The conversation on paying NCAA players through HBCUs was actually very thoughtful and interesting, which I don't think it would have been with Jason there because of the numerous opportunities to call out racists on Twitter and the text line and insist that he is not mad, not mad at all, it is the others who are, in fact, mad. But it was mostly Dan bringing the content and McDoink just sorta not fucking up.

Did Bernstein really question McKnight not knowing about Munchos? This is the same guy who didn't know who Ric Flair was.

I’m warming up to the show.

Two thinks that came to mind during the college pay duiscussion:

1) McDoink was emphatic that Title IX concerns will not impact paying college athletes. I am not so sure.

"No person in the United States shall, on the basis of sex, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any education program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance."

I could see the underlined piece becoming problematic in a legal sense.

2) Ok once we pay college athletes, the sports are professional. Why do the kids even go to class? Why couldn't you hire a 25 year old player that doesn't qualify to get into Northwestern, but is good enough to play at the current college level? How about retired NBA guys? What kind of restrictions can you legally put around what colleges do or who they hire? While paying college athletes seems like the right thing to do, I am certain there will be lots of negative side effects.

1) McDoink was emphatic that Title IX concerns will not impact paying college athletes. I am not so sure.

"No person in the United States shall, on the basis of sex, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any education program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance."

2) Ok once we pay college athletes, the sports are professional. Why do the kids even go to class? Why couldn't you hire a 25 year old player that doesn't qualify to get into Northwestern, but is good enough to play at the current college level? How about retired NBA guys? What kind of restrictions can you legally put around what colleges do or who they hire? While paying college athletes seems like the right thing to do, I am certain there will be lots of negative side effects.

It's better than B & G already.

I still think Bernstein with Spiegel would have been solid.

Why would they do that? The eligibility rules would stay roughly the same.

Did Bernstein really question McKnight not knowing about Munchos? This is the same guy who didn't know who Ric Flair was.

Once you start paying football players and move them from student-athlete status to employee status (presumably under the auspices of some Department of Student Entertainment or something like that), how would Title IX still apply? It wouldn't really be a college sport anymore. Basketball would be dicier because there's a women's equivalent, of course, but football should be relatively easy to divorce from college athletics as we know them.

The question is why wouldn't they do it? These are aren't amateurs going to college and playing sports for fun anymore. Once you pay them, they are professionals, and it is a job. And I suspect when this is all over, the NCAA is neutered and has no control. And since they are not amateurs, being a former NBA player wouldn't preclude one from joining a college team. It turns into the Olympics.

Edit: On the legal point- So you're paying men and not women.....yeah I don't see how that wouldn't be a problem. And you're right, from an economic point. But look at the social issues going on in the workplace of men and women. They're working just as hard and playing just as much.

It opens up a lot of interesting questions. Regardless, and in all seriousness, what would prevent LeBron James from playing for Duke when he hangs it up with the NBA? His age? His status as someone who was paid to play ball professionally?

Employment law is pretty clear. Once players are paid, you have to subject yourself to wage and hour laws, minimum wage, discrimination, etc. Then if basketball players are employees, why aren't volleyball players employees?

There will always be an age limit in college sports.

Was this today? I thought they had the Pork rinds, Munchos and Funyuns conversation on Tuesday. Already out of material.

What's the age limit now? Brandon Weeden played NCAA football at 28 years old. LeBron would make a connection to the school real quick.....

And I am not being crass. These things are going to come up.

There will always be an age limit in college sports.