as you all know we are in the midst of March Madness how many of you have
March Madness how many of you have
March Madness how many of you have filled out a March Madness bracket you
filled out a March Madness bracket you
filled out a March Madness bracket you are one of about 40 million Americans
are one of about 40 million Americans
are one of about 40 million Americans who fill out more than 70 million
who fill out more than 70 million
who fill out more than 70 million brackets think about this the number of
brackets think about this the number of
brackets think about this the number of people who filled out a bracket for
people who filled out a bracket for
people who filled out a bracket for March Madness is more than the number of
March Madness is more than the number of
March Madness is more than the number of people who voted for the president last
people who voted for the president last
people who voted for the president last year March Madness received an average
year March Madness received an average
year March Madness received an average of 11 point three million viewers cBS
of 11 point three million viewers cBS
of 11 point three million viewers cBS signed an eight-year 8.8 billion dollar
signed an eight-year 8.8 billion dollar
signed an eight-year 8.8 billion dollar extension with the NCAA for the rights
extension with the NCAA for the rights
extension with the NCAA for the rights to broadcast March Madness this will put
to broadcast March Madness this will put
to broadcast March Madness this will put the tournament’s yearly TV value at over
the tournament’s yearly TV value at over
the tournament’s yearly TV value at over a billion dollars March Madness is just
a billion dollars March Madness is just
a billion dollars March Madness is just one of the revenue generating
one of the revenue generating
one of the revenue generating tournaments at the NCAA hosts annually
tournaments at the NCAA hosts annually
tournaments at the NCAA hosts annually but there are many others
but there are many others
but there are many others including the College World Series and
including the College World Series and
including the College World Series and the college football playoff which is
the college football playoff which is
the college football playoff which is more profitable than March Madness March
more profitable than March Madness March
more profitable than March Madness March Madness lasts for about three weeks this
Madness lasts for about three weeks this
Madness lasts for about three weeks this year it ends on April 3rd 64 Division
year it ends on April 3rd 64 Division
year it ends on April 3rd 64 Division One teams compete for the NCAA title now
One teams compete for the NCAA title now
One teams compete for the NCAA title now here are the figures of the revenue that
here are the figures of the revenue that
here are the figures of the revenue that the top teams last year earned from this
the top teams last year earned from this
the top teams last year earned from this tournament the million dollar question
tournament the million dollar question
tournament the million dollar question is though how much of that did each of
is though how much of that did each of
is though how much of that did each of the players receive zero they didn’t get
the players receive zero they didn’t get
the players receive zero they didn’t get any of that money
any of that money
any of that money despite their hard working performance
despite their hard working performance
despite their hard working performance on their respective fields in essence
on their respective fields in essence
on their respective fields in essence they worked for free and that seems
they worked for free and that seems
they worked for free and that seems fundamentally unfair in America and a
fundamentally unfair in America and a
fundamentally unfair in America and a capital society we believe that work
capital society we believe that work
capital society we believe that work should be compensated after all isn’t
should be compensated after all isn’t
should be compensated after all isn’t incentive for the work you do the
incentive for the work you do the
incentive for the work you do the paycheck that you earn next year I’m
paycheck that you earn next year I’m
paycheck that you earn next year I’m going to the play baseball at the
going to the play baseball at the
going to the play baseball at the University of Richmond at the Division
University of Richmond at the Division
University of Richmond at the Division one level so the issue of athletes and
one level so the issue of athletes and
one level so the issue of athletes and compensation is one that I have a vested
compensation is one that I have a vested
compensation is one that I have a vested interest in this issue is much debated
interest in this issue is much debated
interest in this issue is much debated and certainly controversial professional
and certainly controversial professional
and certainly controversial professional athletes retired athletes sports
athletes retired athletes sports
athletes retired athletes sports commissioners team owners Little League
commissioners team owners Little League
