Month: July 2021

I’ve long been a proponent of paying college athletes for their services. Hell, it’s the one thing I agree with Rand Paul on. This archaic notion that “they’re getting their education for free and that’s enough” is simply myopic, and dare I say toxic. Often those making the argument are simply jealous they were not afforded the opportunity to go to college, and are resentful that many of these athletes at the start. Why else would someone write “The players should be grateful for this type of publicity the players received by the NCAA and not ask for cash.”

But that publicity is worth real world value, it has a price tag. Why should student athletes not capitalize on the “publicity” they are providing for the university and the athletic programs? Why should the institution be the only beneficiary of said publicity? I’ve written about these issues before; check out “It’s in the Game” from February this year.

This may finally be changing. Thus “name, image, likeness” (NIL) deals are the new business of college sports with news out today that the tide is turning. Alabama’s Nick Saban revealed that his new starting QB Bryce Young is already approaching a million dollars in signed endorsement deals. Beyond the staggering life-changing number number is what this represents is the momentous shift this. For decades, the NCAA has made billions off the backs of their athletes, isn’t about time these students get a recognizable cut of the money pie many of these universities have been feasting upon?

Young isn’t the only one making big money deals. Rival Auburn QB Bo Nix signed a sweet deal with tea drink maker Milos Tea. Arkansas wideout Trey Knox and his dog signed with PetSmart. HBCU star Hercy Miller signed with his dad Master P’s No Limit label for $2 million. Likely the most successful of the bunch, are Fresno State’s Cavinder twins parlaying their three million TikTok followers into real world cash.

The future for the deals seems to be bright.

That is not to say that I do not have concerns. Along with any endorsement deal is a complex contract filled with requirements and benchmarks the signee must meet in order to uphold the contract. What if Young or Nix gets injured? Do they still get paid? What if Knox gets benched after a few poor games? Is he still cashing those PetSmart checks? God forbid, what if one of these athletes gets arrested or cited for drunk driving? What does that mean for other athletes’ ability to earn money from NILs in the future?

There is sure to be a settling period, as company’s start to rationalize the money they’re doling out for some of these names. While it seems as if there’s no ceiling right now, you have to imagine that more staid numbers will shake out. Not every college quarterback is going to make Bo Nix money, nor would we expect the the starting wide receiver for Montana State to pull in six-figures to endorse his local Waffle House.

But what does this mean for the non-revenue sports? Are the ladies on the field hockey team afforded the same opportunity? How about the men and women on crew? The train just as diligently and far more physically taxing sport than anyone on the baseball team. Are they just left out in the cold?

And my biggest concern is the role of the institution in this new economy. We can assume Alabama has an inherent advantage based on name association alone, Saban noted this talking about the Crimson Tide’s “brand” during the SEC Media Day. But what about my alma mater Ball State? Because they’re a mid-major in the MAC with far less name recognition, do their athletes fall even further behind now that there’s yet another differentiator between them and the athletes at U of A?

Does Alabama use this in recruiting? “Come to Tuscaloosa. We have NIL deals waiting for you. Look at Young. Dude hasn’t even started a game and he’s already worth a cool milly.” Sorry, but that does raise questions and concerns from me.

I’m not saying don’t show them money. Please do. But let’s not do so without caution and introspection.

The 2020/2021 Tokyo Olympics began last week, and here we are nearly four days in, and I have spent a single second thinking about them. Oh sure, I have seen the scores and the occasional medal update, but in terms of interest, these games have fallen flatter for me than a fat uncle’s belly flop in the backyard pool.

It’s not as if there isn’t plenty going on, the Olympics are a constant buzz of activities. But in the malaise of the pandemic, I’m just not that interested in it. 

Maybe it’s because these Olympics were delayed. The decision was difficult, but simply had to be made. There was no way to run the games safely in the midst of the pandemic in 2020 when thousands were dying on a daily basis around the globe. One year later, any anticipation for those games seem to have worn off.

Maybe it’s because the Japanese public never really supported the games? Public opinion prior to the games was tepid at best, to which the IOC largely shrugged off. Now that the games are in full swing, the attitude towards them has definitely soured as any positive coverage has been limited, and the economic boon promised by the IOC to possible hosts has largely gone unrealized. The Japanese are nothing if not practical and decidedly austere. Self-promotion and rah-rah enthusiasm are not traditional Japanese values.

