The battle has begun.
Well, actually the battle has been going on for some time now. Northwestern University and a group of its current and former players have stormed the beach at Normandy in an attempt to get the NCAA (and probably one really inspirational labor law professor) to stand up and take notice.
I struggle with fully engaging in this debate because my anger towards the herd mentality of major college sports seriously infuriates me. When people are involuntarily treated like cattle we invoke laws to fix it. When it is our "so-called" student athletes, we pretend that access to an education is a fair trade off even though we don't insure they get the support they need to succeed in school. Sports scholarships are not even guaranteed, but are a year to year evaluation of the herd to determine who you keep and who gets sent to slaughter.
Don't be mistaken. Success in college takes preparation that begins long before college. Success in college is often the by product of a lot of prodding and pushing from family and someone to push you pass that "I want to quit" wall. In fact, success in college is a lot like success in sports. Somehow we invest highly in the cost of creating top notch college athletes, and then we sugar coat their class schedule and slap them on the head to make sure they are staying on top of Basket Weaving 101.
It is fairly clear that every college is much more invested in the financial return of the athlete and not the resource drain of the student, even though we will never have one without the other. This system is rigged against the success of the student, especially if they never had the foundation for success to begin with. Some endure as long as they can and run off to make the money that they crossed the college bridge to make in the first place. Most fight like hell to get educated because going pro is a real long shot, staying pro even longer. Every one of them performs a service to the university that demands better compensation.
Even the worst of college coaches can make a sizable penny in the job. The upper echelon make pro coaches look like they are in the wrong line of work. As for the schools? Some schools cover all of their sports budget on the backs of the major sports, with money to spare. Every few years the NCAA negotiates a new deal, and the television ratings for college sports have given them true negotiation power.
They don't call it March Madness for nothing. Famous Jameis Winston is a household name now, and for more than his scandal. Now that the NFL and NBA (both sports with large minority populations) are fully in cahoots with the NCAA by restricting access ONLY to US high school kids, our student athletes are now forced to run with the herd before they can make money for themselves. The NFL and the NBA win because they are not paying for potential (which can cost too much). The NCAA wins because they get to force a herd of young people through their turnstiles and leech a penny or two from them before freeing them to get a fair share of the pie.
Title 9, which legislates an equity of treatment between all athletes on a college campus, was created to improve sports standards in college for women, but creates another challenge. Money maker sports in college support the money taker sports that do not generate a profit. The NCAA sports revenue model involves dumping the lion share of the money into a bucket and dividing it up among the masses. If this pie it to be divided any further, Title 9 says it has to be divided equally among all athletes in a school.
Despite this hurdle, some believe that it can be done. I believe that it can only be done at the schools who have enough to do it. The rest of the schools will struggle from such a mandate creating a scenario worse than the one we currently have. This is where I usually disengage because its a reality that is not easy to fix and I struggle with rehashing debates that have no sensible resolution. I honor the efforts of those Northwestern players, but what they earned for themselves could not work for that Division 3 school just down the road.
Scholarships are an awesome thing when they fulfill their complete purpose. They succeed in luring a herd of talent onto the college campus but fail to insure they succeed. Since schools do not have to honor any commitment towards achievement, they are free to cut the athlete and evict the student as well.
I say no more. Colleges can not pay student athletes, so they must be held to account for their graduation rates. Only an athlete that earns three years of professional income will be exempted from a school's athletic graduation rate. If you don't invest into the success of your athletes, you will sacrifice a portion of your NCAA payment as a penalty. The NCAA is making lots of money here too and should be forced to intervene with resource support for any school that is not achieving a minimum graduation rate among athlete's. The penalty underachieving schools will pay can go directly to an athlete education assistance fund to insure proper resources for this effort.
As a special caveat, students should have a reasonable window to complete their degree. I think 5 years of paid education and 10 years to complete it. Student athletes with life disruptions (illness, injury, family emergency) should get the opportunity to return to school in a reasonable timeline and cash in on the only benefit that their athletic prowess can earn them. Labor laws are going to struggle to encompass the role of a student athlete for various reason's. However, if the college can't be called an employer, they must make sure that they tend to the cattle.
