UConn guard on unions: I go to bed 'starving'

[The Straight Story]

He's one of the best basketball players in the country, and he's preparing for Monday night's NCAA championship game, yet the University of Connecticut's Shabazz Napier recently told reporters he sometimes goes to bed "starving" because he can't afford food.

The remark got the attention of state lawmakers in Connecticut, who are now exploring legislative ways to allow athletes at UConn, a state institution, to unionize -- much like athletes are attempting at Northwestern University.

State Rep. Matthew Lesser and other state lawmakers are considering legislation that would allow athletes at the University of Connecticut to unionize, Lesser said. Unlike at Northwestern, a private institution governed by the National Labor Relations Board, Connecticut law governs whether employees at a public institution can unionize.

"He says he's going to bed hungry at a time when millions of dollars are being made off of him. It's obscene," Lesser said. "This isn't a Connecticut problem. This is an NCAA problem, and I want to make sure we're putting pressure on them to treat athletes well."


http://www.cnn.com/2014/04/07/us/ncaa-basketball-finals-shabazz-napier-hungry/index.html

[Wabbajack_]

1. You'd think the school would want to keep their star athlethes fed

[dilby]

3. They can't and it's not really the school it's the NCAA.

The schools definitely want to take care of their Athletes but they can't break NCAA rules.

[msongs]

2. its tough for aspiring NBA multi-millionaires nt

[dilby]

4. Not every athlete goes on to the NBA.

And a disproportionate number of athletes come from the inner city and poor families. And these kids from poor families leave these Universities with an education and opportunity at a life that they otherwise would not have.

[progressoid]

5. What about the rest of the students?

What about the engineering major? Or the pharmacy major? Or the music major that goes to bed hungry?

Fuck them.

[BluegrassDem]

6. The NCAA doesn't allow them to earn money

They can't work, they can't accept money unless its from family members. These kids mostly come from dire circumstances. Unless they have a girlfriend taking care of them, they might be able to get as much food as a regular student.

[joeybee12]

7. Am I the only who realizes this is hyperbole? He's not starving...

Scholarships get room and board...he's being fed, he might go to bed hungry since like all kids his age he's got a voracious appetite and might not be able to afford snacks on top of the meals he already gets...but starving he is not.

[KeepItReal]

11. He has the full meal plan... The cafeteria closes at 7pm... Probably missed that cut off.

Strange UConn doesn't have a dedicated athletic cafeteria.

[Chisox08]

12. You would be surprised at the amount of athletes that go to bed hungry.

They can't work during the season nor can the accept money from anyone except their immediate family and even then every penny gets scrutinized. Most of the players are from poor families and playing football or basketball might have been their only way to college. The dining hall closes at 7pm often time practices run past 7pm. To the poster who said what about the kids who are not athletes, at least they can get a job and make some extra money.
I remember times when me and a few of my teammates couldn't even afford a pizza even with all of our money pooled together. If the pizza place would have given us a discount our eligibility would be in jeopardy. So you have a situation where the school is making millions of dollars off of you and you can't even afford a pizza.
Oh and don't get hurt to the point of where you can no longer play, because your scholarship will be gone. These schools use these kids and spit them out as soon as they are no value to them.

[rurallib]

8. Mark Emmert, head of the NCAA may have an extra portion tonite

after all, he put on a great tournament. Who cares if the athletes starve? Or get an education for that matter.

[Vashta Nerada]

9. Yeah.

I'm sure.



I'm more concerned for adjunct faculty who actually do starve.

[KamaAina]

10. Well, I certainly hope he gets a decent dinner tonight

he's gonna need his strength! GO HUSKIES!!

[Initech]

13. ESPN quoted some coach about unions and it was horrible.

I think it was Indianapolis (which would make sense since Indiana is a right to work state) and he said something like "I think it's in the best interests of the players that they don't unionize". Um no asshole it's in *YOUR* best interests that your players don't unionize. You don't want them to have a better salary than you do, which is why I'm sure he said that.