Pony up or Shut Up

[rutgersal]

Why throw good money at bad situations? It’s like a falling knife stock

You have no idea what people donate on here so STFU!! I donate a scholarship to women’s soccer and that’s on top of my required donations for football and basketball. That was the highest area of need for RU and where I put my money to help. It helps overall and I’ve never been to a soccer game of any type at RU.
People should stop telling people how they should be spending THEIR money!!
People have lives and more important responsibilities than paying players to play a sport. The point about Pro sports is that their salaries are funded through revenue. Yes they get paid for their brands on top of that but it’s not a pay for play model which is what is being suggested here and happening across college.

I will pay $10k to never see a RutgersAl post telling people we need a field house and fundraising efforts appreciate the passion in being a fan but it’s a bad look when the next message is how we are going to the playoffs and winning a NC.

Thank you for your generosity. But this is where you’re wrong.

Without sufficient NIL resources, the team won’t be able to compete, period. The teams that we compete against are fully funding their NIL, and you can see that in the quality of the transfers. There’s a reason why Maryland’s transfers poured in >50 pts and ours scored a hell of a lot less. The root cause is our fanbase just doesn’t care enough to provide support that will enable us to recruit better players. You can see that in the quality of our transfers.

Yet the same 🤡’s that will write a 3 page soliloquy about how the team sucks ***, the coach sucks *** , and everything sucks ***, will be the same ones that brag that they don’t donate. That’s what you call irony.

 

[KNICKI]

The fanbase is not responsible for the NIL. They pay enough as it is to watch a shit product.
The coach is responsible for fundraising along with the AD or GM. To pass around a basket for $
to the court club is not the answer.

 

[RUsojo]

Will someone please clarify where the Vegas $1 million NIL payment goes?

This year, Dylan Harper and Ace Bailey. Next year, well let’s wait and see if we really play in it.

 

[RU MAN]

Next month starts Free Agency, or the transfer portal, or whatever you want to call it, and Pike needs all the resources he can get. We need impact players, not schlubs who take up space. Impact players cost 💲, which we don’t have enough of. Maryland fans ponied up and the majority of their scoring is from transfers.

Maryland Transfers Point totals From Rutgers Game
Rodney Rice- transfer from VT - 19 pts
Selton Miguel - transfer from South Florida - 17 pts
Ja’ Kobi Gillespie - transfer from Belmont - 14 pts

Our transfers are not contributing enough because we chose from the bargain bin. They are too inconsistent. The performance on Court is a reflection of our support or lack thereof and We are reaping what we sowed.

I knew we were F’d as soon as we lost Cliff. Only to watch him languish on the bench. This year, we must hold on to Somerville, and add the appropriate complementary players. Get the right players and we can get back to the tournament next year.

Pikiell needs to learn how to have an offense, which means he needs to let Brandon Knight go and bring in a serious offensive mind who can replicate McCaffery's motion offense.

As for the portal, I've been ponying up since day one, but that's worn thin, plus it's up to Pikiell and the new AD, whenever he gets here, to raise expectations for once and do something positive. I would like to see Pikiell actually bring in players that belong in the B1G. What he did this season is an abomination.

 

[RutgersChow]

Ha! Good One! Pike isn’t going anywhere.

Next year like this year and there is Zero chance he'll be here in 3 years - zero.

 

[RutgersChow]

Which Is one more than we won the previous 30 years. Context matters.

No it doesn't.

 

[rufan4ever]

This year, Dylan Harper and Ace Bailey. Next year, well let’s wait and see if we really play in it.

Still not sure I understand this. Dylan and Ace were guaranteed their NIL money from Fanatics and whoever else. In addition they got to split the $1M from the Vegas Tourney? That's crazy!
If that $1 M went into the NIL basketball collective, it could have financed some significant improvements.
We have another $1M coming next year. That should be used in the offseason for the portal.

 

[RutgersChow]

The guy has been pretty much a failure with two lottery picks. You have to be nuts to contribute hard earned money until he's gone.

 

[fatsam98]

This year, Dylan Harper and Ace Bailey. Next year, well let’s wait and see if we really play in it.

Where's that info come from?

 

[rutgersal]

The fanbase is not responsible for the NIL. They pay enough as it is to watch a shit product.
The coach is responsible for fundraising along with the AD or GM. To pass around a basket for $
to the court club is not the answer.

Whom do you think the coach is going to fundraise from, big donors who are fans! If the court club isn’t going to support, then who is going to support? The Court Club should be first in line. Otherwise we should all pack it in.