Monday, February 3, 2014
Sunday, February 2, 2014
Comprehensive recovery of Mexico should spear head economic war with China
Our only future plan for Mexican immigration is to reverse the magnet a bit. Companies in America that willfully hire illegals may need to reconsider their means and mode of production. Through a better North American trade agreement, we can look at turning Mexico into the worlds new China. To go into a store and find anything that does not "Made In China" is hard anymore. China is rapidly on its way to becoming the worlds largest economy because we have made it that way.
But did we have any other alternative?
When laws made it so appealing to find cheap labor, corporations did just that. Made In America was always teetering on the precipice of trade agreements. Third world countries saw America's need of third world labor and responded.
As I grew up, those tags that once said Made In America slowly became, Made In Vietnam, Made In Taiwan, Made In Thailand and made anywhere in the world except America. Only recently has China (still a communist nation) taken over the allegiance of America's thirst for a robust economy.
If Mexico does not teach us something about the impact of third world labor sources and what companies will do to gain it, Mexico should teach us something about income redistribution. In essence, the income that was transferred from the Mexican soil is now being earned on America's soil and sent back to Mexico. Socialism, once again, has reared its head in response to those moments that capitalism hurts.
Aside from the danger of Mexican drug cartels, redeveloping Mexico will expand the capacity for American imperialism. To hurt China, we must disconnect our dependency upon them. Mexico offers a fertile land for relocating corporations that consume products currently being purchased from China. For every corporation who makes this investment we can treat their products as domestic production in regards to both labeling and taxation. Mexico gains new industry and retains its most vital resource, its people, and America stops bending over to be raped by China. After all, Made In North America sounds a lot better than Made In China anyway.
Of course we could ignore Mexico and pretend that immigration and dangerous drug cartels will fix themselves. We could do like Eric Cantor says and tell ourselves that we must secure the border before we address the problem. We can continue to allow criminal corporations to be less accountable than the immigrants they hire.....
.....Or we could get real about immigration and embrace all of North America as more than just next door neighbors, but countries who's futures are intimately connected with our own.
Previous Post: Since we can never secure our border, we must have a sensible plan for future illegals.
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| Can't we make it in Mexico and label it Made In North America? |
When laws made it so appealing to find cheap labor, corporations did just that. Made In America was always teetering on the precipice of trade agreements. Third world countries saw America's need of third world labor and responded.
As I grew up, those tags that once said Made In America slowly became, Made In Vietnam, Made In Taiwan, Made In Thailand and made anywhere in the world except America. Only recently has China (still a communist nation) taken over the allegiance of America's thirst for a robust economy.
If Mexico does not teach us something about the impact of third world labor sources and what companies will do to gain it, Mexico should teach us something about income redistribution. In essence, the income that was transferred from the Mexican soil is now being earned on America's soil and sent back to Mexico. Socialism, once again, has reared its head in response to those moments that capitalism hurts.
Aside from the danger of Mexican drug cartels, redeveloping Mexico will expand the capacity for American imperialism. To hurt China, we must disconnect our dependency upon them. Mexico offers a fertile land for relocating corporations that consume products currently being purchased from China. For every corporation who makes this investment we can treat their products as domestic production in regards to both labeling and taxation. Mexico gains new industry and retains its most vital resource, its people, and America stops bending over to be raped by China. After all, Made In North America sounds a lot better than Made In China anyway.
Of course we could ignore Mexico and pretend that immigration and dangerous drug cartels will fix themselves. We could do like Eric Cantor says and tell ourselves that we must secure the border before we address the problem. We can continue to allow criminal corporations to be less accountable than the immigrants they hire.....
.....Or we could get real about immigration and embrace all of North America as more than just next door neighbors, but countries who's futures are intimately connected with our own.
Previous Post: Since we can never secure our border, we must have a sensible plan for future illegals.
Since we can never secure our border, we must have a sensible plan for future illegals.
