Reasoning

[Quality Is Job 1]

Yeah hes fine. A little disappointed about the minutes, but what basketball player who loves the game wouldnt be. Thanks for mentioning the student part of the equation. How easily we all forget the amazing education these kids are getting...for free. No way our family could come close to affording the tuition at SLU. Hell be getting the best education by far out of everyone in our entire family. Hes a lucky kid for getting this talent and body given to him. Hopefully he uses it to finish school and get a good job.

It's not really free -- not the way I look at it. It's more of a trade. He's getting a costly university education in exchange for playing basketball. He's an employee of the university, in essence. The product is the men's basketball program, which the boosters and season ticket holders fund. All of these athletes have full-time jobs as athletes and have to attend college, too. It's amazing. I couldn't manage the load they're coping with. (I work as a substitute teacher while attending a half-time load of graduate classes to become a school guidance counselor, and it's a struggle for me!)

I think the school gets the better part of the deal, because while the student-athletes get their educational expenses paid for, they still have to put in a lot of work. Basically, they get paid to work some more. I get paid money in order to meet my needs. (Well, at least they don't have to provide for their needs, so maybe it's not really exploitation).