Monday, April 4, 2011

Tune in to Hear David Williams on NPR

VCDW will be on the NPR program "On Point" in about 15 minutes (10 am CST) to debate with Kevin Blackistone the issue of whether college athletes should be paid.  Presumably we will hear DW explain why he thinks paying players is a bad idea.  You can stream the broadcast by going here and clicking "Listen Live" at the top of the screen.

Update (10:55 am)

Summary of VCDW's view: Don't call the athletes "employees" or pay them salaries, but make sure the scholarship packages are reviewed every year so that the value of what the players are receiving is commensurate with (1) "costs" (I think he's talking about inflation and cost-of-living generally) and (2) the revenue generated by the school. He also supports financial incentives for graduation, like subsidies for student-athletes to go on to grad school or start businesses.

If you're listening to the show let me know if that is a fair characterization. Also, feel free to let us know if you agree or disagree with DW's take. 

4 comments:

B.J. Brinkerhoff said...

Must have been local only, because all I have is the 'Diane Rehm Deathbed Hour'.

Seamus O'Toole said...

He's on right now. You can stream it at the link provided above.

Seamus O'Toole said...

Or try this link: http://www.wbur.org/media-player?title=live

Douglas James said...

Sounds good to me. I also would like to see the NCAA take the money that schools and NCAA generate off of the players' likenesses to be put in a some kind of pension program. Money from jersey sales, game licensing, portion of TV contracts should go into a big pot and players could start receiving a pension 10-15 years after they leave school and how much they get will be based on how many years they played. I haven't worked out all the logistics in my head but some kind of system where players get some monetary benefit but aren't necessarily salaried "employees" while in college either.