commissioners team owners Little League dads famous stars bigshot lawyers and
dads famous stars bigshot lawyers and
dads famous stars bigshot lawyers and college presidents they’ve all given
college presidents they’ve all given
college presidents they’ve all given their two cents on this issue so I want
their two cents on this issue so I want
their two cents on this issue so I want to offer my perspective as a soon-to-be
to offer my perspective as a soon-to-be
to offer my perspective as a soon-to-be collegiate student-athlete so let’s put
collegiate student-athlete so let’s put
collegiate student-athlete so let’s put this in perspective only 6% of high
this in perspective only 6% of high
this in perspective only 6% of high school student athletes receive Division
school student athletes receive Division
school student athletes receive Division one scholarships and I want to disprove
one scholarships and I want to disprove
one scholarships and I want to disprove an assumption here
an assumption here
an assumption here not all Division one athletes receive
not all Division one athletes receive
not all Division one athletes receive full scholarships and not all Division
full scholarships and not all Division
full scholarships and not all Division one sports are evenly distributed when
one sports are evenly distributed when
one sports are evenly distributed when it comes to the number of scholarships
it comes to the number of scholarships
it comes to the number of scholarships they give out
they give out
they give out I was fortunate enough to receive
I was fortunate enough to receive
I was fortunate enough to receive multiple offers to play at the next
multiple offers to play at the next
multiple offers to play at the next level
level
level I’m a two-sport varsity athlete a
I’m a two-sport varsity athlete a
I’m a two-sport varsity athlete a quarterback in football and a pitcher in
quarterback in football and a pitcher in
quarterback in football and a pitcher in baseball
baseball
baseball although recruitment doesn’t happen
although recruitment doesn’t happen
although recruitment doesn’t happen until junior year commitment to play can
until junior year commitment to play can
until junior year commitment to play can happen earlier and the recruitment
happen earlier and the recruitment
happen earlier and the recruitment process itself can start as early as
process itself can start as early as
process itself can start as early as your freshman year the question is
your freshman year the question is
your freshman year the question is though how much does it take for an
though how much does it take for an
though how much does it take for an athlete like me to even appear on the
athlete like me to even appear on the
athlete like me to even appear on the recruitment radar what are the
recruitment radar what are the
recruitment radar what are the investments necessary for an athlete to
investments necessary for an athlete to
investments necessary for an athlete to make let’s think about March Madness for
make let’s think about March Madness for
make let’s think about March Madness for a second which is a billion-dollar
a second which is a billion-dollar
a second which is a billion-dollar industry
industry
industry the program undoubtedly inspires young
the program undoubtedly inspires young
the program undoubtedly inspires young kids to play basketball and to want to
kids to play basketball and to want to
kids to play basketball and to want to reach this elite level one day but what
reach this elite level one day but what
reach this elite level one day but what did it take for those athletes are
did it take for those athletes are
did it take for those athletes are watching on TV now to reach this level I
watching on TV now to reach this level I
watching on TV now to reach this level I believe I can answer that I took the
believe I can answer that I took the
believe I can answer that I took the decision to play baseball for University
decision to play baseball for University
decision to play baseball for University of Richmond but this opportunity didn’t
of Richmond but this opportunity didn’t
of Richmond but this opportunity didn’t come for free yes there are personal
come for free yes there are personal
come for free yes there are personal sacrifices the waking up early to
sacrifices the waking up early to
sacrifices the waking up early to practice and the taking time out of my
practice and the taking time out of my
practice and the taking time out of my social life to train those are given I
social life to train those are given I
social life to train those are given I believe that there will be a silver
believe that there will be a silver
believe that there will be a silver lining a payoff one day and that that’s
lining a payoff one day and that that’s
lining a payoff one day and that that’s what sustains you and when the goal
what sustains you and when the goal
what sustains you and when the goal becomes clear you redouble your efforts
becomes clear you redouble your efforts
becomes clear you redouble your efforts I first realized that my dream may one
I first realized that my dream may one
