Sports
Money For College Athletes
T
he issue of granting a stipend for the
marketing, enrollment, game atten-
dance, sales of school paraphernalia
and other monetary gains that popular stu-
dent athletes provide at hundreds of
American colleges and universities is in the
national news again—this time because of a
recent suspension for illegal profits of Geor-
gia Bulldogs running back and early
Heisman Trophy candidate, Todd Gurley II.
Gurley, a junior football star, was report-
edly paid $400 by an autograph dealer for
signing a few hundred school items during
the spring offseason that are now being sold
on Ebay. A violation of NCAA amateur
rules that do not allow scholarship athletes
They are recruited to
play sports, while
masquerading as
students
to accept or seek payment or gifts for their
autographs, appearances or popularity, Gur-
ley was suspended indefinitely from the
University of Georgia, who did not have a
choice in the matter.
Once reports surfaced that Gurley was
suspected of NCAA violations, the school
could have been forced to forfeit their Sat-
urday game against the Missouri Tigers,
along with paying other NCAA fines and
penalties. So UGA Director of Athletics,
Greg McGarity, moved to shut down the
athlete immediately, while school officials
and attorneys uncover the details of the case
T HE B LACK
A THLETE
Omar
Tyree
with the NCAA.
I had just read a great article about this kid
Todd Gurley II a few weeks ago. A reporter
wrote all about his humble upbringings with
a single mother in Baltimore, Md., who
moved Gurley and his older siblings to
Rocky Mount, North Carolina and later to
Tarboro for a better cost of living and a sim-
pler life “out in the country.” Gurley didn’t
even have access to cable TV. It wasn’t in
his mother’s family budget.
So this kid learned to work hard for every-
thing. All he had was the love of his family,
friends and football. His excellence as a
high school athlete then paved the way for a
grand opportunity to attend the University
of Georgia, one of the premiere football
schools of the south.
But once Gurley arrived there as a cele-
brated freshman, and had immediate
success on the field, just imagine the differ-
ence this kid felt when hundreds of
thousands of fans showed up to cheer and
celebrate his name each week, while mil-
lions more watched on TV, bought
thousands of his team jerseys, and began to
ask him for his autograph everywhere we
went. Only, Gurley could not make a dime
off of anything, and he had to be very care-
ful about the wrong person inviting him out
to a movie with buttered popcorn and a
Pepsi.
Sure, I’ve heard all about the “free rides”
of full scholarships that student athletes
receive—now worth $30,000 - $80,000 a
year. But I’ve also been there at the Univer-
sity of Pittsburgh in my own freshman year
of 1987, and those so-called “free rides” are
earned, because these schools will work
athletics to death in order to win. So good
luck with choosing a major that’s actually
worth $30,000 - $80,000. Most athletes
don’t have the time for it, and many coaches
will tell them so—especially in football and
basketball. Nor were these kids invited to
school to focus on a major. They are recruit-
ed to play sports, while masquerading as
students. That’s the hardcore reality here.
These are the many questions of execu-
tion and fairness that pop up. But at the end
of the day, life is never fair. Is it fair that a
rich kid can earn a full scholarship to school
and call home to his parents for thousands
of dollars each month, while riding the
bench in soccer? At the same time, a super-
star basketball player from generations of
poverty waits by the school cafeteria door
each day with a growling stomach, while
the university markets his name, game and
jersey for hundreds of thousands of dollars
that he can’t touch, including the scholar-
ship money that paid for the wealthy
benchwarmer in soccer.
It’s all an insane argument that will need
to be dealt with sooner rather than later. The
NCAA will have to find a better way to
make it all work—in fairness.
We honor the many
accomplishments of African
Americans.
It is our primary goal as a
labor union to better the
lives of all people working
in the building trades
through advocacy, civil
demonstration, and the
long-held belief that work-
ers deserve a "family wage" - fair pay for an honest day's work.
P
ortland Prime will give away 500
pairs of new shoes to local children
on Oct. 18. Now in its third year,
the Tennis Shoes and Steaks event will
run from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Portland
Prime restaurant, 121 SW 3rd Ave., Port-
land.
“The gift of a new pair of shoes can
give a personal message of encourage-
ment and can change a child’s life
forever,” said restaurant owner Frank
Taylor. “This is why our volunteers wash
the children’s feet and give them a new
pair of socks along with a backpack full
of school supplies.”
After receiving their new shoes, the
children will be treated to a hearty steak
sandwich lunch.
“I feel so blessed to be able to do this
event,” Taylor said. “Putting a smile on a
child’s face, and making them feel good
makes my day.”
Since Taylor started working with the
nonprofit Samaritans Feet, Portland
Prime has given away more than 1500
pairs of tennis shoes to children in the
community, helping them put their best
foot forward as they enter a new school
year.
Portland Prime is open daily for lunch
from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. It offers a
happy hour from 4 -7 p.m., and dinner
from 4 -11 p.m. The restaurant is known
for its prime steaks and chops, fresh
Pacific NW seafood and live music every
Friday and Saturday evening.
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October 15, 2014 The Portland and Seattle Skanner Page 13