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In my opinion "star" athletes are being paid ... they are being given an opportunity to use their athletic talents to earn a higher education at no cost or significantly less cost than the tuition/room/board most students/parents pay. Some athletes choose to use the opportunity for its intended purpose and many don't. Athletics - especially team sports - is a learning and development opportunity that pays dividends in life outside of sports... teamwork and leadership skills that have value in government and private business. As a percentage, the number of "well rounded" people who excel in academics and athletics is small - whether in primary education or higher-level. Those individuals who are "gifted", self-motivated, competitive (or whatever adjective one choses to apply) are usually found in business and government leadership roles because of the skills they've honed on and off the field of competition.
Viewing the situation as "extortion of black athletes" is akin to thinking the sun revolves around the earth - it might appear that way, but is not reality. Thankfully athletes are not recruited based on ethnicity but rather on athletic talent - the percentages are what they are without ulterior motive. There was a time when minority athletes were not extended the opportunities that exist today. No doubt some would argue differently, but if the student-athlete population was 80% white and 20% other I don't believe the dynamics of big-money college athletics would change significantly.
Outside of income directly associated with athletics, athletic programs are leveraged to keep alumni engaged and donating billions to school endowments that benefit all students. It's not a perfect system, but I agree that it has helped produce some of the finest "education" programs in the world.
Attempting to protect the concept of "fair" amateur athletics devoid of advantages that money can bestow isn't a bad concept. In realty the fairy tale of world full of amateur athletes competing solely for the joy of sport is just that.
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