NCAA Athletes To Get Paid If Bill Passes In Colorado

Colorado senators are looking to add student-athletes to the state's consumer protection laws, making it possible for them to make money while still in college.

Adding the student-athletes to the consumer protection laws allows them to sue the NCAA if they decided to take any action against the student-athlete.

Currently, the NCAA does not allow for payments or endorsements to be made to the athlete due to their amateur status. Among the many things that would impact an athlete's amateur status would be receiving payment of any type for playing a sport.

The way it currently is, the money being derived from sports allows a certain amount of prestige for the universities, who can fly boosters all across the country for events like the recent NCAA Basketball tournament. The student-athletes, on the other hand, were not able to bring family members to events because of the lack of funds.

Member schools point out that athletes do get scholarships and other things to help ease their burden, like meal cards.

Other legislation is also being brought forth, like the bill introduced in North Carolina that would allow players to be compensated for the use of their likeness, for example.

The NCAA  basketball tournament alone brought in almost $1.3 Billion dollars for the organization. None of which goes to the athletes.

Add up the amount of money it takes for the scholarships and compares it to what the NCAA and its member schools are making and it's obvious that things need to change.