I first realized that my dream may one day become a reality in the eighth grade
day become a reality in the eighth grade
day become a reality in the eighth grade my first 8th grade year playing baseball
my first 8th grade year playing baseball
my first 8th grade year playing baseball at school I began to see that I was
at school I began to see that I was
at school I began to see that I was noticed better than the other kids my
noticed better than the other kids my
noticed better than the other kids my age I had a strong Drive and athletic
age I had a strong Drive and athletic
age I had a strong Drive and athletic ability that made me more that made me
ability that made me more that made me
ability that made me more that made me naturally more talented from this moment
naturally more talented from this moment
naturally more talented from this moment I realized that if I dedicate myself
I realized that if I dedicate myself
I realized that if I dedicate myself fully I’d have this opportunity to play
fully I’d have this opportunity to play
fully I’d have this opportunity to play at the next level combining my natural
at the next level combining my natural
at the next level combining my natural athletic ability with hard work and
athletic ability with hard work and
athletic ability with hard work and dedication this would give me the chance
dedication this would give me the chance
dedication this would give me the chance to make my dreams an attainable reality
to make my dreams an attainable reality
to make my dreams an attainable reality I even changed my eating habits and
I even changed my eating habits and
I even changed my eating habits and started working out as much as I could
started working out as much as I could
started working out as much as I could so yes there’s a physical toll and a
so yes there’s a physical toll and a
so yes there’s a physical toll and a mental toll and athletes who are serious
mental toll and athletes who are serious
mental toll and athletes who are serious you’re all aware of that already but
you’re all aware of that already but
you’re all aware of that already but have you considered the financial
have you considered the financial
have you considered the financial expense the upfront investment families
expense the upfront investment families
expense the upfront investment families put so that the aspiring athlete can
put so that the aspiring athlete can
put so that the aspiring athlete can break into Division one level over the
break into Division one level over the
break into Division one level over the course of my career from eighth grade to
course of my career from eighth grade to
course of my career from eighth grade to now I would have guessed that my dad
now I would have guessed that my dad
now I would have guessed that my dad could have bought me a house with the
could have bought me a house with the
could have bought me a house with the amount of money he has spent on my
amount of money he has spent on my
amount of money he has spent on my athletic career these are just some of
athletic career these are just some of
athletic career these are just some of the expenses while this means that may
the expenses while this means that may
the expenses while this means that may seem like a lot it is a cumulative and
seem like a lot it is a cumulative and
seem like a lot it is a cumulative and expenses do add up quickly from the
expenses do add up quickly from the
expenses do add up quickly from the equipment to the tournaments the cost of
equipment to the tournaments the cost of
equipment to the tournaments the cost of travel the medical treatments the diet
travel the medical treatments the diet
travel the medical treatments the diet of a growing athlete when only a slim
of a growing athlete when only a slim
of a growing athlete when only a slim percent
percent
percent student athletes are even recruited for
student athletes are even recruited for
student athletes are even recruited for Division one level the expenditure has
Division one level the expenditure has
Division one level the expenditure has become necessary to be able to compete
become necessary to be able to compete
become necessary to be able to compete at the highest level I could cite any
at the highest level I could cite any
at the highest level I could cite any number of articles that have been
number of articles that have been
number of articles that have been recently published on this issue that
recently published on this issue that
recently published on this issue that make compelling arguments that support
make compelling arguments that support
make compelling arguments that support my view but I’m going to shift to an
my view but I’m going to shift to an
my view but I’m going to shift to an alternate argument instead and it’s the
alternate argument instead and it’s the
alternate argument instead and it’s the idea of amateurism and sports because at
idea of amateurism and sports because at
idea of amateurism and sports because at the heart of this debate about whether
the heart of this debate about whether
the heart of this debate about whether the NCAA should pay athletes is the
the NCAA should pay athletes is the
