Laz, first, let me say I believe far too much attention and money is paid to athletes. Ditto rock stars, actors and celebrities of any description.
But, like it or not, the Olympics, March Madness and the Oscars generate more cash and interest than whatever you or I are doing at the moment.
Most campus athletic facilities may not be the financial extravagances you suspect.
Some universities play in facilities they don't own or ones so old they were built for bargain prices. Of newer facilities, I suspect most are built with state funds vs. coming straight out of the school's budget. Some also receive significant corporate and alum support.
The University of Wyoming (where I spent my four undergraduate years - or, was it five....)built a wonderful basketball and other event arena in the mid-80s for $15 million. I have no idea how it was financed but I think 10,000 sold seats for 15 men's basketball games a year would pay the mortgage and maintenance - and then some. The capacity is 15K so the income is probably higher. Then, throw in money from a bunch of other events and some TV money and the picture gets even brighter. And, don't forget concessions sales. And, definitely don't forget licensed sales of sports-oriented logo merchandise (It may surprise you to note that a decade ago, UCLA Bruin gear was one of the most popular U.S. products in Japan).
Wyoming has a brand new athletic center with offices, meeting rooms, locker rooms, training areas, treatment areas, etc, etc..... It cost about $10 million.
Every dollar was donated (many by former athletes).
The record will show that general contributions to schools go way up when those schools are conspicuous winners on the athletic fields.
I have no idea how much cash Notre Dame and Duke have in the bank but I do know football and basketball put a bunch of it there.
Our schools often become part of our self-identity. People who HATE basketball may end up being "reminded" to send a few bucks to good old State U. simply because State U. is constantly being mentioned in the paper or on TV.
Universities have always been more than mere academic institutions - they are "life" institutions.
They are where we go to class (sometime) but they are also where we spread our wings for the first time, where we fall in love, where we argue until dawn, where we try good and bad new things, where we commit to causes and where we become who we are.
When you hear of some basketball prodigy leaving school for the pros after only a year or two in school, the lament (of those who disapprove) is rarely about the kid missing out on what's going on in the classroom - it's usually about the kid missing out on the college "experience".
Some schools obviously merit genuine disgust because of what they tolerate in the name of sport. I think there are athletes at Oklahoma that might not get into USC and kids at USC that might not pass muster at UCLA. Strangely enough, there may be guys Oklahoma would turn down that would be welcome at Cal. Cal's weird.
And, don't forget, many good schools also enroll large numbers of unqualified non-athlete students as part of various diversity or affirmative action type programs).
I would just as soon admit all students strictly on their qualifications as students (I would hate to be the one who had to come up with the standard for a "qualified" student). Then, let the ones interested in sports get involved. Way too much money on the table for that to ever happen though.
As for characterization of athletes as brutes with no place in universities, I hope you are just being silly. I think I know you as far too bright to engage in that sort of stereotyping.
Of the brutes I went to school with, some are dead but only one, that I know of, had a wasted tragic life. A few went on to star or win championship rings in professional sports, but most went on to become businessmen, lawyers, doctors, farmers, military officers, airline pilots, engineers, tech guys, educators and scientists.
GO WYO!!! Damn cheaters from Arizona tripped us up tonight. Just wait till next year! Where's my checkbook?
M |
