Blog Post #6

      


            In Darren Rovell's article JJ Nelson: Adidas never offered deal, he exposes Adidas for never approaching JJ Nelson with the chance for him to endorse the brand.  They were supposed to pay $100,000 to the top three fastest players endorsed them and signed a separate waiver.  JJ actually signed a contract stating that he would endorse Adidas, but they never offered him the second waiver that would award him the $100,000.  Thus, when JJ finished with the fastest time in the combine, he did not get awarded any money.


Analysis:

            I believe Adidas did this on purpose because they knew Nelson would be a late-round draft picked, if picked at all.  His slimmer chance of making it to the NFL makes him a less valuable endorsement than some of the other all stars there.  The article is rightfully biased in the favor of Nelson's side.  Adidas is clearly in the wrong in this situation, but they will get away with it.

Blog Post #7

    
 

         In Trevor Martin's documentary "Schooled- The Price of College Sports," he challenges the authority that the NCAA has over the players in its system, and challenges the way the company and associated schools make a great amount of money off of the unpaid players.  In the film, the players are compared to indentured servants.  In fact, the exact definition of indentured servant matched up with the work that a college athlete part of the NCAA has to go through.  The NCAA preaches that it helps these players by giving them a priceless education, even when some players do not even have enough money to buy themselves dinner.  Even with the option of gaining a real education, many players find it extremely hard to keep their grades up, never mind actually learn anything, while practicing for their sport nonstop.  The only reason that the majority of them pass is because professors are told by the university to pass the "student"-athletes.  Overall, I must say that I personally agree with this documentary.  It raises questions of the way the NCAA performs its job and the way it treats its players.

       As stated before, many of these athletes barely skate by when it comes to grades.  Even with all of the hardships they are forced to go through for their sport, they can still be terminated by the NCAA at any time.  This means that they are kicked off the team and often kicked out of the college that they were enrolled in.  Players that accept gifts are subject to a harsh punishment, decided by an official in the NCAA sitting behind a keyboard.  Even food for a hungry player with no money is considered a gift and the player can be reprimanded for his actions.  With all of this in mind, is it even possible to believe the NCAA is a kindhearted organization anymore?