An FBI probe reignited the debate over whether collegiate basketball players should be compensated. But Big East Commissioner Val Ackerman has one suggestion that could fix the issue: let top athletes go to the NBA straight out of high school.
“I think that if these top players can start earning those big dollars more quickly, that would be an instant correction,” she said Wednesday. “And that would help, as well, in the kinds of issues that were surfaced in this criminal investigation.”
Her argument echoes the sentiment of ACC Commissioner John Swofford, who on Tuesday told Cheddar there should not be a pay-for-play system in college sports.
The statements come as the federal government investigates recruiting agents and more than 20 Division I schools for giving players under-the-table bonuses or other perks, violating NCAA rules.
Some say that the NCAA, which generated more than $1 billion in revenue in the year ending in [August 31, 2017](http://www.ncaa.org/sites/default/files/2016-17NCAAFin_FinancialStatement_20180129.pdf), should pay student athletes. But Ackerman told Cheddar that players get other kinds of compensation.
“I was a student athlete at the University of Virginia. I got my education paid for, we didn’t make any money,” she said. “There’s a quid pro quo that I don’t think gets talked about enough.”
For the full interview, [click here](https://cheddar.com/videos/the-big-east-tournament-returns-to-madison-square-garden).
Simone Biles looks ready for the Tokyo Olympics. The 24-year-old easily captured her record seventh U.S. national title, beating runner-up Sunisa Lee by nearly five points.
After teasing the Yurchenko double-pike for the better part of a year and then unveiling it during training on Friday — a move that caught the attention of people like NBA star LeBron James — Simone Biles made it official in front of the women trying to join her on the Olympic team this summer.
Blockfolio CEO Sam Bankman-Fried talked to Cheddar about garnering an endorsement deal with the Jacksonville Jaguar's first pick in the NFL Draft, QB Trevor Lawrence.
Catherine Carlson, a senior vice president with the Eagles, discussed the NFL team's partnership with LifeBrand, a brand protection firm specializing in social media health checks.
Justin and Taylor Norris, co-founders and CEOs of LIT Method, talked about the investment from Jay-Z in their fitness company.
As COVID vaccination numbers have increased in the U.S., Cheddar's Michelle Castillo visited the home of the Boston Red Sox, Fenway Park, as it welcomed back fans earlier this month.
NYC officials are beginning to rethink the layout of city streets as biking ticks up in the city. Now, thousands of bike racks are being installed across the city. Cheddar's Chloe Aiello reports.
Along with other celebrities, Venus Williams is partnering with Delos' International WELL Building Institute in order to safely welcome back fans and attendees to live events.
Ezra Kucharz, chief business officer at DraftKings, talked to Cheddar about the online sportsbook's deal with the NFL and the future of legal sports gambling in the U.S.
New England Patriots Safety Devin McCourty and Broad Street Ventures president, Ralonda Johnson, joined Cheddar to discuss the VC firm's mission to educate athletes and Black and brown investors to expand their financial options.