The subpar product is directly related to our inability to bring in transfers who can contribute. Hopefully that won’t be the case next year.

 

[rutgersal]

Pikiell needs to learn how to have an offense, which means he needs to let Brandon Knight go and bring in a serious offensive mind who can replicate McCaffery's motion offense.

As for the portal, I've been ponying up since day one, but that's worn thin, plus it's up to Pikiell and the new AD, whenever he gets here, to raise expectations for once and do something positive. I would like to see Pikiell actually bring in players that belong in the B1G. What he did this season is an abomination.

None of this is meant to absolve Pike, who ultimately owns this subpar season. Criticism like this is fair and warranted. I couldn’t imagine a season this bad.

But at the same time, we’ve got to give him the resources to succeed, and I don’t think we did that this season.

 

[RU MAN]

None of this is meant to absolve Pike, who ultimately owns this subpar season. Criticism like this is fair and warranted. I couldn’t imagine a season this bad.

But at the same time, we’ve got to give him the resources to succeed, and I don’t think we did that this season.

Al, I think you're right. But he really blew it this year. I have been a Pikiell supporter since he got here. But this abomination of a season has crushed my spirit. I continue to give to both BB and FB but my patience has run really thin.

 

[RUskoolie]

Honestly I think most people ITT are correct.

@rutgersal is right to call out our fanbase for having Alligator Arms

Our fanbase is right to call him foolish for wanting to invest in a coach who fumbled absolute gold.

However Pike is fvcked because if he does not have much NIL to play with this off-season its going to be another .500 season and more crying next off-season, which is why I think he is fired in 14 months.

The problem is the next coach who comes is going to ask about NIL...then what will the excuses be from people? Oh I know, you're not a whale, there are better causes, I will wait to see results, the dog ate my homework, etc.

Rutgers fans mostly get what they pay for and thats why we have sucked in all sports forever. Not complicated. I personally do what I can, maybe I will be a whale one day, thats my personal goal.

 

[R1766U]

Thank you for your generosity. But this is where you’re wrong.

Without sufficient NIL resources, the team won’t be able to compete, period. The teams that we compete against are fully funding their NIL, and you can see that in the quality of the transfers. There’s a reason why Maryland’s transfers poured in >50 pts and ours scored a hell of a lot less. The root cause is our fanbase just doesn’t care enough to provide support that will enable us to recruit better players. You can see that in the quality of our transfers.

Yet the same 🤡’s that will write a 3 page soliloquy about how the team sucks ***, the coach sucks *** , and everything sucks ***, will be the same ones that brag that they don’t donate. That’s what you call irony.

Hey Al,

You need a serious reality check.
I am a die hard Rutgers fan, who also works a full time job along with two part time jobs to make ends meet.
I am more concerned that my electric bill is going to increase by 20% starting June 1st and how I am going to have to put my season tickets on my credit card again this year and pay them off over time.

Just because YOU can afford to donate, doesn’t mean most of us can. “If everyone just donated $1,000…” cmon. Enough with that bullshit.

Before you post, you should really stop and think that your experiences and outlook is an outlier when it comes to most of the Rutgers fan base.

Its beyond annoying how unrealistic you are and out of touch with reality.

For many of us, college sports was a more affordable and accessible outlet. Now, things have changed, any for me personally and many I know, there is a severe decrease and interest because of the $$$ required to be “successful “ .

 

[runrutgersrun]

Most of our issues have always been financially based...right from the beginning, the genesis of our "bigger time" athletics aspirations in the 70's. We have ALWAYS wished to have success BEFORE making any real commitment of resources and/or funding. Just think about all the coaching changes there have been here over the last 50+years. Has there EVER been any stampede of qualified, "name" candidates for any open coaching spots in the major sports here??? Of course not! Our cheap reputation is widespread and well known in the marketplace. Any facilities improvements take years to just get plans drawn...forget about actually getting anything built. THEN, we always want to build and hire on the cheap. Do we really think that Schiano and Pikiell do NOT want to be able to bid with the big boys for the highest rated HS recruits and portal transfers?????? The would love to be able to do so...but it's not likely to ever happen here. It is what it is...and, additionally, we here do not seem to remember that most of NJ has never given a rat's mass about RU sports. In fact, most politicians and the general population seem to resent $$$$ spent on RU sports. There have been times when I have questioned the sanity of coaches and players when they decide to come to RU...it also explains why I love them all for coming to try and help out in straightening out this sh**show that we have here.