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| NAFTA force the Mexican farmer to chase the work. |
If I were Cantor, I would force demands upon this bill that set timelines around what we do next. A holistic approach to immigration demands a realistic approach to the cause and effect model.
Before NAFTA (North American Free Trade Agreement) the Mexican farmer could make a reasonable living in Mexico. After NAFTA, he was swallowed up by the strength of the American farm corporations. When the supply and demand model shifted the supply source to America's soil, it shifted the job as well. Immigration exploded after NAFTA as did crime in Mexico. A weakened Mexico has provided few real alternatives for industry, and thus, weak resistance to the emerging drug lord economy.
Immigration grew because Mexicans had to choose to either live really poorly in Mexico on what you can make, or you chase the jobs in America and send a little cash back if you can. Economist say that this lost money that is generated in America but sent back to Mexico is an issue worth addressing as well. Truly desperate youth in Mexico shorten their life expectancy by making money within the drug trade which is another significant American trade arrangement with a one sided benefit (save for the guns that Texas sells to drug lords). Some of the drug money makes its way back into the Mexican economy, but at the cost of fear and terror on the Mexican streets.
In the absence of a stronger industry, the drug cartels grow stronger. In time, our main concern from the southern regions of our continent will not be the immigrants but the industry of evil that will increase its ability to control Mexico on America's dime. They may already be expanding tunnel systems to insure future immigration and drug routes. America owes it to America to address the decline of Mexico with legislation and strategy before it requires soldiers and guns.....and bombs.
Next Post: Comprehensive recovery of Mexico should also be the spear head of our economic war with China
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Immigration is about the migration of human beings towards hope and prosperity
Immigration is much much more than a big word to describe people who travel from their home country into another. In the scope of what it means to the future of the American electorate, it is much more important than healthcare. Immigration could become the conversation that quiets the ObamaCare scare.
For several months now it has been confirmed that if given a chance, the current immigration bill that has passed the Senate would also pass in the House of Representatives. Majority leaders have the power to filibuster a bill and deny it a day in the sun. For weeks now, president Obama has talked about moving legislation through executive order if congress refuses to act. When the president threatens to pull out his pen and phone, he is talking about immigration for sure.
On CBS's Face the Nation, House Majority Leader Eric Cantor said,
"There's not been a determined sense that we are going to secure the borders and make sure that the laws on the books are being implemented now. I would say that is a precursor and has to happen first."
Why are republicans drawing new red lines on immigration when there is already immigration legislation with headcount to pass? This is not about immigration at all anymore, (another post for another day) but republicans are forcing the immigration debate once again.
Republicans and democrats who are ready to pass an immigration bill understand the utter hypocrisy of this debate. The cost of deportation (which is a federal responsibility) might be twice the cost of stopping human beings from moving across land and sea and settling in fertile soil. Why? Because it will never end. Where there is a will.....and a job......there will always be a way. The search for hope and prosperity is irrepressible.
Remove the magnet, remove the problem.
The only criminal is the corporations that happily create the low wage worker magnets that ultimately draw the immigrant; especially the post NAFTA immigrant. Companies find ways to look the other way because America government looks the other way. As is the case with marijuana, the cost of enforcement is no longer worth the fight.
Yet, this problem is much more complex because the impact and the ramifications of the Mexican immigrant, to Mexico and to America, demands a holistic perspective.
Consider these things.
For several months now it has been confirmed that if given a chance, the current immigration bill that has passed the Senate would also pass in the House of Representatives. Majority leaders have the power to filibuster a bill and deny it a day in the sun. For weeks now, president Obama has talked about moving legislation through executive order if congress refuses to act. When the president threatens to pull out his pen and phone, he is talking about immigration for sure.
On CBS's Face the Nation, House Majority Leader Eric Cantor said,
"There's not been a determined sense that we are going to secure the borders and make sure that the laws on the books are being implemented now. I would say that is a precursor and has to happen first."
Why are republicans drawing new red lines on immigration when there is already immigration legislation with headcount to pass? This is not about immigration at all anymore, (another post for another day) but republicans are forcing the immigration debate once again.
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| Can we ever stop humans from migrating across the earth? |
Remove the magnet, remove the problem.
