From the Bleachers: Sept. 7, 2011

The difference between professional and intercollegiate sports can be shown in the rules, the strategy of play and most importantly the heart of the athlete.

 

Watching a college basketball game in March compared to an NBA game, professional players apparently have forgotten how to play defense. They are probably thinking about that new Italian sports car they want to buy.

I have always preferred intercollegiate athletics over professional but now I have found the truth. Collegiate athletes don’t put on their jerseys for the love of the game, all they think about is how much money can they make.

I love California but I wouldn’t mind living in South Beach for a semester. There is nice weather, great beaches and outstanding Cuban sandwiches. For football players at the University of Miami though, that is not enough.

According to an article in mid-August on Yahoo Sports, University of Miami booster Nevin Shapiro provided thousands of impermissible benefits to over 70 Miami student athletes from 2002-2010. Benefits included cash, paid trips to expensive restaurants, travel and even prostitution.

16 current Miami football players were linked to Shapiro and will sit out their first game. I feel like an actual slap on the wrist would be more painful than that penalty.

Athletes want to take that risk to make that extra money but it is shown that if you cheat you will get caught.

There is nothing wrong with following the rules. Look at Panthers’ quarterback Cam Newton. After winning a national championship he opted to go pro and received a four-year $22 million contract guaranteed. All he had to do was follow the rules.

Here at City College you would not go directly to the NFL or NBA but breaking the rules would have consequences to get to that next step to a four-year university.

Keeping proper focus on goals is also just as important as following the rules.

Rams football head coach George Rush said it is important to concentrate on football but it should not be your top priority.

“You really try to emphasize to them that we didn’t build this college to play football. At the end of the day this is an academic institution,” he said. “Their first priority should be their family, their church, their school work and then football.”

As I watch student athletes, they have to realize that they are not professionals. You have to work hard to get the benefits and they don’t come easily. Blood, sweat and tears might be an overused description but I have more respect for the athlete that put time into a university and received that big contract from his hard work and dedication.

As legendary UCLA basketball coach John Wooden said,“Good things take time, as they should. We shouldn’t expect good things to happen overnight. Actually, getting something too easily or too soon can cheapen the outcome.”