of your writing.
(13.) A consistent avoidance of contractions.
(14.) A consistent avoidance of references to self.
(15.) A correct, consistent use of a formal tone via
an acceptable, academic register of English.
(16.) A relative freedom from errors in mechanics, grammar,
and spelling.
*NOTE: Any approved exceptions will be assessed
according to the best method for that work.
Topic: Amateurism and College Sports
Tutor:
Date:
Amateurism and College Sports
Abstract
College sports are today a major business venture generating billions of dollars in revenue for both the college sports governing body the NCAA and the colleges and universities. However, the college athletes that work hard and sacrifice their time and effort that generate these revenues receive little or no share at all of the revenues this is all under the guise of amateurism. This has resulted into controversy and the problem regarding whether college athletes should be paid. This paper is a problem solution argumentative essay and, therefore, provides insight into the problem and provides a solution to the existing controversy.
Hypothesis
College athletes give their best in practice, and the games hence are the ones responsible for generating the large amounts of revenue that comes from college sports today. In addition, the scholarships they are provided do not cater for all their needs and just like other students they have extra needs and; therefore, they should be paid.
Introduction
The NCAA is a voluntary body that comprises of an association of approximately 1,200 colleges and universities and among the purposes of the association is the promotion of amateur athletics. This purpose is even included at the end of its Division 1 Manual where it highlights the aim is to initiate and improve the programs of intercollegiate athletics for the student-athletes and promote the participation in athletics as a recreational activity (McCormick and McCormick 72-73). Despite this, the prominence of this assertion the body has not realized this idea for the college athletes in today’s lucrative college sports. The NCAA coined the term ‘student-athlete’ to describe the young athletes in colleges and universities a term that has been used for the last fifty years. The characterization of college athletes as ‘student-athletes’ has today reached fever pitch. The NCAA insists that these young men are gaining some valuable life lessons when they engage in intercollegiate athletics. Therefore, they are just student-athletes and not athletes (McCormick and McCormick 73). Characterizing athletes as ‘student-athletes’ allows the NCAA to obscure the legal reality that these students are actual athletes and, in fact, employees. The creation and fostering that these college athletes are not employees allows the institution, universities, and colleges to obtain substantial pecuniary gains and other related benefits. These come from the athletes’ talents, time, energy, and effort – their labor – while they curtail costs associated with the labor. This has enabled the NCAA and its associates to reap a fantastic surfeit of riches (McCormick and McCormick 74).
Modern sports have today shifted from the common fun and games into a more serious business venture. This is observable not only in the larger sporting world, but also in college sports. Division 1 college sports have become a huge source of income for colleges and universities. Over the years, athletes have put their best foot forward and are today giving their best towards their sports of choice that they have been working had for everyday (West Virginia University 1). Through hard work and years of maximum input and output in training and on the field respectively, these ‘student-athletes’ have demonstrated their abilities and talents in different sports that are currently receiving significant recognition. Colleges and universities are currently receiving millions of dollars in revenues generated from ticket sales, sports merchandise, and television contracts. However, the ‘student-athletes’ as they are referred to by the NCAA receive little or no share at all in these millions generated by their hard work, commitment, abilities, and talents. The argument is that these athletes are provided with scholarships that take care of their tuition and other minor expenses and at the same time they are expected to work hard in class and pass their exams, practice, and give their best during games. This, therefore, makes them not different from others students as they are supposed to pay for any other necessities they may require at school. This has created a lot of hullabaloo and backlash against the NCAA and its associates advocating for the athletes to be paid for their input and receive at least a share of the revenues they are generating (Desrochers 2-3).
Materials and Methods
This involved a review of material from different databases that include ProQuest, Ebscohost, and Emerald. The material reviewed was from 2000 to 2014, and a quasi-random design was used to select material for review and information was extracted and checked for relevance to the problem and solution.
(A). Discussion
Amateurism and College Sports
According to the NCAA bylaws, the principle of Amateurism holds that student-athletes participating in any intercollegiate sport shall remain amateurs. The principle goes further and states that motivation to participate in the sports should be based on the educational, physical, mental, and social benefits that are derived from the sport. The participation is an avocation and, therefore, the athletes require protection from exploitation by commercial and professional enterprises (Bradley 127).
As an amateur, the bylaws state that the amateur should not receive any payment directly or indirectly for participating in intercollegiate sports and sign commitment contracts for to play professionally. In addition, the amateur should not be paid a salary or reimbursed for expenses or any form of assistance that is financial from sports organization except the NCAA for using his/her skills just to mention a few of the laws. These bylaws include other numerous laws that prevent the athletes from receiving financial benefits for their talents failure to which they are likely to lose their scholarships and cease being intercollegiate athletes (Bradley 127).
Problem Statement
Should College athletes be paid?
The provision of a scholarship is a noble initiative, however, putting the issue under a microscope reveals that this is insufficient compared to what the athlete is generating in terms of revenue (ISD Editorial Board 1). Due increased rating the revenues that come from these athletes’ amounts to billions of dollars, and as the ratings continue going up, the revenues are also increasing and it is the stronger, bigger, and faster athletes that generate more money while receiving none of it. Therefore, universities and the college sports governing bodies are exploiting athletes a problem that has grown to an extent that some of the athletes are quitting school to enter into sports professionally. Evidence is also present that universities have gone to the extent of exploiting even the alumni and athletes interacting with gamblers to alter the outcomes of games. Per Steve Wulf, most of the college athletes are from non-affluent families, therefore, apart from the tuition fee they require funds for other college expenses. In addition, these athletes are not allowed to work, and other students are often paid when they provide their services to the colleges, for example, assisting lecturers in research, and it is for these reasons that college athletes should be paid (Wulf 1).
To demonstrate the exploitation that occurs in the guise of amateurism, for example, the NCAA gains approximately $ 771 million from television contracts coming from the Division I Men’s Basketball Tournament. In addition, it receives $125 million on an annual basis for the Football Bowl Championship Series (Taha 69). Schools and individual conferences have their contracts, such as the Pac-12 conference having football and basketball contracts with FOX and ESPN amounting to $3 billion. The $2.5 billion contract with ESPN in the Southeastern conference for multiple sports and the ABC/ESPN $1 billion ten-year basketball and football contract for the Big Ten Conference. In addition, there is a contract amounting to $2.b billion between the Big Ten Network and FOX, and a $200 million basketball contract with CBS just to mention a few. In addition, colleges and universities generate extra millions in revenue from ticket sales and other athletic events (Taha 70). For example, the University of Miami generated $8 million dollars for their team’s participation in the Nokia Sugar Bowl. The university also earns extra revenues through the sale of other merchandise such as jerseys, hats, and footballs. Unfortunately, very little goes to the athletes. The universities arena (The Orange Bowl) has a capacity of approximately 60,000 people, and tickets are sold at an average of $20 each (Meshefejian 16). Moreover, the NCAA and conference revenue-sharing plans give these colleges and universities a larger portion on the share in the television contracts hence they always compete to select the best athletes to join their institutions. This in a normal setting should take place in a situation where the colleges are trying to outbid each other in the payment packs they are offering (Taha 70). However, in the guise of amateurism as prescribed by the NCAA’s bylaws, and its insistence on the term ‘student-athletes’ compensation to the athletes is explicitly limited. The bylaws mandate that the athletes cannot receive a scholarship that has more value than the value of a ‘full grant-in-aid’ defined as tuition and fees, room and board and needed textbooks. This means that all the revenue g...