Tater

December 16th, 2014 at 8:01 PM ^

This is not a "my party is great and yours sucks" issue.  My main fear is what happens if a few states pass stupid-assed laws like this one, others don't and then a national union is created.  The states whose players can't join are not going to have much luck recruiting anyone.

My opinion is the same as it has been for close to twenty years; let players take whatever they can get from outside sources.  Imagine this year's team with Trey Burke, Nik Stauskas and GRIII on it because they are more marketable as high-profile college players than as rookie NBA players. 

 

 

Joined: 08/13/2008

MGoPoints: 30584

bo_lives

December 16th, 2014 at 10:35 PM ^

but letting players take money from outside sources brings about 50 new layers of regulations, like most other major overhauls that have been suggested. The SEC bag men will come out of the shadows and start making deals with recruits for hundreds of thousands to millions of dollars.

The only course of action that doesn't just kick the can further down the road is to abolish the NCAA and establish a minor league organization of power 5 schools, with the football and basketball teams becoming separate entities from the school, connected in name only. Athletes sign contracts instead of scholarships. Money is funneled towards players and away from Taj Mahal track & field/volleyball/lacrosse facilities and scholarships. The football and basketball teams donate revenue back to the University in exchange for using the University's name. The winners are the superstar high school footballers, the losers are athletes from non-revenue sports.

Joined: 04/10/2011

MGoPoints: 7867

Wolverine Devotee

December 16th, 2014 at 6:14 PM ^

I did not post this with political intentions.

I'm too young and stupid right now to care about politics. My sighing has to do with politicians messing with college sports.

Although, I'd rather colleges athletes not get paid anyways, so...

Joined: 06/29/2009

MGoPoints: 31528

MGoBender

December 16th, 2014 at 6:43 PM ^

I'm too young and stupid right now to care about politics. 

 

I don't care what your political views may be, but please care about politics.  It is crucial for young people to have more of a voice in the political sphere.

Joined: 03/26/2010

MGoPoints: 15128

Wolverine Devotee

December 16th, 2014 at 8:25 PM ^

Nah, I'm good.

Maybe I'll start voting/care when there's more than one party covered in the mainstream media like the big two gangs are. Because that's what it is to me.

Two gangs running everything. One choice or the other. I pick neither. 

Joined: 06/29/2009

MGoPoints: 31528

MGoBender

December 16th, 2014 at 8:30 PM ^

It takes people caring (and voting) to make the media care.  And it is the Internet age. You can support and champion someone from a smaller party easier than ever. 

Your attitude is weak. 

Joined: 03/26/2010

MGoPoints: 15128

'07LesMilesMafia

December 16th, 2014 at 9:40 PM ^

good idea WD, you should base all your life interests on what the mainstream media covers...or continue spending your days summarizing women's rowing and predatory fan gear



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Joined: 12/05/2014

MGoPoints: 1395

Muttley

December 17th, 2014 at 7:53 AM ^

1. Viewed from one angle, the two parties have different visions of government, which leads to gridlock.  Which is exactly what the Founders intended.  Would you rather have the "Gangs" unchecked?  This dynamic is somewhat protected from voter/public apathy.  The exception being when a super-majority exists.  In that condition, the lack of competition can lead to bad policy.  Especially because of #2 below.

2. Viewed from another angle, the two gangs behave nearly alike, whoring the same but for a different set of donors/johns.  This dynamic thrives under voter/public apathy.  Public attention on the protection racket and giveaways followed by primary challenges for the worst congressional actors is the tool the American public has to stop this type of gang behavior.  Unfortunately, with incumbent losses in primaries being rare, this tool is rarely used by the public.

Joined: 07/07/2009

MGoPoints: -73245

Khrothgat

December 16th, 2014 at 10:37 PM ^

The frightening thing is that neither intelligence nor passion is required to vote.  I once witnessed someone I know urging with impassioned vigor all her "pimp, prostitute, and fellonious friends" to vote saying that, though they might not have followed the election, "in Michigan a felony does not disenfranchise."  She, of course, was urging them to vote for one particular candidate whom she referred to as the better candidate for people of the streets. What my friend was doing, essentially, was getting people who neither followed nor cared about politics to vote.  That is not the solution.  We must care, or else we become mere victims of the better get-out-the-vote propoganda machine.  If Wolverine Devotee considers himself too young and stupid to care, I would suggest he start caring first, then educate himself (for he's not too stupid to do that). 

Joined: 11/13/2010

MGoPoints: 199

bluebyyou

December 16th, 2014 at 7:35 PM ^

It may not matter if Snyder signs the bill or not. 

I thought the Northwestern unionization issue was being appealed before someone (NLRB?). Depending upon the outcome of the appeal, no unions for football players might be the only possible outcome.

And from what I have observed, Michigan tends to treat its athletes very well.

Joined: 09/07/2009

MGoPoints: 18531

Zone Left

December 16th, 2014 at 6:19 PM ^

These bills are jokes. They can unionize if they want to. The school doesn't have to negotiate and the players don't have to play. If a court can't order the players to play, then they can unionize.

Joined: 07/03/2008

MGoPoints: 16428

trustBlue

December 16th, 2014 at 7:18 PM ^

I don't think its quite a simple as that.  No, the school can't force anybody to play, but that is true even without the existence of a union.  There are fairly extensive state and federal laws that are designed to protect unions and unionizing activity from interference from employers. Althought I am not an expert in collective bargaining, I would imagine that after these laws pass, those protections would not apply.  

Joined: 04/14/2014

MGoPoints: 8167

Lancer

December 16th, 2014 at 6:22 PM ^

College football is such a scam, especially if we don't get Harbaugh (I dont care what it takes, give him 8 million). But seriously, student athletes deserve better. 

Joined: 08/18/2010

MGoPoints: 3297