why not bloom?

[M2d]

http://espn.go.com/ncf/news/2002/0815/1418409.html

the NCAA (Not Caring About Athletes) ruled that Jeremy Bloom can not play football for Colorado because he's a professional skier who takes endorsement money to assist his training.

What's the difference between Bloom and Danny Ainge? or Drew Henson? The NCAA rules allow for an athlete to earn a salary in another sport, but do not allow an athlete to recieve endorsement money for their prowess in any sport. It's a bit hypocritical, I think.

[WDC]

I think the real problem was that none of the endorsement money was used to buy alcohol or hookers for football recruits.

[J.R.]

Its fairly obvious that Jeremy Bloom's situation is one of the few exceptions which does justify allowing endorsement money, but Miles Brand made the right decision and I'm a CU grad and buffs football fans. Miles Brand could have clearly made an exception here, but the resulting uncertainty and the great potential for abuse is obvious. Don't you think many players for major programs would instantly be getting "endorsement" deals from businesses owned/operated by boosters or alumni of these major college programs. It sucks because Jeremy's endorsement deal is obviously not an angle but a legitamite endorsement deal, but the possibility for deception and fraud is immense.

If endorsment deals were permitted, major collgiate athelets participating in revenue producing sports like football and basketball would be getting paid by boosters of their universities, and this is an obvious and inescapable fact. Whther a waiver should have been permitted given Bloom's unique status is perhaps debatable, but once you allow Bloom to take endorsement money you open the door to a host of problems. Major college football and basketball are big business, and there is no doubt that aggressive and affluent alumni would find ways to get endorsement deals to prep prosepects to ensure their programs get the top players.

[mmbt0ne]

Assuming also that those minor-league baseball checks aren't padded by boosters either of course. NCAA sports are a mess when it comes to money issues, and unfortunately they had to make a difficult decision here that actually did affect an innocent person.

[CORed]

The whole idea that college atheletes (at least those getting full scholarships) are amateurs is ridiculous. In exchange for playing football (or whatever) they get their tuition and room and board paid. Are they not receiving something of great value for their participation in sport? IMO, the NCAA rules on endorsements are about protecting the NCAA's revenue stream, lest the atheletes make their own deals. Seen in this light it makes perfect sense.