Think about this NIL stuff and everything that is going on with college sports, what are we doing? And this goes down into High School. In college, I lived in some absolute dives, ate alot of ramen noodles, pizza and wings was fine dining, drank the cheapest beer or liquor. I was lucky enough to have parents of some means that I didn't have to struggle, but wasn't rich by any stretch. We walked everywhere. We found free food everywhere. We made good with what we had. And I wouldn't trade those years for anything. We had a blast. Most college students lived like this. The athletes, they always had it a bit better. More perks. More adulation. More opportunities (especially with women).
High School may have been better than college even in some respects. You were protected, in a cocoon. You had a chance to make childish mistakes, learn from them. You got yelled at, you got in trouble. If you played sports, you really got yelled, maybe even called a bad name or two. All of this gave you some foundation, kept you somewhat grounded. You understood that there is a path, you have to do the work, you aren't going to get everything handed to you. Now? We want everything right away, no matter what. Why? Because there are rich people making loads of money off of this, so I should too! I don't have this love of rich people at all, they are in many cases despicable. But I don't have this overwhelming sense of "getting even", this "workers of the world unite" mentality that has been perpetuated by the selfie generation. Me. Me. Me. Mine. Mine. Mine.
I understand the farce of big time college athletics, the "student" part of student athlete probably applies less than we care to admit. It is opportunities, something NIL cannot provide, opportunities to showcase you for whatever Pro League, and certainly opportunities to get and education, skills, and set yourself up for a career. And even moreso than most of the general student population, opportunities that come with the network of being a former player, that maybe gives you an edge over other prospective job applicants.
Plus, there were always perks. I also agree some of the NCAA rules and regs were just draconian and outdates, unrealistic and stupid. Who cares if a player sells clothes or gets a free tattoo. Who cares if a coach buys an airfare ticket for a homesick kid to fly home to see his family. It is crap like that that has led to where we are. Now? It is just a marketing free for all in team sports. That can't end well. Brand has become more important than talent and success. Is this old man yelling at clouds take? Maybe. But here are what some agents, you know those guys who get money for their clients think:
The following is an excerpt from an Athletic Interview/Survey on a multitude of NFL agents:
4. How do you see the name, image and likeness (NIL) permissions factoring into your recruiting of draft prospects?
• “Just a complete catastrophe. An arms race to see which agencies can buy the most players at the earliest stages, then keep them happy and then buy them again before the draft. It’s absolute lunacy. The marketplace has destroyed the integrity of our industry..”
• “The NIL is a new cesspool. All this did was open up a can of worms that makes everyone think they’re brandable. I’m not mad at the kids, and it is a step forward.”
• “Some agents are going to use NIL to sign players ASAP, which is happening. Others will stay in their lane. I think it’s going to be all over the map. … From an agent’s perspective, every kid is going to be different. Some will still emphasize football when choosing an agent, but some will separate marketing and agents.”
• “I think it’s allowing less-talented, less-experienced agents to sway kids with promises that I’m not so sure they’re able to keep. These so-called agents are using this as an entry to a world they never would have gotten in otherwise. If the players can make money off their name, great, but will some of these agents deliver?”
• “It’s changed the whole game. Marketing agencies can now sign 18-year-olds coming out of high school. This could be beneficial for agents if kids are loyal, but also a challenge if other agents promise a lot when it comes to signing kids for the draft. Definitely beneficial for the kids.”
• “It’s already the No. 1 topic, hands down. Big focus for these players. It’s the most pressing topic of conversation. It’s already caused the agent community to become involved in these player’s lives and decisions as early as their freshmen year. It’s not good for anybody, and I think it will hurt more kids. I wouldn’t normally talk to any kid until their draft-eligible year.”
• “There are a lot of (agents) who have already broken the rules. I’ve had multiple players show me NIL texts from agents (that discuss monthly payments).”
• “Some people will take advantage of naive kids to gain a business advantage, but some will educate them. Agents that help will be rewarded.”
• “The top prospects will be bought and paid for long before they get to the NFL Draft. I’m hearing about big payments already. I guess it’s legal now, depending on who you ask.”
Like I said, maybe the players deserved a bit more, but the NCAA and Colleges were a bit hamstrung by Title IX rules, so they just can't outright give a set salary, because then they would have to do it with women's volleyball and gender equity pay, and all of this, so this was their way to navigate this. I think it would have probably been best as before, under the table, just don't have an enforcement to it, but at least even the mere threat or published investigation kept some brakes on these things, now it is legal, what do you think Alabama and Ohio State are going to do?
But back to the kids. I mean now kids skipping their Sr year of High School to enroll early. Are we insane? I think to Canada and Jr Hockey, and yes a 15 year old Sidney Crosby left home, to play Juniors, but he was riding the busses, and living in boarding houses, playing in front of a couple of thousand people not like a 16-17 year olds playing on national TV and 100K cheering in the stands. Even the NHL, when they bring an 18 year old kid into the league, they usually set them up with a local family to live on so they aren't on their own, and these are pros. What messages are we sending to these kids? They are so selfish now to begin with.
I truly believe one reason why baseball is dying as far as participation is concerned, is young athletes don't want to put in the time in the minor leagues, riding busses from Durham to Chattanooga, where playing big time college football or basketball, they are flying in jets, staying in nice hotels, playing in front of large crowds on national TV. Kids, hell people now, we all feel entitled. No one buys "starter homes" anymore, they immediate want a 3000 sq ft (or more) new construction house in a tree lined neighborhood and then feel they have to be paid to afford it. No one seems to want to start out at the bottom.
