A Grip on Sports: As NCAA continues to grapple with NIL issue, it gives some ground – and tries to grab even more

A GRIP ON SPORTS • If you study college athletics’ history, you will soon discover getting paid to play has its roots deeply in every school’s lore. The idea players should be amateurs in reality as well as in name only is relatively recent. But after a few decades of trying to keep a cap on, the bottle is beginning to overflow.

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• In ancient times, back when I was in college, players were paid. It was not unusual. It was all under the table. And it was, in some cases, a lot.

A teammate spent a summer playing baseball in Alaska. He was paid. Not by the team, mind you. No, that would have been an NCAA violation. Even then. Nope. He mowed the lawn for a company that sponsored the summer team. Worked hard. Took about 45 minutes. Mowed it twice. All summer. On a riding mower.

He came home with $2,000 more than when he left.

In other words, it wasn’t minimum wage.

The basketball players at the school I attended (which will remain nameless to protect the guilty) also had a sweet deal. Many of them worked at a warehouse during their offseason. Their jobs also paid well above the minimum wage. How do I know? One of them told me when he found out I was looking for work. Told me how much he was paid. How little he had to work. Even gave me contact info.

I called. Talked with the man in charge. The next day the head basketball coach found me, dragged me into his office and yelled at me for 15 minutes. Turns out those jobs were only for his team. He had found them for his players. That they paid four times the going rate for such work was, well, something he had reserved for his players.

Anyhow, those stories illustrate where we are headed with the name, image and likeness issue.

The NCAA came out yesterday with its support of allowing athletes to be paid for NIL. There are caveats, sure. With the NCAA there always are. And what the organization is pushing isn’t exactly what everyone, from politicians to former players, is buying.

Mainly, though, yesterday’s announcement is just another step in a long process. The details must still be worked out. And unless we return to the old unfettered ways, many in positions of power – and seeing an issue that can garner votes – won’t be satisfied.

Which will open up another can of red wigglers.

The reason my friend was paid so well that summer in Alaska? The team he was playing for wanted to win. The way to win is to have the best players. The best players went where the best money was. It’s simple. And hasn’t changed.

The reason the former basketball coach had found a booster to overpay for basketball players? He wanted to win. The way to win is to have the best players. The best players went where the best money was. It’s simple. And hasn’t changed.

The folks that run the NCAA know this as well as anyone. They are trying to keep the sleaze to a minimum. They won’t be able to. If the IRS can’t control tax cheats, what makes you think the NCAA will be able to control an extra couple grand some Spokane business wants to “pay” its local college basketball player? If there is a will, it’s always stronger than whatever ways are devised to thwart it.

The next few months will be interesting, that’s for sure. How it will all shake out, whether the NCAA can flex its muscles and get Congress to pass a law giving it the ultimate authority to control all aspects of this will be better viewing than “The Last Dance.”

At least with this, we don’t know the outcome.

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Gonzaga: Mike Roth touched on the NIL subject (as well as many others) yesterday as part of an online forum he held for interested Gonzaga supporters and the media. Jim Meehan checked in and put together this story. … Jim also passed along the news 6-foot-9 power forward Paolo Banchero, the O’Dea High senior-to-be, has whittled his college list to six, including Gonzaga. (From the West Coast, Washington and Arizona are also on the list.) … Around the WCC, the newest BYU big man took time for an interview.

WSU: It hasn’t been a good couple recruiting months for most college football programs, but it’s been even worse for those with new coaches. Nick Rolovich fits in that category and Washington State’s new leader has yet to attract a 2021 commit the school’s way. Theo Lawson looked into the reasons why and discovered it has just been a perfect storm for the Cougars. A storm that should pass soon. … Elsewhere in the Pac-12, Washington’s newest offensive coach goes way back with the new offensive coordinator. … Oregon will have competition at the receiver spots. … The same can be said for Colorado’s defensive backs. … Arizona doesn’t have much at the safety spot. … USC’s Clay Helton has some things to say. … So does former Arizona State running back Eno Benjamin. … In basketball, Sabrina Ionescu won the most prestigious amateur award there is. … Arizona State has three players exploring their pro options.

Preps: Dave Nichols is starting a new series. He’s looking at area high schools and the seniors who missed out this year on spring sports. Today’s school is Lewis and Clark. … Steve Christilaw checked in with West Valley High football coach Craig Whitney and his son Connor, both of whom are trying to stay in shape during the stay-at-home orders.

Golf: The Rosaurs Open Invitational will not be held in 2020. The tournament organizers decided the mid-July dates were unworkable and it could not be rescheduled for later in the year. Jim has more in this story.

Seahawks: For those who like to read tea leaves, here’s one for you. Jarran Reed is back wearing 90, the number he gave up last year for Jadeveon Clowney. … Jordyn Brooks can do some remarkable things. At least his college coach thinks so.

Mariners: Whatever the plan, it looks as if baseball will return in some form this season. That’s good. … What if you had bought tickets for games that haven’t been played? The M’s have a plan. Finally.

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• We got started writing a bit later today, not because we overslept or anything, but because we were reading. We tried to run down every story we could find on the NIL issue, so we could pass along the best to you. There were quite a few stories. By the way, goodbye April. We hardly knew you. Hopefully, May will flower with the ability for us to get outside more. Until later …