Student-athletes need more
A way to support family
Regarding “College athletes could get paid in Texas,” (A1, April 29): I believe that athletes should be able to make money off their image in college. Some of the kids that go to college to play sports go so they can get out quickly and support their family. If they could get paid as students, they would be able to stay in college longer and more kids would graduate because they are able to provide for their family while they are in college. Now I know that not all athletes are going to be making the same amount of money because bigger schools will promote their athletes more and smaller schools won’t be able to promote their students as much. So I think they should get paid just a little, even if their name isn’t on huge billboards or anything because these athletes draw huge crowds and put in all the hard work, but all they get out of it is their scholarship. I believe they deserve a little more because of how much they give up in their life to play for that college. So I do believe they need to pass the name, image and likeness bill because it would help out a lot of kids and their families as they go through college. I have friends committed to large schools who could really use this extra money to help support their family and get through college and maybe even complete their dream of playing in the NFL one day. Thomas Jewett, Houston
Know your worth
Regarding “Now, Black community, let’s value ourselves,” (A15, April 24): I almost did not finish reading Tony N. Brown’s opinion piece because at first it appeared to be heading in the “poor me the victim” direction. I’m glad I persevered because it pointed out my conflict with the “victim” role many people accept, regardless of color or sex or situation. OK, you or someone you know, or don’t know, has been wronged. Life sucks. Don’t let it define you. You can object to it and work toward making it better without wallowing in it or rioting in the name of it.
It’s a great feeling to feel valued by others, but value first comes from inside us, whether or not even one other person recognizes it. It’s not always easy, but if you value yourself, if you honestly know your worth, others will too!
While I don’t agree with every one of Brown’s statements, he drove home the point that bothers me deeply when anyone allows themselves to be a victim. While it’s certainly the easy path, because it takes no effort to remove yourself and there’s no denying that you are the victim for a relatively short period of time, you don’t have to live there forever. Hayden Black, Spring