Thomas O'Malley's Talk With Matt Barkley
Sports Illustrated offered Thomas O’Malley, a recent graduate from the prestigious Columbia University in New York, a job upon graduating. For his first story, he had the opportunity to interview Matt Barkley, the now graduated quarterback from the University of Southern California, for an article in the magazine. Here is what it looked like.
Thomas: I am here with Matt Barkley; the former University of Southern California quarterback turned Philadelphia Eagle. How are you doing?
Barkley: I’m doing well thanks for having me.
Thomas: Anytime. Let’s get started shall we. The debate over whether college athletes on scholarship should receive compensation for their efforts has been a hot topic for quite some time now. I just finished reading your paper and I must say, you make a pretty good argument.
Barkley: Well thank you very much. People usually do not get to see my scholarly side because they only see me as a quarterback, but I actually enjoy writing very much. It is a hobby of mine, and if I ever have free time that is usually what you can find me doing.
Thomas: Well it looks like we get to learn about all different kinds of Matt Barkley today. (Laughs) When did you have the opportunity to write this paper?
Barkley: “I wrote [that] paper… my [Junior] year” of college. I came to the conclusion that “it’s really impossible compensation is going to occur for [scholarship athletes]” in the NCAA.
Thomas: Very Interesting. Why do you think compensation will never be given to scholarship athletes in the NCAA?
Barkley: There are just too many factors that come into play when you think about trying to implement a system like this into college sports. “Which teams” do you decide to pay? You cannot just put into operation a system that rewards the “revenue producing” sports over the others.
Thomas: That is where title IX would come into play correct?
Barkley: Yes that is exactly right.
Thomas: Could you explain how exactly title IX would make this system impossible for listeners who do not know what that is?
Barkley: I would love to. According to title IX, if a system to pay collegiate athletes were put into place, every athlete in every sport would be entitled to an equal amount of money. You would not be able to exclude any sport from payment (Forde).
Thomas: That is very helpful thank you for clarifying Matt. I am sure you have more reasons as to why this system will fail in the NCAA. Why don’t you fill us in?
Barkley: You just read my mind! One of the other major issues with trying to put this type of system into effect is position. Questions that come to my mind are do you pay a starter more than you would a back up? What about paying the quarterback or running back more than the punter or kicker? There is no feasible solution to the questions I am asking which is why college athletes will never be paid, and that is the way it needs to stay in my opinion.
Thomas: Obviously, your opinion has some clout seeing as you know what it takes to perform as a student athlete in college. Unfortunately we are about out of time. I really appreciate you giving up your time to meet with me. It was pleasure meeting you Matt.
Barkley: The pleasure is all mine Thomas. Thank you for having me and I wish you the best of luck in your new career. (Gets up and leaves)
Word Count: 601
Thomas: I am here with Matt Barkley; the former University of Southern California quarterback turned Philadelphia Eagle. How are you doing?
Barkley: I’m doing well thanks for having me.
Thomas: Anytime. Let’s get started shall we. The debate over whether college athletes on scholarship should receive compensation for their efforts has been a hot topic for quite some time now. I just finished reading your paper and I must say, you make a pretty good argument.
Barkley: Well thank you very much. People usually do not get to see my scholarly side because they only see me as a quarterback, but I actually enjoy writing very much. It is a hobby of mine, and if I ever have free time that is usually what you can find me doing.
Thomas: Well it looks like we get to learn about all different kinds of Matt Barkley today. (Laughs) When did you have the opportunity to write this paper?
Barkley: “I wrote [that] paper… my [Junior] year” of college. I came to the conclusion that “it’s really impossible compensation is going to occur for [scholarship athletes]” in the NCAA.
Thomas: Very Interesting. Why do you think compensation will never be given to scholarship athletes in the NCAA?
Barkley: There are just too many factors that come into play when you think about trying to implement a system like this into college sports. “Which teams” do you decide to pay? You cannot just put into operation a system that rewards the “revenue producing” sports over the others.
Thomas: That is where title IX would come into play correct?
Barkley: Yes that is exactly right.
Thomas: Could you explain how exactly title IX would make this system impossible for listeners who do not know what that is?
Barkley: I would love to. According to title IX, if a system to pay collegiate athletes were put into place, every athlete in every sport would be entitled to an equal amount of money. You would not be able to exclude any sport from payment (Forde).
Thomas: That is very helpful thank you for clarifying Matt. I am sure you have more reasons as to why this system will fail in the NCAA. Why don’t you fill us in?
Barkley: You just read my mind! One of the other major issues with trying to put this type of system into effect is position. Questions that come to my mind are do you pay a starter more than you would a back up? What about paying the quarterback or running back more than the punter or kicker? There is no feasible solution to the questions I am asking which is why college athletes will never be paid, and that is the way it needs to stay in my opinion.
Thomas: Obviously, your opinion has some clout seeing as you know what it takes to perform as a student athlete in college. Unfortunately we are about out of time. I really appreciate you giving up your time to meet with me. It was pleasure meeting you Matt.
Barkley: The pleasure is all mine Thomas. Thank you for having me and I wish you the best of luck in your new career. (Gets up and leaves)
Word Count: 601