The only criminal is the corporations that happily create the low wage worker magnets that ultimately draw the immigrant; especially the post NAFTA immigrant. Companies find ways to look the other way because America government looks the other way. As is the case with marijuana, the cost of enforcement is no longer worth the fight.
Yet, this problem is much more complex because the impact and the ramifications of the Mexican immigrant, to Mexico and to America, demands a holistic perspective.
Consider these things.
- Since we can never secure our border, we must have a sensible plan for future illegals.
- Comprehensive recovery of Mexico should also be the spear head of our economic war with China
Saturday, February 1, 2014
Black History Month Is Dying......But That's A Good Thing
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| Celebrating Harriet Tubman |
When I was a young man growing up through the evolution of this historical time of the year, it was a major bone of contention that blacks were not getting the proper historical treatment that they deserved. Black history month was an acceptance and an admission of the failed representation of America's full history. It was the opportunity to include what the history books had left out.
The history books told part of the story, but they did not paint black people in the most positive light. During the lifetime of Martin Luther King, he himself was treated like a rebel of America and had more negative pockets of opinion towards him than positive. Today, republicans and democrats are arguing over which party gets to claim the great leader.
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| Dr. Justina Ford attended the birth of my mother and many others in Denver.Census records for 1910, 1920, and 1930, show that she was Denver’s only female doctor. |
Today, little white kids get to put on black history month reenactments dressed as whatever historical black figure has been chosen for the new year. Today, the history books have been revised to at least mention blacks, and Google search does the rest. Black people and black history is fully within the mainstream of America.
By the time we finish marching in January for MLK, and watching special programs on television to honor blacks in February, I find myself happy for blacks but totally oblivious to the reason we fought so hard. Not that blacks have arrived to the promise land we sought to attain, but our history has. Knowing our history will certainly direct our future.
In the minds of blacks like me who fought to bring this month to higher importance in America, black history month is dying. But that's a good thing.
Superbowl Sunday Arrives. Seattle Needs Magic, Denver Needs Man.
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| My wife and I are playing this game right now, in the snow. Whoever can fit the helmet gets to be Denver. Darn.....looks like I have to be Seattle. |
Along this journey we have discovered some things about our team that a lot of people will not learn until Sunday. The Seattle Seahawks have done the same thing in many ways, so the past few weeks have been a whole lot of getting to know characters that the NFL had no real clue about.
Richard Sherman stands out as the most obvious new face that we are getting to know but both teams are from cities that are common recipients of the infamous "east coast bias". This bias is the reason that no one really knows these teams very well. Even though both of these teams were preseason favorites to be here, national commentators who are paid to do this stuff have only begun to uncover the real story behind several pro bowl caliber players on both sides of the ball. Along the way, they have turned it into the Peyton Manning versus Richard Sherman bowl and have squeezed blood out of that proverbial turnip while adding the other players to the backdrop of this picture.
My wife is really good at saying the very thing that I was thinking (24 years of marriage) and today is no exception. These past two weeks of media spin has spun our heads in circles. When the 900th news report aired today offering another spin to this game she immediately declared "I am so tired of all of this that I am ready to go out back and just decide this game right here and right now". They say that the two shall become one, and in this case they are exactly right. If my big head didn't have to represent Seattle, I might have taken her up on that challenge.
Not that the Seahawks don't have a puncher's chance. They have a defense that can win anytime and anywhere. But they also have Sherman. History has a common trend in sports that doesn't allow many athletes, even great ones, to win it all on the first time out. Magic Johnson is the first and the last in recent memory to become a champion right away and most consider him to be a recipient of both a great game and immense humility. I'm just saying.
Sherman and the boys will need some of that magic to overcome the challenge that stands before them. The Broncos will have man to carry them through. Not, the man, I meant man defense. All season long, the calling card of this defense has been our ability to play every team one on one if necessary. We have resorted to some zone looks as the season and the competition level progressed, but Denver is primarily a man to man team.
