The local Sports Talk Radio bozo was ranting this morning about CNS' saying that Agents were like Pimps. His retort was virtually "I know you are but what (are they)?".
Here is why CNS is right and the bozo is wrong.
Question: What would happen if a high school football senior walked into the offices of any NFL team and asked to join the team?
Answer: They would tell him to go somewhere, spend some time in the weightroom finishing growing into a man, get some experience against non-high school competition, and gets some more coaching up.
Question: What would happen if that senior waltzed into the offices of an Agent and wanted to talk buisness?
Answer: The same thing.
The point is that football is a game where the high school game does not directly carry over into the Pro game. A high school senior is of zero value to both the Pros and the Agents. Football has to have a bridge between the two levels, and right now there are no other options to "bridge" other than College Football.
So when a College coach sits in a high school senior's living room recruiting, that coach is literally saving that prospects chances to play football for a living; saving his chances to make his family rich. For those who will never make it to the NFL, the coach is offering a full ride escort into the ranks of those who are best prepared for a lifetime of success (i.e. College Graduates). And, all these young men get the best of training in the valuable life skill called Competition. In most cases, everyone wins; the kid gets the education and shot at the pros, the school gets 3-5 years with the player, the coaches get a job, the Pros get players who are ready without have to pay them while the grow up, the agents get buisness.
When an Agent rolls in an does not play by the rules, the University can be subject to years of sanctions that cost the institution, academic elements of the institution as well, millions of dollars. Innocent football players, some still in Middle School, are left to pay the penelty. (How this has not been figuratively referred to as the "Raping and Pillaging" of College Football is beyond me.) Whereas a coach could bring this same pain to a school, it is not a routine occurance and is a virtual career ender.
Players help the Colleges, the Pros, and the Agents.
Colleges help the Players, the Pros, and the Agents.
Pros help the Players, the Colleges, and the Agents.
Yet the Agents are at odds with the Colleges and the Pros.
One of these things is not like the other, and if there is a Pimp in the bunch it is not hard to tell which it is.
Here is why CNS is right and the bozo is wrong.
Question: What would happen if a high school football senior walked into the offices of any NFL team and asked to join the team?
Answer: They would tell him to go somewhere, spend some time in the weightroom finishing growing into a man, get some experience against non-high school competition, and gets some more coaching up.
Question: What would happen if that senior waltzed into the offices of an Agent and wanted to talk buisness?
Answer: The same thing.
The point is that football is a game where the high school game does not directly carry over into the Pro game. A high school senior is of zero value to both the Pros and the Agents. Football has to have a bridge between the two levels, and right now there are no other options to "bridge" other than College Football.
So when a College coach sits in a high school senior's living room recruiting, that coach is literally saving that prospects chances to play football for a living; saving his chances to make his family rich. For those who will never make it to the NFL, the coach is offering a full ride escort into the ranks of those who are best prepared for a lifetime of success (i.e. College Graduates). And, all these young men get the best of training in the valuable life skill called Competition. In most cases, everyone wins; the kid gets the education and shot at the pros, the school gets 3-5 years with the player, the coaches get a job, the Pros get players who are ready without have to pay them while the grow up, the agents get buisness.
When an Agent rolls in an does not play by the rules, the University can be subject to years of sanctions that cost the institution, academic elements of the institution as well, millions of dollars. Innocent football players, some still in Middle School, are left to pay the penelty. (How this has not been figuratively referred to as the "Raping and Pillaging" of College Football is beyond me.) Whereas a coach could bring this same pain to a school, it is not a routine occurance and is a virtual career ender.
Players help the Colleges, the Pros, and the Agents.
Colleges help the Players, the Pros, and the Agents.
Pros help the Players, the Colleges, and the Agents.
Yet the Agents are at odds with the Colleges and the Pros.
One of these things is not like the other, and if there is a Pimp in the bunch it is not hard to tell which it is.
