My First Post

Hey everyone! This is my first bog post ever! I hope you all enjoy this blog as much as I will enjoy writing it.
As for my first topic, I will turn to the world of sports (shocking! I know). Sports Illustrated recently just published their newest issue in which there is an interview with an agent. Now the cover of Sports Illustrated just says it all about the article. The cover simply says "I will never forget the first time I paid a player".

Now for those of you who do know, recently there has been major concerns over illegal actions by agents to the college football players they represent. Remember, college football players, in accordance to the NCAA rules, are treated like amateurs. And amateurs are not allowed to be paid or be given improper benefits. This is what separates amateurs from professionals. In recent years many players have been accepting these improper benefits. This makes the player ineligible to play college football. Some of you out there may be saying "So what?". And true it may not seem to matter unless you are extremely good player like Reggie Bush who happens to win the Heisman Trophy (the most prestigious award in college football) but at the same times accepts money from an agent. Houston, we have a problem.

This type of problem makes the NCAA very angry. Not only does Reggie no longer have his Heisman, but now almost all NCAA programs are a moment away from coming under investigation for illegal interactions with agents. This makes school very nervous and some say that the NFL should do something about this since it is their agents that pay the players. But the NFL doesn't want to do anything and so far the NCAA has done very little (except for North Carolina). Thus the debate begins. What should be done about agents.

Personally I say the answer lies in early education of players and stronger enforcement of rules by both the NCAA and NFL. I think players are poorly educated about these issues. I think that coaches should make it an emphasis that their players do nothing that compromises their eligibility.  Coaches as far down as high school could even start educating their seniors on the dangers they will face on the next level. Beating this into the player's head may lead to the players accepting these improper benefits. Also the NCAA and the NFL should make stronger rules. The NFL should start by banning any agent who is found guilty of handing out improper benefits. The NCAA should make their own rules of banning any player who accepted these benefits from playing NCAA sports permanently. These rules may seem strong, but I believe that strength is what is needed to ensure players and agents stop this practice.

But that's my opinion respond and tell me yours!

Here are some links to some things I mentioned in the blog in case you wanted to know more

SI's article:
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2010/magazine/10/12/agent/index.html?eref=sihp

Reggie Bush incident:
http://sports.espn.go.com/los-angeles/ncf/news/story?id=5581066


Well that's it for this post. See ya!