If necessary, and good run defense makes it necessary, we will play man to man and challenge Seattle to do the same on the other side of the ball. If we pick apart their zone, they will be forced into adjustments that they have never had to make on defense because of so much speed and talent. Sunday, they may have to go there.
When Denver proceeds to go there, which means wherever the game dictates, then I predict a resounding victory (37-17) and a lot of talk on Monday about those forgotten one's, the Denver defense.
Nate Robinson, Ty Lawson Out. Toronto Stops Decade Long Drought
-Toronto came into Denver with a 24-21 record, an all-star in Demar DeRozan and a lot of complaints that Kyle Lowry wasn't another one. They came in realizing that Denver not only lost Ty Lawson, but lost back up point guard Nate Robinson, who tore an ACL and is out for the season. The only thing in the Nuggets favor was a 10 year streak of victories over Toronto in Denver.
That streak is over.
Even without the back court support, the Nuggets seemed equipped to capture victories against both of these teams. Well, the Raptors were a tougher challenge than the Bobcats, but in hindsight, Denver accomplished some noteworthy things in both games.
Against Toronto, the Nuggets won the rebounds (49-40) including offensive rebounds (12-9). They won the points in the paint battle (50-38), and it wasn't the George Karl way with fast break points (which they actually lost 6-11). The Nuggets had two players with 18 points, one of which was Evan Fournier who scored a similar amount against the Bobcats and is starting to prove to himself that he can play in this league.
Although the first half remained fairly competitive, the Raptors had a hot night shooting to start out. Denver had to trade 2's for 3's early in order to keep pace with Toronto, but they did it. By the end of the game the Nuggets would end up with the exact same 3 pt shooting percentage (38.1) and attempts (8-21) as Toronto. Shooting ended at a respectable 45% and the final margin of 10 points came with a strong rush from behind by Denver.
26 turnovers later and the Nuggets are probably kicking themselves for literally handing the game to Toronto, but that might be an over reach. Toronto shot their way to a sizable lead and took their foot off of the gas. To their credit, the Nuggets had every reason to quit and did not. In order for one team to give up a run, the other team has to make one happen.
All of these injuries have made room for Fournier and Quincy Miller who are making strides with every minute they get. The Nugget organization has chosen the wisest route for any team that can't compete for the crown. Win as many games as you can with as many developing players as you can get away with, because in the end, you are only as strong as your weakest link. We may even need to return to the "everybody plays" of earlier in the season. Time to figure out who we keep and who we package up for the upcoming trade deadline.
That streak is over.
Even without the back court support, the Nuggets seemed equipped to capture victories against both of these teams. Well, the Raptors were a tougher challenge than the Bobcats, but in hindsight, Denver accomplished some noteworthy things in both games.
Against Toronto, the Nuggets won the rebounds (49-40) including offensive rebounds (12-9). They won the points in the paint battle (50-38), and it wasn't the George Karl way with fast break points (which they actually lost 6-11). The Nuggets had two players with 18 points, one of which was Evan Fournier who scored a similar amount against the Bobcats and is starting to prove to himself that he can play in this league.
Although the first half remained fairly competitive, the Raptors had a hot night shooting to start out. Denver had to trade 2's for 3's early in order to keep pace with Toronto, but they did it. By the end of the game the Nuggets would end up with the exact same 3 pt shooting percentage (38.1) and attempts (8-21) as Toronto. Shooting ended at a respectable 45% and the final margin of 10 points came with a strong rush from behind by Denver.
26 turnovers later and the Nuggets are probably kicking themselves for literally handing the game to Toronto, but that might be an over reach. Toronto shot their way to a sizable lead and took their foot off of the gas. To their credit, the Nuggets had every reason to quit and did not. In order for one team to give up a run, the other team has to make one happen.
All of these injuries have made room for Fournier and Quincy Miller who are making strides with every minute they get. The Nugget organization has chosen the wisest route for any team that can't compete for the crown. Win as many games as you can with as many developing players as you can get away with, because in the end, you are only as strong as your weakest link. We may even need to return to the "everybody plays" of earlier in the season. Time to figure out who we keep and who we package up for the upcoming trade deadline.
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