A fan–no more–of revenue-generating college sports, it was time to take personal action.
The NCAA, big conferences, and various schools keep talking about making “big changes”–NCAA president Emmert talked that way at the recent NCAA convention–but big changes never seem to happen.
What I’m most upset about is how the NCAA and Power 5 conferences/schools rake in the money, keep most of it for purposes they prefer, and then act like the “student-athlete” model — a model crafted multiple generations ago — still applies in today’s drastically changed, pro-like, athletics-media environment.
Courtesy: The College Fix
It just doesn’t. And the athletics that the Association and schools rely on most–African Americans–get used and abused as a result.
Analyst after analyst has written about the subject. Consider Victoria Jackson’s recent take as a former athlete and now sports historian at Arizona State University.
For years I’ve complained about what’s going on. I’ve written about it. I’ve outlined what I think needs to happen. And I’ve called out athletic administrators for failing to focus on what I call “institutional social responsibility.” Put another way, there’s more to successful programs than winning, branding, and making money.
But no change means it’s business as usual.
So instead of focusing on them, I decided to focus on me.
No more “donations” to athletics. √
No more buying season’s football tickets. √
No more attending men’s basketball games. √
I found those to be really easy choices. The big challenges, I learned, were media- and friends-related.
Courtesy: UConn Today
Watch fewer TV games from start to finish. √ Since January 1 I’ve watched only one complete game on TV. My typical response today is watching a bit here and a bit there, mostly at the end of games.
Skip watching some TV games altogether. √ This was a much tougher task because I was so used to organizing my schedule around certain games (my teams). But, thankfully, I’m weaning myself from a decades-long habit. I’m finding other ways to occupy myself when many of the games are on TV.
Stop reading most sports articles about college football and men’s basketball. √ I used to be a religious reader of scoops and stories about my favorite teams. No more. A good share of what I know about college football and men’s basketball comes via editing articles submitted to TSC, where I serve as managing editor.
Be cordial when friends bring up topics/issues about college sports. √ My choice is just that…mine. There’s no need to be a prick about it to others, although I still have a lot of work to do in that regard.
Courtesy: Allstartoday
Refrain from actively aiding and abetting “the college sports industry.” √ I either stay away entirely or engage minimally, trying not to engage in person. I’m happy to talk about why I’m taking this stance–but only if asked. Otherwise, I’ll just say “I’m not available to be there or help.”
I’ve only been at this for a month but–truth be told–I had already started acting on a number of the items prior to 2018. Media-related items are the most recent additions.
What’s different today is that I have a full-blown checklist to manage.
You might find this an astonishing revelation for a guy who manages a sports site and writes about sports. But consider this: I’m a Progressive.
People often label themselves this or that, but those labels apply only to political preferences with a capital P. That’s not for me. If I’m a Progressive, then I strive to be a Progressive about everything–including sports.
I know what it’s like to live a more segmented life. No more.
