Reflecting on the Shame of College Sports: Should NCAA Div 1 Basketball and Football players get paid?

For many years now we have been witnessing an enormous growth in the college sport economically. With so many sponsors, spectators, ticket sale and media coverage, college sport has become very popular, and thereby a good business. However, college athletes are competing through NCAA and are not allowed to receive money or others reward under any circumstances. So where does all this money go? And is it fair that athletes who dedicates their life, and make a lot of scarifies are not paid with more than honor? 

According to Taylor Branch the NCAA do not allow student athletes to be paid because they have to maintain their "amateurism status" and because pay checks will make the athlete break faith with their educational mission. Nevertheless, new scandals about student athletes receiving money "under the table" rolls up every year. There has also been a huge debate on the recruitment of athletes. Fair someone might say, while other thinks it is sad that the student athlete ends up with all the consequences. 

Branch argue that the real scandal is rather the structure of college sports, "wherein student-athletes generate billions of dollars for universities and private companies while earning nothing themselves". It is the athletes performance that draws attention, sells ticket and creates a marked. Nevertheless, they do not get anything. 

I think it is sad that college sport has become such a great business. It does not only ruin the good values of sport, such as enjoyment, health and entertainment, it also creates these moral issues. For what if we let the football players and basketball players get paid through college. Will they attend class and put effort into getting an education? Or will they stop caring, because they believe their future is secured through the sport? And is it not enough that they are paid for their education? Most students are paying for their college educate through funds that was started when they were born. 

Even more interesting, is what will happen with the students athletes' motivation for sport participation if they are paid. Will the pay check be the motivation for continuing? What about doing your best because you want to prove to yourself that you are good enough. Or for enjoyment, leadership, friendship and teams spirit? I fear pay checks in college sport will destroy the instinct motivation of many athletes, and replaced by extrinsic motivation (money).