Originally published at: https://pistolsfiringblog.com/daily-bullets-feb-22-bill-self-and-osu-talked-packed-winter-weekend-in-osu-sports/
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“Is NIL/transfer portal impacting fan’s relationships with players?”
For me, I would say this current era of college athletics has diminished my enthusiasm a little bit. I think that mostly comes from the current iteration of the portal where a player is a free agent every year. Putting players under contract would go a long way to fix that.
I don’t have a problem with players getting paid because let’s be honest, even in the "good ole days some players were getting paid under the table. Now it’s out in the open and most can benefit, though there’s does need to be some regulations.
It is going to be interesting to see the long term ramifications to players and their lives beyond the sport. While the value of getting a free education in trade for participating in college sports is seemingly ignored in this new world of NIL/transfer portal/et al. There are still some truths that smart athletes shouldn’t ignore if they want to maximize their ability to have a successful life. Those facts include the truth that very few college athletes make it to the pro level so any money acquired while in college, barring some type of shrewd investing, will be fleeting leaving them back to square one financially after their exit from college. Also while college degrees are poo pooed these days there are degrees that will provide for good career opportunities. One just has to be smart about the degree choice and put in the effort. I wonder, given all the hype and focus on NIL and getting “payed”, how many athletes these days understand this and figure out how best to optimize the long game once their short sports career is over.
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Definitely damages relationship with the players. Can’t put too much emotional investment in a guy that can be gone at any time. A guy like John Paul Richardson is a prototype “fan favorite” type–low profile, hardworker, not flashy but makes clutch plays–, but he dipped out. Yeah, when a guy stays for his whole career, he’ll be appreciated, but going into any season, people are always going to wonder if they’ll flake out. There’s no illusion that they love the school. The transformation from amateur to professional sport is all but complete.
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