Dr. Boyce Video -- Cam Newton, Auburn and the NCAA: What the Hayell?

Filed under: Dr. Boyce Money

The "What the hayell" segment asks serious questions about events, institutions and individuals in our society who lead us to be confused about their behavior. One serious point of confusion is the NCAA, Auburn University and the treatment of star quarterback Cam Newton. Newton helped bring in a $21 million dollar payday to Auburn University with his recent NCAA championship. He also helped the school earn millions throughout the year through ticket sales, jersey sales and national television appearances. Yet, to this day, Cam and the other players on the Auburn University football team will see no piece of the multi-million dollar pie generated by their labor.

With the recent announcement that he plans to enter the NFL draft, Newton is going to be just fine. But there are other very talented players on the Auburn University football team who played a significant role in winning the title, who will leave campus with neither an academic degree or an NCAA contract. These individuals deserve to have labor rights so they don't have to be megastars in order to get a fraction of financial return for their athletic investment. Schools like Auburn University are massive corporate athletic machines who use athletes (many of whom are black) to keep their revenues high. Simultaneously, many of these players have families who live in poverty. I believe this to be fundamentally unfair and incredibly unAmerican.

Congress should get involved. The video is below, check it out!



Dr. Boyce Watkins is the founder of the Your Black World Coalition and the Athlete Liberation and Academic Reform Movement (ALARM). To have Dr. Boyce commentary delivered to your email, please click here.

 

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