Pro consulting

Pay who? Pay what? Pay when?

WE UNDERSTAND that few people in Arkansas want to hear about California colleges just now. They especially don’t want to hear about California colleges and athletics. And, more precisely, they’d like all of us in the local media to shut up about California colleges, athletics and football.

But put aside San Jose

State for a minute. There is more news coming out of the world of college sports, and it’s coming out of California:

The other day, the California Legislature voted overwhelmingly for something called the Fair Pay to Play Act, which would pay student-athletes for the use of their names, likenesses and other things. These “amateur” athletes could sell memorabilia, autographs, and socks or wristbands they may wear during a game.

Not one California lawmaker voted against the bill. Nary a one. Which goes to prove that lawmakers (in any state) love a winning issue if it gets their name in the papers, even if they don’t want to get bogged down in details. Such as whether a bill is good or bad.

The biggest question concerning paying college athletes might be: What’s next? If the student-athletes in California can be in commercials, make product endorsements and sell autographs, will each of the other several states have to follow suit to remain competitive? And if so, how long until that extrapolates to salaries for the players?

Yes, the college athlete makes a lot of money for his college. Sometimes. And it can be an abusive relationship. Sometimes. And the athlete isn’t guaranteed anything for his work. Most times.

But before anybody in the Arkansas Legislature, or the Congress in D.C. for that matter, starts thinking this’d be a good way to get a little pub, how about We the People ask some questions first? And even get answers. “Pay the players” is a good bumper-sticker argument. Which means it’s simple. And simplistic.

Here are some things colleges, the NCAA, the players and the rest of us must work out first:

• Who would get paid?

The football programs at larger schools make a ton of dough. And sometimes the basketball team(s), too. But what about volleyball? Football, basketball and sometimes baseball pay the way for other sports that don’t make profits. Is the pie going to be split equally between the star quarterback and the shortstop on the softball team? If we’re talking about “fair pay to play”—and California is—how copacetic would it be to pay both athletes the same? And how long until we hear the rumblings from players in the more popular sports?

• Where would they get paid?

The University of Arkansas could probably afford higher stipends than, say, SAU in Magnolia. Could coaches and ADs at larger schools simply offer more money to the best players? And could bidding wars happen between bigger schools? If every school were made to pay the same, wouldn’t that still put more financial pressures on the smaller schools?

(As for the argument that paying players would lead to less corruption in the athletic departments, oh, puh-leeze.)

• What would players do to earn their salaries? Just play? Or win? Could they be docked for not showing up to practice? In the real world, you are paid what you merit. So what about that school with a 2-10 football team and an 8-24 basketball team? Would players there be paid less— until they win some championships?

• Could the players unionize? If so, where would that lead?

• Would the band and cheerleaders be eligible for salaries, too? It takes a lot of practice to be a saxophone player for a university marching band.

• Don’t get us started on the Title IX lawsuits that this would encourage.

THERE ARE many questions, but few answers. Some of us have been to high school graduations recently in which university scholarships were announced. It seems that playing a popular sport, and even a not-so-popular sport, brings with it the chance for real scholarship money. Isn’t that compensating students for their hard work? Or shouldn’t it be?

We suppose most Americans aren’t necessarily opposed to the idea of paying college athletes. But how make it fair? That’s the larger issue.

Some of us might be encouraged to think on this issue a bit more if/when these questions are answered. Because most Americans admire the athlete, and want him (or her) treated fairly, and compensated justly. And will often see things from the athlete’s point of view.

Until that first holdout before Saturday’s big conference game. Then all bets are off.