Thank you for listening. Sorry for rambling. This last loss was a really tough one. Hard to figure how a performance like last night's is rationally explained away. The issues are so systemic it is not possible to get anywhere near the root of the problem, like blaming a player(s) or a coach(es). What other institution of higher learning takes months and months to replace Presidents and Athletic Directors?????? Been here, done this too for long....rutgersal is right....SOMEONE/SOMEBODY/SOMETHING has to make a decision that Rutgers really DOES want to play in the big time col!ege sports sandbox and finally act the part....and pony up or shut up.

Phil Sellers must be turning in his grave after performances like last night's second half.

Gonna go away for a while in a dark room now. Go RU!

 

[Caliknight]

The key there is ROI.... NIL isn't about investors or ROI, it's about emotion and donation.

It’s actually about winning.

 

[Caliknight]

Seems like everyone is right. Pike needs more money to ge to get players. Would he know what to do with them if he had them? I’d put Schiano in that same category.

 

[LETSGORU91]

Next month starts Free Agency, or the transfer portal, or whatever you want to call it, and Pike needs all the resources he can get. We need impact players, not schlubs who take up space. Impact players cost 💲, which we don’t have enough of. Maryland fans ponied up and the majority of their scoring is from transfers.

Maryland Transfers Point totals From Rutgers Game
Rodney Rice- transfer from VT - 19 pts
Selton Miguel - transfer from South Florida - 17 pts
Ja’ Kobi Gillespie - transfer from Belmont - 14 pts

Our transfers are not contributing enough because we chose from the bargain bin. They are too inconsistent. The performance on Court is a reflection of our support or lack thereof and We are reaping what we sowed.

I knew we were F’d as soon as we lost Cliff. Only to watch him languish on the bench. This year, we must hold on to Somerville, and add the appropriate complementary players. Get the right players and we can get back to the tournament next year.

C'mon Al, it's the common folks responsibility to buy players? Get a grip my man.

I'll pony up when the school changes it's name to NJU and I can relate as a citizen

Rutgers, the State University doesnt move the needle enough?

 

[LETSGORU91]

So true we have people that live on this board and spend multiple hours a day everyday here and they are the biggest bashers and non participants when it comes to helping the team with anything but an opinion. Look at BAC after every game he spends hours of his life writing a 10 paragraph on the game and he has never donated ask him he will tell you. The game threads he is one of the biggest basher of the team and players. He would rather die than donate a dime. He should be the first to donate because all of his friends are from this board. That’s not bashing that’s the truth and others are the same way.

You never answered my question from several months ago. What is your direct involvement with NIL?

 

[Groz]

I fully expect the athletic department to find the right point and charge an extra $500-$1000 per 100 season ticket seat to help pay for the $20,000,000 we need to come up with to pay players in the athletic department.

As far as asking people to donate their money to players......there are countless charities that are underfunded and need help. Shaming people to donate to the players is wrong.

Let the athletic department try to thread the needle and find the right price point. Probably works next year....don't know about the nexct.

Stop with this already. You are great in spending other people's money with the increase you want and you always keep asking for. They have had many increases. Just look at your basketball bill compared to even 5 years ago.

RU gets and will continue to get a ton of money from the Big Ten(Big Ten Network plus other revenue at football and basketball) and that is where the money is and should come from. Football is going to get around 15 million and mens basketball is going to get around 3 million to give to the players next year.

The players that are fortunate enough to get a piece of that money are going to be signing contracts. The real argument is how little the olympic sports and others(meaning women's teams) are going to get. Unfortunately for them, they will be getting very little, comparatively. But, they will be getting more then they deserve for non-revenue teams. Yes, those athletes do work hard, but they will get the short end of the stick. Sorry, but that is the way it should be.

Best of Luck,
Groz

 

[rutgersal]

C'mon Al, it's the common folks responsibility to buy players? Get a grip my man.

Rutgers, the State University doesnt move the needle enough?

It’s everyone’s responsibility to do what we can. At the end of the day, this is a hobby, so if you’re barely scraping by, you’re obviously not in a position to donate. To depend on hitting the lottery in the transfer portal, due to lack of resources, is just not a sustainable strategy for continuous success. This year we got caught because none of the transfers have given us consistent production.

 

[rutgersal]

Seems like everyone is right. Pike needs more money to ge to get players. Would he know what to do with them if he had them? I’d put Schiano in that same category.

I’m willing to bet Yes, he will know what to do with them. I hope we find out.

 

[Fat Koko]

Cliff may not be lighting it up on the scoreboard but he plays a key role for the #2 ranked Alabama. As he has from the begionning of the season, he starts at center and consistenly plays about 20 minutes per game. He is the team's second leading rebounder and shot blocker, and is usually on the floor at key moments at the end of the game. He is playing the exact role Alabama had in mind for him when they signed him, as he compliments the rest of the team perfectly. He is far from riding the pine.

