BUT, that is NOT the case. These students are considered AMATEURS!!!! I think that simple, single word is unfortunately held out of the student-athlete conversation way too often. These players are NOT professionals. They are there to get an education and some life skills and maturity while also having a platform to showcase and improve their skills. Unfortunately, they are too often exploited by athletic departments for monetary gain. Those educations are manipulated and diminished to ensure “W”s in the win column and dollars in the coffers. I don’t care what new weight lifting room or practice field, or even chem lab is built on campus by the $$ that comes in from bowl games and TV contracts, PEOPLE ARE GETTING RICH on the backs of these kids. The quandary is, while I endorse a small stipend for NCAA athletes, I stress SMALL in order to try and maintain some remnants of these student-athletes remaining amateurs and NOT professionals. People also tend to lose sight of how MANY of these players NEVER go pro, in any sport.
Anyway, back to Weeden. My issue is with the monetary value of his benefits when it seems pretty clear that this is one of those wink wink handshake kind of deals. Your touching the court at G-I doesn’t save you any money, thus making you money according to the “a penny saved is a penny earned” cliche. Green fees and access to Karsten while only being a VERY casual member of the team is just a different story, no matter what the heck all the others on here try and say.

That begs another question. Why are so many arguments simply NOT well thought out arguments or valid points, but simply threats and lobbed insults? “immature moronic twit?” Well said. Bravo. Oh wait, so what was your friggin’ argument? As the kids shorthand goes these days, SMH, Shaking My Head.

I wish some people would take a page out of Hmm’s book. Valid argument, well stated, and nothing but respect shown. Hmm, I have nothing but respect for your comments, whether I disagreed or agreed with them at any level.

People, he didn’t make that team of his own merits! He is there to soak up a huge benefit that even other teammates of his on the football field do NOT get. that is all there is to it. It’s not a personal judgement passed on the guy, it’t not mud slinging, it is simply what is. I know, now are not the days of calling a spade a spade.

So, I guess the PC way of going about this entire situation is simply saying “screw the sooners, go pokes” and “I dont care what Jim Tressel did, Cam Newton did, which players get arrested, none of that. I just want to watch football and for my team to win at any cost.”

As my wife often asks me, when I get a bit too worked up watching my alma mater, “does it change YOUR life if they win?” I don’t get a raise. No more people like me. I enjoy winning, but I am also NOT literally invested in their success either. I am not busting my hump, attending two a day practices, and risking injury week in week out for this GAME. I am just there to watch and enjoy. Cheer a bit and forget about the other stresses of my own life for a bit. It is fun. It is an escape.

So, as so many of you have said “get a life”, I challenge those who have used that very line to “get their own” and quit living their lives vicariously through 18-22 year olds on the football field. Go vote, and spend some time actually researching the issues. Make up your own minds, stand by your own convictions, as Jim Rome says, “have a take, and don’t suck”.

See: Integrity. Check it out, its a pretty cool thing. Then again, it might not be convenient.

People have completely perverted what capitalism means and stands for and what this COUNTRY stands for. People have twisted its roots so that they can feel better about screwing others to the wall to make an extra 2%.

Sorry man, but this country was founded on people treating others with respect, dignity, and forging a common bond that we were AMERICANS and would stand by each other when it counted. Rich and poor, black and white fought the Brits together.

Now, its just everyone for themselves. We have lost our identity, and therefore become myopic in our world view. All it took was few people selling others out before everyone just said, “crap, screw him, I gotta get mine. Good luck buddy” and then turned their back on everyone…and on the next generation. No one gives a crap what world their kids grow old in. You never hear parents caring about that anymore. They want the best for them…right NOW.

Trust in each other has been destroyed. It starts at the top. When you can’t trust your leaders, who do you have. Only yourself.

Ironically, I am not a tree hugger, a libby, an environmentalist, or employed by the Southern Poverty Law Center. But I do believe in what is RIGHT. We have to have a structure in which to live side by side. I pray for peace and harmony, but know there are always people who will prey on others and will take up arms to do so. Maybe thats why I’ve been an active duty military officer for 7 years. Also, as a military member we are often offered “perks” like first class upgrades on planes or free stuff at times. However, we are clearly told NOT to accept these things based on our membership of the US Armed Forces. Why? It gives others and impression that we are better than they are. It does not properly represent a citizen soldier attitude and a proper benefit for a public official. Like those athletes, we are held to a higher standard. I actually like the fact that I am held to a higher standard…everyday…23/7. Anyway, I digress.

You actually seem to want to protect OSU athletics.

Everyone, once he is no longer an NCAA athlete, I am all for Karsten Creek, Oak Tree, Southern HIlls, hell, Augusta National letting him play for free based on his “celebrity status” IF THEY SO CHOOSE. But as long as he is receiving a scholarship to play football at OSU, he cannot accept ANY free gifts.

I actually think that NCAA athletes should receive a small stipend so that they are never enticed to ACCEPT any free goods or services. We all know the amount of work these kids put in to earn it. They cannot get jobs and many have very poor families in need. It has to be difficult to have your room , board, and many clothes paid for while your brothers, sisters, and parents may be barely surviving. But at the moment, ANY extra or perk given is a MAJOR violation. I get that. If you open that pandora’s box, everyone will be using money, goods, services, “favors” etc. to influence collegiate athletics. It will completely destroy any semblance of parity as competition, true competition, goes out the window.

True AMATEUR competition is what the NCAA is about. It is sport in its purest form. I will watch 10 college games before I watch any pro sports. I don’t want to see some guy only go 80% because he might tweak something and he is in a contract year.

Oh, and gambling is a huge part to this too. Once you take away the “fairness” in college sports, its just like a dirty horse track where all the ponies are doped. Let’s leave the “fixing” to boxing and NBA refereeing.

If you knew a guy that was a member at Karsten and they wanted to take you out to golf there every saturday because they wanted to, would you be opposed? Obviously this is not a violation of NCAA rules but regarding Jon’s “you should only reap the benefits of your own accomplishments” you would decline right? no, you wouldn’t, you would accept and be grateful. Why is this different for Weeden? he has an opportunity and is taking advantage of the beauty of connections, which guys is what capitalism or the foundation that the “U.S of A” is based on.

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