the NCAA should pay athletes is the concept of what it means to be an
concept of what it means to be an
concept of what it means to be an amateur not too long ago amateurism was
amateur not too long ago amateurism was
amateur not too long ago amateurism was celebrated as the ideal in any sport the
celebrated as the ideal in any sport the
celebrated as the ideal in any sport the olympics or support of this ideal as
olympics or support of this ideal as
olympics or support of this ideal as professionals weren’t allowed to compete
professionals weren’t allowed to compete
professionals weren’t allowed to compete only amateurs those days are gone and
only amateurs those days are gone and
only amateurs those days are gone and even the Olympics have caved into this
even the Olympics have caved into this
even the Olympics have caved into this reality that the best athletes in the
reality that the best athletes in the
reality that the best athletes in the world are those that get paid they are
world are those that get paid they are
world are those that get paid they are the professionals amateurs I’m Anil no
the professionals amateurs I’m Anil no
the professionals amateurs I’m Anil no longer exists because this is a TED talk
longer exists because this is a TED talk
longer exists because this is a TED talk because this is a TED talk I’m going to
because this is a TED talk I’m going to
because this is a TED talk I’m going to have to make this relevant to you and
have to make this relevant to you and
have to make this relevant to you and I’m going to try to tie this talk to
I’m going to try to tie this talk to
I’m going to try to tie this talk to events theme zeitgeist the spirit of the
events theme zeitgeist the spirit of the
events theme zeitgeist the spirit of the terms and because it’s a TED talk I’m
terms and because it’s a TED talk I’m
terms and because it’s a TED talk I’m going to have to finish what I started
going to have to finish what I started
going to have to finish what I started it’s March Madness this is the zeitgeist
it’s March Madness this is the zeitgeist
it’s March Madness this is the zeitgeist right now it’s where everything comes
right now it’s where everything comes
right now it’s where everything comes together the best of all the best in the
together the best of all the best in the
together the best of all the best in the country watch the drama unfold you know
country watch the drama unfold you know
country watch the drama unfold you know as well capitalism’s thrives as billions
as well capitalism’s thrives as billions
as well capitalism’s thrives as billions of dollars are created off the backs of
of dollars are created off the backs of
of dollars are created off the backs of these unpaid athletes and I ask again is
these unpaid athletes and I ask again is
these unpaid athletes and I ask again is that really fair as high school students
that really fair as high school students
that really fair as high school students the prospect of college is major part of
the prospect of college is major part of
the prospect of college is major part of our lives no matter what institution
our lives no matter what institution
our lives no matter what institution you’ll attend College Sports will be
you’ll attend College Sports will be
you’ll attend College Sports will be part of your campus in some way for
part of your campus in some way for
part of your campus in some way for tailgates or a big basketball game
tailgates or a big basketball game
tailgates or a big basketball game against a big rival school sports become
against a big rival school sports become
against a big rival school sports become my pride and unite the entire community
my pride and unite the entire community
my pride and unite the entire community I hope I’d have contributed in some
I hope I’d have contributed in some
I hope I’d have contributed in some small way to the debate that’s out there
small way to the debate that’s out there
small way to the debate that’s out there by allowing more of you to become more
by allowing more of you to become more
by allowing more of you to become more aware and understand the plight of
aware and understand the plight of
aware and understand the plight of student athletes we can make the players
student athletes we can make the players
student athletes we can make the players voices be heard and try to bring on
voices be heard and try to bring on
voices be heard and try to bring on change so that the hard work will
change so that the hard work will
change so that the hard work will eventually pay off
I would like I would like to bring up my
I would like I would like to bring up my two group members that I worked with
two group members that I worked with
two group members that I worked with Samantha Solomon of Lera de las casas
Samantha Solomon of Lera de las casas
Samantha Solomon of Lera de las casas without them this TED talk would not
without them this TED talk would not
without them this TED talk would not have been possible and without mr. G’s
have been possible and without mr. G’s
have been possible and without mr. G’s help so thank you
help so thank you
help so thank you [Music]
”
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