Filed under: Football
Auburn quarterback Cam Newton became the 76th winner of the Heisman Trophy, considered to be the most prestigious award in all of college football. Newton won the award this week, making him the third player in Auburn University history to win the trophy. His stellar play on the field led to Auburn having a 13-0 record and playing for the BCS Championship.
Quite simply, Newton is an absolute beast. He led the SEC in rushing with 1,409 yards. He was simultaneously the nation's top-rated passer with 2,589 yards passing and 28 touchdown tosses. He also scored another 21 touchdowns rushing.
We've spoken about Cam Newton on Black Voices in the past, primarily because Cam's father is accused of seeking payment for his son's possibly playing at Mississippi State. The NCAA ruled that although it believes that Newton's father was seeking payment, neither Cam nor Auburn University officials were aware of any pending transactions. Therefore, both Cam and Auburn University have been cleared of any wrong-doing by the NCAA.
I have one response to the NCAA's reaction to the Cam Newton case and it makes reference to something that comes out of a bull's backside. While I would be my last nickel that both Auburn and the NCAA knew what Cam's dad was trying to make money in the background, the truth is that they understand the importance of standing down on this particular issue. Right now, Cam Newton is worth tens of millions of dollars to the NCAA. Because he is such an amazing player, corporate sponsors are banging down the door to pay millions to advertise to the legions of fans that Cam draws around the country. Therefore, the quick translation of the NCAA's actions would be simple: "We're willing to overlook what happens under the table because there's just too much money to be lost by taking Cam Newton off the field."
Although I've long been an advocate of seeing college athletes get labor rights that are the same as their coaches, I would guess that a black market will have to suffice for the time being. In the long-run, there should be nothing unethical or illegal about superstars like Cam Newton and their relatives profiting from their athletic ability. The unAmerican practice of utilizing the human capital of others and selling it as your own should eventually come to an end. College athletes and their families don't deserve to live in poverty while those running this professional sports league make millions. America should not be the land of athletic sweatshops.
Dr. Boyce Watkins is the founder of the Your Black World Coalition and a Scholarship in Action Resident of the Institute for Black Public Policy. To have Dr. Boyce commentary delivered to your email, please click here.