ThereÕs other sports besides football and basketball

LETTER TO THE EDITOR:

Brian brought up an excellent point about these athletes and how they get paid. Basically for most athletes in these sports if they do not win, they do not eat. These athletes get paid to win, not to show up like in basketball, football, baseball and other major professional team sports, as Brian stated.

Often those who compete in the less publicized sports like running, swimming, cycling, and Olympic sports spend there days training while at the same time holding down a full time job. Many people think just because an athlete is one of the countryÕs best they are loaded. These athletes are competing because they love sport, love competition, and simply want to win.

They wish they made more money from their sport but they will compete regardless. IÕm a runner so thatÕs where my experience is. IÕve got friends who are ÒprofessionalÓ runners who basically live at the poverty level so they can have the time to train and compete against the best. Most of our nations best track and field athletes are making less than $10,000 a year in winnings. Then most of these runners who you see where Nike, Adidas, Asics clothing as a sponsorship are getting no money, just free shoes and cloths. Unless your one of the top ten in the nation donÕt expect to get money for running, and then a lot of those guys get $250-$500 a month. Could you imagine only the nations top ten football players getting paid, and then all less than $50,000 a year. I donÕt think weÕd have post-collegiate football players.

The same thing goes on in college sports. At ASU the football and basketball players are earning a lot of scholarships. They have huge sums of full scholarships to offer their athletes, then add in free meal plans and special living arrangements.

In no way am I saying they donÕt deserve this. Anyone who works hard to represent this university should be rewarded. I donÕt think we should be taking away from any athletes on campus to make it more fare for others. Reward more, not less. Most students think all the athletes on campus are getting the same treatment as the football and basketball team. Well thatÕs just not the way it is, especially for the non-revenue menÕs sports. In my sport we have all-Conference distance runners on no scholarship. The Southern Conference MVP in track and field this year is not getting a full ride. There are bench riders in football and basketball getting more scholarship.

Tennis, golf, wrestling, soccer, field hockey, softball and most sports at ASU are experiencing the same thing I mentioned about track and field. To add to that our cycling team is not even a varsity sport, no substantial university funding, scholarships or even uniforms. Though they are out there training as hard as any varsity athlete. These non revenue sport athletes are proving that they are competing for the love of the game, not for scholarship, glory, or self promotion. I respect every athlete on our campus who is working hard, regardless of the sport, though I admit I have added respect for our universityÕs non-revenue athletes.

Basically I want to add to BrianÕs salute to the true athlete and thank him for his article. I donÕt mean to imply that football, basketball, and baseball players arenÕt true athletes.

Though how many post collegiate major sport athletes would train in their sport the equivalent of running 100 miles per week or cycle 400 miles a week, live in a one room shack, and eat mac and cheese seven nights a week just so they could afford to train at an elite level?

Finally the Appalachian needs sports journalist who write about sports (plural), not just football and basketball, or the particular intramural sport they or their girl friend plays for. A real journalist gets there material from more than just ESPNÕs Sportcenter. There are a lot of exciting things going on outside of football and basketball, just look in the win/loss column and youÕll see the proof. Greg Hipp Junior greghipp@asutrackandfield.com