If you want a really funny take on the intersection of sports and intellectualism, find the Firesign Theater skit on what a football team at the University of Chicago would be like. “Excuse me, coach. It’s not really so much an oval as it is a spheroid.” “I’m sorry, chappie, I think the coach may have it right…” “You want me to put my hands WHERE??!? Oh, I really don’t think THAT’s necessary!” Much funnier than that. And MUCH funnier than football unions. Wellll, maybe not.
College is supposed to be a place where students get an education. Perhaps we could compromise and offer a sports degree where playing the game is the actual education. You could then continue to get trained players for league games without the deception that the players are their to learn anything other than how to play the game.
If they have the right to unionize, then this would seem to establish either one or both of two potential legal principles.
1. They are “employees”, and therefore “professionals”, and not eligible to participate in “amateur” competitions (including the Olympics). And this would necessarily be true for other sports, as well.2. Other groups of students — the halftime marching band, the senior class, the debating club, maybe even the mathematics department? — should have the same right.
That’s not the point I got from your post. Your post reads as if you were against unionization because you want to keep the status quo. At least that’s how I interpreted it.
Professional sports comprise an entertainment industry more lucrative than most product industries. I hate to say it, but maybe colleges should allow their sports players to major in Sports Studies to prepare for careers in that industry..Sports Studies would encompass media communication and specialized business courses, as well as tactical plays for various sports. Then, if a student does not become a player, he or she could still use athletic talents and interest to work in fields tangent to actually being on the playing field..Many people would react in horror to this idea, but let’s be realistic. Sports are Big Business. Entertainment is a product. Both are big parts of the economy. Children that have skills in these areas should be encouraged to develop those skills, and then to benefit from them in lasting careers.
dogday Premium Member about 10 years ago
If you want a really funny take on the intersection of sports and intellectualism, find the Firesign Theater skit on what a football team at the University of Chicago would be like. “Excuse me, coach. It’s not really so much an oval as it is a spheroid.” “I’m sorry, chappie, I think the coach may have it right…” “You want me to put my hands WHERE??!? Oh, I really don’t think THAT’s necessary!” Much funnier than that. And MUCH funnier than football unions. Wellll, maybe not.
Dtroutma about 10 years ago
Their full ride scholarships DO tend to make them “employees”.
Jason Allen about 10 years ago
College is supposed to be a place where students get an education. Perhaps we could compromise and offer a sports degree where playing the game is the actual education. You could then continue to get trained players for league games without the deception that the players are their to learn anything other than how to play the game.
gammaguy about 10 years ago
If they have the right to unionize, then this would seem to establish either one or both of two potential legal principles.
1. They are “employees”, and therefore “professionals”, and not eligible to participate in “amateur” competitions (including the Olympics). And this would necessarily be true for other sports, as well.2. Other groups of students — the halftime marching band, the senior class, the debating club, maybe even the mathematics department? — should have the same right.Jason Allen about 10 years ago
That’s not the point I got from your post. Your post reads as if you were against unionization because you want to keep the status quo. At least that’s how I interpreted it.
ron2nips about 10 years ago
This will change the games and the Sports who watch the games of the Sports who are the Sports of the game.
Yontrop about 10 years ago
The caricature of unions as thugs is disgusting. Typical of corporate propaganda.
emptc12 about 10 years ago
Professional sports comprise an entertainment industry more lucrative than most product industries. I hate to say it, but maybe colleges should allow their sports players to major in Sports Studies to prepare for careers in that industry..Sports Studies would encompass media communication and specialized business courses, as well as tactical plays for various sports. Then, if a student does not become a player, he or she could still use athletic talents and interest to work in fields tangent to actually being on the playing field..Many people would react in horror to this idea, but let’s be realistic. Sports are Big Business. Entertainment is a product. Both are big parts of the economy. Children that have skills in these areas should be encouraged to develop those skills, and then to benefit from them in lasting careers.
hmofo813 Premium Member about 10 years ago
I don’t understand this cartoon. Why are union representatives being depicted as mafiosi? Is that the intention?