We have been talking a lot in class lately about the body as a commodity, and different ways one can sell their body or functions of the body. The question of whether these things are just or moral all come back to whether we have the freedom to do what we want with our body. The example of a surrogate mother translates almost directly to prostitution, and i think it also translates to professional sports. Athletes are selling their bodies, or rather the performance of their bodies, to all citizens in our society. Professional athletes make an insane amount of money selling their bodies, but this is because they have a large affect on the majority of the population, in that people enjoy watching professional athletes.
Now, when it comes to college sports, many people ask why collegiate athletes do not get paid while the provide just as much entertainment as professional athletes? Why should schools and the NCAA be able to make profits off of a particular athletes jersey, while the player cannot receive anything? It is incredible how much profit some schools make off of their athletes, from merchandise, to ticket sales, to television contracts, and the athletes don't receive any of it. However, Division I athletes do receive money, because they go to school for free. Not only do they not pay tuition, but they don't pay for books, housing, or food. Most schools have their own athletic tutors and help centers, so that students can succeed to the best of their abilities. To receive all of this, in return all an athlete has to do is compete is their sport, which is usually something that they love to do. The idea that college athletes should be paid while they are in school is ridiculous, because they are receiving a college education free of charge, and having most of their other expenses covered by the school. I think that it is therefor perfectly just and morally correct for college athletes to not get paid more than their scholarship is already paying.
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