Cliff, like Cam, transferred in part to play for a national championship. Alabama is ranked #2 in AP poll and #1 in coaches poll.

College basketball players do not get that opportunity at Rutgers.

Cliff is averaging 19 minutes per game at Alabama compared to 27 per game last season at Rutgers. This is not a GG situation where GG is DNP - coaches decision in most games for an average B1G team.

In a few weeks, I will enjoy rooting for Cliff and Alabama in the NCAA tournament.

 

[rutgersal]

Most of our issues have always been financially based...right from the beginning, the genesis of our "bigger time" athletics aspirations in the 70's. We have ALWAYS wished to have success BEFORE making any real commitment of resources and/or funding. Just think about all the coaching changes there have been here over the last 50+years. Has there EVER been any stampede of qualified, "name" candidates for any open coaching spots in the major sports here??? Of course not! Our cheap reputation is widespread and well known in the marketplace. Any facilities improvements take years to just get plans drawn...forget about actually getting anything built. THEN, we always want to build and hire on the cheap. Do we really think that Schiano and Pikiell do NOT want to be able to bid with the big boys for the highest rated HS recruits and portal transfers?????? The would love to be able to do so...but it's not likely to ever happen here. It is what it is...and, additionally, we here do not seem to remember that most of NJ has never given a rat's mass about RU sports. In fact, most politicians and the general population seem to resent $$$$ spent on RU sports. There have been times when I have questioned the sanity of coaches and players when they decide to come to RU...it also explains why I love them all for coming to try and help out in straightening out this sh**show that we have here.

Thank you for listening. Sorry for rambling. This last loss was a really tough one. Hard to figure how a performance like last night's is rationally explained away. The issues are so systemic it is not possible to get anywhere near the root of the problem, like blaming a player(s) or a coach(es). What other institution of higher learning takes months and months to replace Presidents and Athletic Directors?????? Been here, done this too for long....rutgersal is right....SOMEONE/SOMEBODY/SOMETHING has to make a decision that Rutgers really DOES want to play in the big time col!ege sports sandbox and finally act the part....and pony up or shut up.

Phil Sellers must be turning in his grave after performances like last night's second half.

Gonna go away for a while in a dark room now. Go RU!

💯

If you think about it, for those who care, I’m sure every loss takes a little bit of our lifespan. We should be willing to put our team in the optimal position to succeed.

 

[RU-AGK]

Shutting up.

 

[rutgersal]

Al, I think you're right. But he really blew it this year. I have been a Pikiell supporter since he got here. But this abomination of a season has crushed my spirit. I continue to give to both BB and FB but my patience has run really thin.

We all feel the same way, especially compared to the expectations we had. My thinking is, what can we do to avoid this next season.

 

[seansherm]

He still has been our best offensive center in
a long time
And is a freshman who’s game offensively will probably get better
If we lost him I doubt we replace that

Agree he's a freshman that will get better. As for offensive freshman that really comes down to shots taken and minutes. Cliff's %'s were similar he just played less and took half as many shots.

 

[rutgersal]

Hey Al,

You need a serious reality check.
I am a die hard Rutgers fan, who also works a full time job along with two part time jobs to make ends meet.
I am more concerned that my electric bill is going to increase by 20% starting June 1st and how I am going to have to put my season tickets on my credit card again this year and pay them off over time.

Just because YOU can afford to donate, doesn’t mean most of us can. “If everyone just donated $1,000…” cmon. Enough with that bullshit.

Before you post, you should really stop and think that your experiences and outlook is an outlier when it comes to most of the Rutgers fan base.

Its beyond annoying how unrealistic you are and out of touch with reality.

For many of us, college sports was a more affordable and accessible outlet. Now, things have changed, any for me personally and many I know, there is a severe decrease and interest because of the $$$ required to be “successful “ .

At the end of the day, this is a hobby, and a lower priority than real life. If you can’t support, you can’t support. But there are plenty of people who can support but won’t support, and that is problematic, because our Big Ten peers are supporting their teams to the hilt, with regards to NIL.

 

[Fat Koko]

This year, Dylan Harper and Ace Bailey. Next year, well let’s wait and see if we really play in it.

How do you know that?

I asked the same question a few weeks ago. Check out my question in post #5 of the thread and Richie's answer in post #12.

If the collective is smart, the money must be allocated to prioritize retention of key players who are on fence about coming back to Rutgers next season. Dylan and Ace aren't on the fence - they are leaving for the NBA or NBA G League.

