Stop Giving Credit To The NCAA For Letting Athletes (Maybe) Make Money On Name, Image And Likeness - They Still Screwed This All Up

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Specifically, the board said modernization should occur within the following principles and guidelines:  

• Assure student-athletes are treated similarly to non-athlete students unless a compelling reason exists to differentiate. 
• Maintain the priorities of education and the collegiate experience to provide opportunities for student-athlete success. 
• Ensure rules are transparent, focused and enforceable and facilitate fair and balanced competition. 
• Make clear the distinction between collegiate and professional opportunities. 
• Make clear that compensation for athletics performance or participation is impermissible. 
• Reaffirm that student-athletes are students first and not employees of the university. 
• Enhance principles of diversity, inclusion and gender equity. 
• Protect the recruiting environment and prohibit inducements to select, remain at, or transfer to a specific institution.

Listen, this is a step. I'll give the NCAA that. They are going to let college athletes make money on name, image and likeness. It at least appears that way, I should say. I'm not going to give the NCAA a ton of credit considering this is a 100% reactionary move and has nothing to do with the NCAA doing something that makes sense.

But here's what I'm going to do and it's exactly what you think. I'm going to bash the NCAA. Read this all again. The NCAA has no idea how they are going to make it work and if there's one thing we know about the NCAA is that they will make sure this takes as long as possible and then put people in charge with no idea about college athletics. This has another Condi Rice led commission written all over it again. 

It's really not that difficult. I promise you that and I've actually talked to enough former/current Division I hoops players and coaches to know this. Those that actually understand how to get this done. But, the NCAA of course wants to make sure they are able to control whatever money is out there and I can guarantee there will be a million restrictions on how an athlete can make money. 

Again, I've said it before. Just let it be an open market. The schools paying players with a scholarship is more than enough. That's fine. If a business wants to give Tua $10,000 to use his face on a billboard - so be it. The NCAA doesn't need to get involved here. Stop using the term 'cheating' with things like this. It's simply not true. 

So, let's settle down. Stop saying that this is some sort of seismic change made by the NCAA. Nothing has been changed yet. They simply are saying they are working on the process. It's actually hilarious how much they are snaking it here. I'll believe this is going to actually be beneficial once we see what the NCAA actually comes out and says. 

Plus, it's not real until NCAA Football and Basketball video games are back.