The NCAA is FINALLY moving into the 21st century. Heck, as a matter of fact, they are just now moving into the second half of the 20th century. On Wednesday the NCAA’s top governing body supported a proposal that would allow college athletes to sign endorsement deals and receive money for outside work.
Let’s keep it real or all the way 100, whichever comes 1st! They aren’t allowing this to occur because they finally feel bad about taking advantage of these kids. They’re worried about some of the best potential college athletes (football and basketball) not going to college, especially the hoopers that are now going overseas or signing with the G League for their gap year and then going to the NBA.
The NCAA Tournament is a billion dollar business and if the biggest names aren’t playing in the Big Dance it will have a significant impact on its bottom line.
At least if a kid with the hype of a Zion Williamson shows up to Duke in the next few years he can sign a shoe deal and get crazy money while in college. Now he can play on national television, have the college hoop experience, play in the NCAA Tournament and get rich all at the same time. It’s a perfect storm. Who wouldn’t take that deal?
It’s much better than signing a $500K deal with the G League to play in some po-dunk town where nobody’s going to see you play for a year. It’s better than going overseas and playing in a unfamiliar country.
The kid can show up to one of these big time programs where EVERYBODY knows his name and be the big baller shot caller on the yard. FINALLY the NCAA is taking it’s head out of the sand.
This rule will only apply to a few kids a year but those that it applies to will eat like they’re supposed to. Not everybody playing sports will have the appeal to garner endorsement deals but cats like the Trevor Lawrence’s (Clemson) of the world can eat big time. Stop me when I start lyin’!
