States lining up to protect "college athletes' rights'"?

http://www.NewsAndOpinion.com | Is there a national move underway that would require colleges and universities to pay athletes?

For the better part of a century, college athletes have gotten a scholarship in exchange for their athletic services and for the most part until the explosion of TV and sponsorship money it was a reasonable deal.

But because of the outside money, it's time athletes get their share. In Nebraska, there is a bill working through the state senate that could pave the way for Cornhusker football players to be paid.

A California state senator, Kevin Murray, is ready to hold hearings in Sacramento to determine whether or not the NCAA is violating anti-trust laws by restricting what an athlete can earn while playing for a school and whether or not college athletes should be paid.

College sports has lived off the athletes work for years and given them little in exchange, just look at graduation rates. The system is broken and needs to be fixed and politicians in Nebraska and California seem ready to do battle with the NCAA to protect college athletes' rights.

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JWR contributor Evan Weiner is a radio commentator on "The Business of Sports" for Westwood One's Metro Networks. He is being presented with the United States Sports Academy's Distinguished Service Award for 2003. Comment on this column by clicking here.

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