The End? Unions in college sports.

[appst89]

All this talk of conference affiliation and such will not matter if this happens.

http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/ ... 4823.story

[jorpaynoasu]

If they are employees of the school, shouldn't they have to pay taxes on that scholarship amount?

[Kgfish]

Lots of high end lawyers will be paid before this thing is settled.

[McLeansvilleAppFan]

If they are employees of the school, shouldn't they have to pay taxes on that scholarship amount?

Yes I am sure taxes would be paid, and your point is ..., I am not sure?

[Maddog1956]

I think some schools would have to prove they attend classes and take test to be classified as "students". Normally if you're paid to do a job you're either an employee or contractor.

Just because they "can" join a union doesn't mean they will however. Many employees "can" join a union that don't.

I have a feeling that the schools will just offer many of the items that are being requested, union or no union. Most of the items don't seem to far out, the "financial coverage for Medical expenses" could be covered by a form of workers compensation insurance for example.

"Among its demands, CAPA is seeking financial coverage for former players with sports-related medical expenses, independent concussion experts to be placed on the sidelines during games and the creation of an educational trust fund to help former players graduate."

[Yosef10]

"If they are employees of the school, shouldn't they have to pay taxes on that scholarship amount?"

In regard to that I have friends, who are not athletes, who have scholarship and financial aid that are both taxed. Both are viewed as income earned.

[havefunkc]

Let's see...

Tear an ACL during a game or practice, Worker's Comp claim...
Any financial compensation (i.e. scholarship), taxes due...
Union Dues...
Social Security taxes...
Medicare taxes...
Employee versus Student...
College Sports now an employer, Boosters can donate to 'company'...
Right to Work states versus Union states...
And this list goes on.

Oh yea - I see this going somewhere good -- NOT.

[moehler]

I just listen to the qb for NW University who is the leader of the movement to unionize collage athletics, took everything I had not to put my foot thru the tv listening to that bozo, tried to paint a picture of the poor football player who has nothing and needs a union to get, what he believes, is fair compensation, makes me sick, sadly, this thing is going to drag on all the way thru Fed courts, we will be hearing about this for a long, long time.

[appst89]

I just listen to the qb for NW University who is the leader of the movement to unionize collage athletics, took everything I had not to put my foot thru the tv listening to that bozo, tried to paint a picture of the poor football player who has nothing and needs a union to get, what he believes, is fair compensation, makes me sick, sadly, this thing is going to drag on all the way thru Fed courts, we will be hearing about this for a long, long time.

It will end up in the Supreme Court because if it happens, it's the end of college athletics.

[McLeansvilleAppFan]

I just listen to the qb for NW University who is the leader of the movement to unionize collage athletics, took everything I had not to put my foot thru the tv listening to that bozo, tried to paint a picture of the poor football player who has nothing and needs a union to get, what he believes, is fair compensation, makes me sick, sadly, this thing is going to drag on all the way thru Fed courts, we will be hearing about this for a long, long time.

It will end up in the Supreme Court because if it happens, it's the end of college athletics.

It will not be the end of college athletics. It may be the end of college athletics as we know it, but I don't see this being a big issue at a DIII school. And DIII is college athletics.

[Yosef10]

He probably came off that way because, well, they get basically nothing.

[HeffnerIV]

This could cause the schools to start looking at 'scholarships' as more of the one-year contracts they are, and they may become a little more discriminating about their renewal.

[appdaze]

Pandora's box has been opened. Goodbye Amateur sports. Hello college minor league system.

[AppDawg]

If this comes to be the norm, or if players are paid, my donations will be cut off. I gladly pay for scholarships but will not "pay" players to play. My question is, if players unionize and pay for play comes to pass, at what point are donations deemed "capital investments" and not "charitable?" Players should be careful what they ask for, as should the leagues pushing for pay for play. Slippery slope.

[BeauFoster]

He probably came off that way because, well, they get basically nothing.

The athletes get nothing? Seriously?

Wow that is a foolish statement.

[Maddog1956]

Sorry to be a sad sack, but it doesn't say anything about the players asking to be paid. As a matter of fact it states that is not an objective and is not allowed. So far I see that very little has changed.

This is what it states.

"The union has said it would seek to negotiate over health and safety issues and does not intend to push for "pay-for-play" wages, which are not allowed under regulations issued by the NCAA."

[Yosef10]

He probably came off that way because, well, they get basically nothing.

The athletes get nothing? Seriously?

Wow that is a foolish statement.

What do they get beau? Besides an "education" and that's a whole different topic in itself.

[BeauFoster]

He probably came off that way because, well, they get basically nothing.

The athletes get nothing? Seriously?

Wow that is a foolish statement.

What do they get beau? Besides an "education" and that's a whole different topic in itself.

They can get an education, should they so choose. Plus tutoring, meals, room, board, books, clothing, life experience, etc. Just because some choose to not take advantage does not mean all get nothing. My roommate played football. I know what they get and don't.

[WataugaMan]

This could cause the schools to start looking at 'scholarships' as more of the one-year contracts they are, and they may become a little more discriminating about their renewal.

Thus, they may be fired for poor performance?

[HeffnerIV]

This could cause the schools to start looking at 'scholarships' as more of the one-year contracts they are, and they may become a little more discriminating about their renewal.

Thus, they may be fired for poor performance?

Yes, or not renewed (based on your perspective)