Re: RPI Offseason Thread: 7 Months of Drivel
FF: Not sure what this all changes just yet. In many cases, and in some sports in particular-the term student athlete is just a sham. The athlete is in college for one reason only-to receive money to play a sport and then he can move on to the professional level if he is good enough where he will get more money, but at least it will be out in the open and not called scholarship or financial aid of some type. The college sport in those cases simply serves as the minor league for the professional sport. Hockey has always been one of those sports that was a bit different. Sure there are some fellows who are in school just for the sport and have no pretense of being a student(more so at a few schools than others)-but on the whole, it is nowhere near as prevalent as in basketball or football. Hockey has a well developed minor league system-as does baseball-and can function quite well at deveoping players without the colleges if need be. But i totally agree with you-there is a distinct odor emanating here and I am not one of those that likes the smell.
I was wondering how the players could be "employees" if they are not being paid...then I read the fine print and noticed that there are agents who want to cash in on the athletes' endorsement potential while in college. This whole setup reeks to me. It is a thinly-disguised way for the athletes to receive endorsement money while in college without forfeiting "amateur" status. Now they can be exploited twice over. Sigh.
some "justice."
FF: Not sure what this all changes just yet. In many cases, and in some sports in particular-the term student athlete is just a sham. The athlete is in college for one reason only-to receive money to play a sport and then he can move on to the professional level if he is good enough where he will get more money, but at least it will be out in the open and not called scholarship or financial aid of some type. The college sport in those cases simply serves as the minor league for the professional sport. Hockey has always been one of those sports that was a bit different. Sure there are some fellows who are in school just for the sport and have no pretense of being a student(more so at a few schools than others)-but on the whole, it is nowhere near as prevalent as in basketball or football. Hockey has a well developed minor league system-as does baseball-and can function quite well at deveoping players without the colleges if need be. But i totally agree with you-there is a distinct odor emanating here and I am not one of those that likes the smell.