Maybe it’s because we’re still in the pandemic, despite some folks here in the States acting like COVID doesn’t exist as they run pell mell towards normalcy, whether it actually returns or not. But it’s hard to separate these Olympics from the times we live in. In fact, a number of people associated with the Games have already come up sick, belying the concerns in the run-up to games regarding the safety of the the participating athletes, the tourists coming to Games, and the Japanese public at large.

I had planned on possibly returning to Japan this summer, but the travel restrictions on entering the country eliminated that possibility. Limiting tourism during the games was absolutely the correct move, but in taking away the spectators from the stands, have the Games also taken away a reason to tune in? Seeing the flags, costumes and pageantry of the crowds, the family members of athletes going crazy, or whatever this craziness of the opening of the 2008 Beijijng Games was provides incentive to watch. You want to be a part of this. 

But a pandemic games? Not so much.

I’m not the only social scientist who’s noticed by the way. I’d suggest about 8-10 months from now, you’ll see more than a few academic articles concerning this very issue.

It’s not often that the media coverage preceding a sporting event outstrips the media of the sporting event itself, but here we are.

By now nearly everyone in the sports world is aware of the incendiary comments in leaked audio made by ESPN reporter Rachel Nichols about fellow reporter Maria Taylor earning her position as host of the networks 2020 NBA Finals coverage as ESPN was “feeling pressure” to promote diversity. 

Nichols is white. Taylor is Black.

Late Tuesday afternoon, it was announced that Nichols had been removed from her job as the ESPN lead sideline reporter during the 2021 NBA Finals between the Milwaukee Bucks and the Phoenix Suns as the firestorm surrounding ESPN’s handling of the situation exploded onto the pages of The New York Times, with the paper of record chronicling the network’s disastrous history of relations with its numerous Black employees and on-air talent.

But I loathe to give any attention to Nichols complaints of tokenism or write a missive about ESPN’s racism or disgusting practices. Instead I would rather focus on two aspects of this story that have especially irked me.

According to the Times exposé, “Nichols said she reached out to Taylor to apologize through texts and phone calls. “Maria has chosen not to respond to these offers, which is completely fair and a decision I respect,” Nichols said.” 

How infuriating.

Even as the transgressor of a hideous comment, in an act of ultimate Karenhood, Nichols places the onus of forgiveness upon the aggrieved Black woman she blatantly slandered with her words. It’s not enough that Taylor has work hard for what she’s accomplished, nay, as a Black woman she has had to work even harder o attain the success she’s due; she now, according to Nichols, has to make a decision to offer this privileged white woman forgiveness, as if Taylor has to provide her attacker clemency? If she refuses, which she damn well should, Nichols has provided the narrative that it’s on her (Taylor). Nothing says victimhood like committing a sinful act and blaming those you’ve wronged if they chose not to forgive you. 

The blatant audacity.

Worse, Taylor, who has used her prestige as a rising star within the company has done nothing but give back to her fellow Black female reporters. After being named the host of the network’s flagship show concerning the NBA, NBA Countdown. Taylor gave Malika Andrews a bigger platform on the show, one that has seen Andrews thrive in her new spotlight. She pressured her bosses for LaChina Robinson as an analyst, leading to ESPN to promote her.

In addition, Taylor has “become increasingly comfortable with expressing her views within the company” per the Times story this weekend. She spoke out publicly as ESPN failed to have a single Black female voice on the network’s game coverage of the NCAA women’s Final Four. She spoke out about George Floyd, social justice, and the Black Lives Matter movement. 

She is doing exactly what the conservative white power structure asks BIPOC individuals to do: lift yourselves up by your bootstraps. Work within the system, champion each other. “Don’t depend on us to make in-roads for you, that’s on you.”

Oh, but don’t do too much.

Don’t ruffle too many feathers.

Shut and dribble.

It’s damned if you do, damned if you don’t. And that’s point. Within the white power structure and it’s unholy alliance with white supremacy and systemic racism, BIPOC people are expected go do all the work in lifting the community and campaign for the unseen and unheard voices themselves, just don’t step on anyone’s toes. 

That’s what led ultimately to this latest brouhaha. Taylor started swinging a bigger stick, pressing ESPN for a more inclusive show, which in turn led to pushback and “instigated an internal tug of war” (Draper, 2021), and will likely lead to Taylor leaving the network in three weeks when her contract is up.

And while I should note, that this shit is exhausting, we must keep a well-worn axiom in the forefront of our minds in the fight for racial equality. 

Nevertheless, she persisted.