We are creating a monster and a mess. What is next? Even in the pro sports there are rules, there doesn't seem to be any rules here. The inmates are running the asylum. They are going to kill this thing, you watch. Signing off, old man yelling at clouds.
High School may have been better than college even in some respects. You were protected, in a cocoon. You had a chance to make childish mistakes, learn from them. You got yelled at, you got in trouble. If you played sports, you really got yelled, maybe even called a bad name or two. All of this gave you some foundation, kept you somewhat grounded. You understood that there is a path, you have to do the work, you aren't going to get everything handed to you. Now? We want everything right away, no matter what. Why? Because there are rich people making loads of money off of this, so I should too! I don't have this love of rich people at all, they are in many cases despicable. But I don't have this overwhelming sense of "getting even", this "workers of the world unite" mentality that has been perpetuated by the selfie generation. Me. Me. Me. Mine. Mine. Mine.
I understand the farce of big time college athletics, the "student" part of student athlete probably applies less than we care to admit. It is opportunities, something NIL cannot provide, opportunities to showcase you for whatever Pro League, and certainly opportunities to get and education, skills, and set yourself up for a career. And even moreso than most of the general student population, opportunities that come with the network of being a former player, that maybe gives you an edge over other prospective job applicants.
Plus, there were always perks. I also agree some of the NCAA rules and regs were just draconian and outdates, unrealistic and stupid. Who cares if a player sells clothes or gets a free tattoo. Who cares if a coach buys an airfare ticket for a homesick kid to fly home to see his family. It is crap like that that has led to where we are. Now? It is just a marketing free for all in team sports. That can't end well. Brand has become more important than talent and success. Is this old man yelling at clouds take? Maybe. But here are what some agents, you know those guys who get money for their clients think:
The following is an excerpt from an Athletic Interview/Survey on a multitude of NFL agents:
4. How do you see the name, image and likeness (NIL) permissions factoring into your recruiting of draft prospects?
• “Just a complete catastrophe. An arms race to see which agencies can buy the most players at the earliest stages, then keep them happy and then buy them again before the draft. It’s absolute lunacy. The marketplace has destroyed the integrity of our industry..”
• “The NIL is a new cesspool. All this did was open up a can of worms that makes everyone think they’re brandable. I’m not mad at the kids, and it is a step forward.”
• “Some agents are going to use NIL to sign players ASAP, which is happening. Others will stay in their lane. I think it’s going to be all over the map. … From an agent’s perspective, every kid is going to be different. Some will still emphasize football when choosing an agent, but some will separate marketing and agents.”
• “I think it’s allowing less-talented, less-experienced agents to sway kids with promises that I’m not so sure they’re able to keep. These so-called agents are using this as an entry to a world they never would have gotten in otherwise. If the players can make money off their name, great, but will some of these agents deliver?”
• “It’s changed the whole game. Marketing agencies can now sign 18-year-olds coming out of high school. This could be beneficial for agents if kids are loyal, but also a challenge if other agents promise a lot when it comes to signing kids for the draft. Definitely beneficial for the kids.”
• “It’s already the No. 1 topic, hands down. Big focus for these players. It’s the most pressing topic of conversation. It’s already caused the agent community to become involved in these player’s lives and decisions as early as their freshmen year. It’s not good for anybody, and I think it will hurt more kids. I wouldn’t normally talk to any kid until their draft-eligible year.”
• “There are a lot of (agents) who have already broken the rules. I’ve had multiple players show me NIL texts from agents (that discuss monthly payments).”
• “Some people will take advantage of naive kids to gain a business advantage, but some will educate them. Agents that help will be rewarded.”
• “The top prospects will be bought and paid for long before they get to the NFL Draft. I’m hearing about big payments already. I guess it’s legal now, depending on who you ask.”
Like I said, maybe the players deserved a bit more, but the NCAA and Colleges were a bit hamstrung by Title IX rules, so they just can't outright give a set salary, because then they would have to do it with women's volleyball and gender equity pay, and all of this, so this was their way to navigate this. I think it would have probably been best as before, under the table, just don't have an enforcement to it, but at least even the mere threat or published investigation kept some brakes on these things, now it is legal, what do you think Alabama and Ohio State are going to do?
But back to the kids. I mean now kids skipping their Sr year of High School to enroll early. Are we insane? I think to Canada and Jr Hockey, and yes a 15 year old Sidney Crosby left home, to play Juniors, but he was riding the busses, and living in boarding houses, playing in front of a couple of thousand people not like a 16-17 year olds playing on national TV and 100K cheering in the stands. Even the NHL, when they bring an 18 year old kid into the league, they usually set them up with a local family to live on so they aren't on their own, and these are pros. What messages are we sending to these kids? They are so selfish now to begin with.
I truly believe one reason why baseball is dying as far as participation is concerned, is young athletes don't want to put in the time in the minor leagues, riding busses from Durham to Chattanooga, where playing big time college football or basketball, they are flying in jets, staying in nice hotels, playing in front of large crowds on national TV. Kids, hell people now, we all feel entitled. No one buys "starter homes" anymore, they immediate want a 3000 sq ft (or more) new construction house in a tree lined neighborhood and then feel they have to be paid to afford it. No one seems to want to start out at the bottom.
We are creating a monster and a mess. What is next? Even in the pro sports there are rules, there doesn't seem to be any rules here. The inmates are running the asylum. They are going to kill this thing, you watch. Signing off, old man yelling at clouds.
