“Fair Compensation, and Long-Term Health Insurance.”
-ESPN
“Why not ask for a pension and a 401(k) as well?” - That was the response a friend sent me after I asked him his thoughts on the demands listed from a group of PAC-12 football players regarding playing the 2020 football season.
Yes, I am pro-player. Yes, I support NCAA student-athletes. Hell, I was one. This list of demands is laughable - and that’s stating it nicely.
Where do you draw the line?
Safe play among the pandemic - yes of course. Conferences need to do THEIR BEST at creating protocols and guidelines to show the student-athletes there is a path forward. Bubbles aren’t an option. 100% certainty is impossible. Ultimately it will be the individual student-athletes making the decision to play or not.
Fighting racial injustice - what is the answer here? While 2020 has brought this critical issue to the forefront of everyone’s mind, this vague demand leaves much to question. What would qualify as meeting this stipulation? What is the sweeping definition of injustice? Different players, different schools, different regions of the country have different circumstances. Yes, racial injustice needs to be addressed in collegiate sports, and in everyday life. Making this a demand contingent on playing football seems far-fetched.
Economic rights and fair compensation - here we go. Players reportedly want a share of the revenue, 50% of what football generates. Shoot for the stars, kids.
Long-Term Health Insurance - Excuse me? Vested NFL players receive 5 years of health insurance after retirement, thats it. This is a non-starter. Not going to happen.
When negotiating, you clearly aim high and meet in the middle. If both parties feel like they are losing, then it’s most likely a fair deal.
Demanding changing the entire system of amateurism and collegiate sports is a bold strategy.
However, 2020 has had a mind of its own. Maybe this is just the beginning…