College Athletes vs. The NCAA

We talked about the large revenues that college athletes bring the NCAA each year with their participation in collegiate sports. This Time Magazine article discusses how in February of 2000 46 college basketball player formed the Student Basketball council in order to bring there concerns about the rules and regulations imposed upon them straight to the NCAA. With such stringent rules and penalties placed on the athletes, they believe that the NCAA could possibly reward them better. One of there resolutions to this dilemma is a stipends for the athletes. What are your feelings on the payment of college athletes? Remember though the possible repercussions on competitive balance and league performance. Also would the threat of a sit down, as presented in the article, threaten the value of the league? The athletes control the supply of talent, and they create all of the demand so is a free college education enough of an incentive to keep the NCAA going?