Monday Morning News: bowl game swagger

Good Morning,

It's Friday I just wanted to keep a finger on the pulse...

I came across an item I thought could enrich your day.

Today and definitely tomorrow for many attention swings to the college football bowl games. Amidst the hype and hoopla you may come across the impassioned argument about paying players. The argument may go:

"The five athletes suspended for The Ohio State Football program...Would they be trading their memorabilia for tattoos if they had been paid a stipend to play the game?"

Those who see this as a financial decision tend to argue "No! Pay the athlete and the problem goes away!"

For those like NCAA president Mark Emmert I've heard him argue the point in these terms...

These athletes are being given a world class opportunity to train and develop their skills. The quality of education they receive is enough and besides the money made on selling their jerseys is not going directly into any one institutions pocket but rather into the general coffers which is then used to strengthen and support the overall high quality of the environment these athletes get to train in...

We cannot ever get to the point where athletes are paid!

(for more to this argument go to http://www.usatoday.com/sports/college/2010-12-15-mark-emmert-ncaa-pay_N.htm)

(...sigh) as in most things the answer lies somewhere in between. Folks like Mark Emmert are masters at spinning the question.

I'm not here to argue whether athletes get paid. I think it's clear college athletics is a big business with athletes in high revenue sports already being "paid" like Superstars with unquestioned adoration and affection. I see contrast in the soon to be millionaire and the soon to be laid off single mother trying to provide a happy holiday (including buying one of those stinkin jerseys) for her kids...

This is the levity I took this morning when looking more deeply into the bowl game swag bags. Gift suites, electronics, watches, luggage...And I found this

The Helen of Troy hair dryer!

Perfect! with so many of these boys wearing the long flowing hair these days. it's not just a Tom Brady thing but a trend among college players too!!!

Today at 2pm EST, the Notre Dame Fighting Irish and the Miami Hurricanes will be going toe-to-toe after a week with...vanity, hot air, and a product suggesting these once heavy hitters are now taking on light weight durability.

The Sun Bowl will be an important opportunity for them to show off their hairdos.

In this respect I'm giving the edge to the "U" (the Miami Hurricanes). Watch for these guys.

Travis Benjamin- voted "Best Hair" by his teammates. A lightning quick wide receiver who can spread the field, beat you deep, and wraps a mean orange Ace Band Aid around his hair...

(from The Miami Hurricane.com)

“It feels good because you have players come up to you and be like, ‘Man, you’ve got to cut your hair so I can have the longest hair on the team...’”

Benjamin said that he hasn’t cut his hair since the eighth grade, but is considering cutting it next year if an opposing player tackles him by his dreads.

That’s something that has yet to happen in a game, though!"

For the Irish watch for Trevor Robinson #78 offense, guard...