Ha-Ha shows the poverty of student-athletes...
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| Clinton-Dix gets suspended |
I'm not going to debate the right or wrong about what happened with Clinton-Dix. It is certainly not my place or intent to judge. I'll leave that up to other writers. Each of us have an opinion about whether the actions taken by CD and a coach was wrong or just an act of humanity. I'm less concerned about the absence of HHCD, the player, during his suspension than I am that the why of what happened. A kid gets his car broken into. He losses his possessions and needs to get his car repaired. The only problem is that he has no money and no way of actually making any money due to his being an athlete of scholorship. There is something very wrong about this situation. You probally fall into one of two ways of thinkng about the situation regarding Clinton-Dix. You might believe a rule is a rule is a rule. The other is that all this hoopla shows the basic unfairness of being a student and having no way to make money. Breaking rules are not good. But then again rules are indeed made to be broken.
When rules cause an unfair hardship they are not rules. They are a kind of bondage. That bondage could be physical or mental. It could be socially demeaning. Unfair is contrary to the basic American value system. If a rule is unfair it means that someone is profiting. It's not the person who is required to follow the rule. Players have rules to follow. First and foremost players are human beings. They should be treated as human beings. I'm not suggesting that the University of Alabama treats their players unfairly. I know that Alabama gives their players the best they can offer under the rules. I believe if the rules allowed Alabama to treat their players like royalty they would do just that. The problem is that they can't provide things that are important and necessary to players. It's hard to teach the value of hard work and self-esteem if you can't come up with a paltry five hundred dollars. The truth is that players have to question all their hard work when you can't get your car fixed for lack of a little money. I know that getting a college is supposed to be a big deal. The problem (or brillance) of young people is that the long term is so abstract. Having a ride to is immediate. When you are young enough to think you are immortal the long term isn't as high on their list. Did Clinton-Dix do something wrong? I'm not able to answer that question in all honesty.
Here's a better question - does the NCAA rule the players in such a manner as to really deny them basic humanity? I know that sounds kind of high and mighty. Too much drama for such a situation? Or do we answer to a different set of rules that might allow us to help a young man come up with five hundred dollars? I know one thing - HHCD could have come up with a lot more than five hundred dollars from a lot of places. As an attorney I have to question whether such rules mandated by the NCAA are even enforceable. Credit to Alabama for bringing the situation to light. They will probably get off with a slap on the wrist. What the NCAA needs is a slap in the face.
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