Pay the money to the key players on April 23, 2025, the day after the transfer window closes.

Hopefully, our collective, NIL general manager, and Pike are wise about allocating the Vegas money. We might never know.

 

[RUsojo]

How do you know that?

I asked the same question a few weeks ago. Check out my question in post #5 of the thread and Richie's answer in post #12.

If the collective is smart, the money must be allocated to prioritize retention of key players who are on fence about coming back to Rutgers next season. Dylan and Ace aren't on the fence - they are leaving for the NBA or NBA G League.

Pay the money to the key players on April 23, 2025, the day after the transfer window closes.

Hopefully, our collective, NIL general manager, and Pike are wise about allocating the Vegas money. We might never know.

Reading between the lines.

Pike is our bball NIL general manager, as it relates to dishing out the money.

 

[KK1827]

How much time do you spend on this messageboard? You’ve posted 1,132 times since you joined. Supporting NIL, is an investment in Rutgers basketball, and will ensure your time is spent more productively and that we have meaningful things to discuss. Right now, we’re all wasting our time because the team doesn’t have the resources to succeed. I hope that changes.

But we need to make it happen. The Easter Bunny sure isn’t going to step up for us.

Al, lets also be honest. Id be shocked if you donate more than $1,000/yr to nil.

 

[KK1827]

What do you mean only $ Yankees are asking for.

When’s the last time you bought Yankee Season Tickets? Fans most certainly are paying a portion of the players salary with their Yankees season tickets, which are very expensive. The difference here is that donors pay the players salary through NIL Collective.

Al youve made some incredible stupid points in this thread

1) with revenue share next starting in july, where the fvck do you think the revenue is generates from? The fans.

2) we had one of the most expensive rosters in the big ten this year. Money wasnt the issue, coaching was.

 

[KK1827]

Seems like everyone is right. Pike needs more money to ge to get players. Would he know what to do with them if he had them? I’d put Schiano in that same category.

How many games has schiano lost this go round when having more talent than his opposition?

 

[Greene Rice FIG]

Stop with this already. You are great in spending other people's money with the increase you want and you always keep asking for. They have had many increases. Just look at your basketball bill compared to even 5 years ago.

RU gets and will continue to get a ton of money from the Big Ten(Big Ten Network plus other revenue at football and basketball) and that is where the money is and should come from. Football is going to get around 15 million and mens basketball is going to get around 3 million to give to the players next year.

The players that are fortunate enough to get a piece of that money are going to be signing contracts. The real argument is how little the olympic sports and others(meaning women's teams) are going to get. Unfortunately for them, they will be getting very little, comparatively. But, they will be getting more then they deserve for non-revenue teams. Yes, those athletes do work hard, but they will get the short end of the stick. Sorry, but that is the way it should be.

Best of Luck,
Groz

the last thing i want is a ticket increase. I am on the fence without one.

These are things i think I know
1. Our athletics department has a huge deficit
2. Schools are going to be allowed to pay $20,000,000 to athletes
3. Schools arent magically given the $20,000,000 to play players
4. There is a gubernatorial election coming up in November
5. NJ is bleeding tax payers and our taxes are very high
6. On the federal level DOGE appears to be gutting agencies looking at ways to save money
7. Trump has a positive approval rating (for now) gulp!

I am just connecting dots and think the extra $20,000,000 comes from those with good seats for FB and MBB.

 

[RULoyal]

The fanbase is not responsible for the NIL. They pay enough as it is to watch a shit product.
The coach is responsible for fundraising along with the AD or GM. To pass around a basket for $
to the court club is not the answer.

When NIL was in its infancy and folks said this was good for RU, I and numerous others laughed and said it would become a monster - and it did. Then the same folks who said it would be good for RU said well now fans and businesses can legally compensate players as if the NIL ruling was magically going to loosen purse strings that had been tied tight for decades. We are no better off than we were before except now some folks need to pay up so RU can keep its head above water.

 

[seansherm]

What do you mean only $ Yankees are asking for.

When’s the last time you bought Yankee Season Tickets? Fans most certainly are paying a portion of the players salary with their Yankees season tickets, which are very expensive. The difference here is that donors pay the players salary through NIL Collective.

Of course Yankee tickets are expensive, better product, they are bought in to providing best team possible, and have a history of doing so. Gave mine up a few years back . It's also professional sports. You know what you are paying for. College has become a joke. Suddenly scholarships that most of society would have loved to have are considered worthless. Pay for play, no guarantee a kid stays. No thanks.

 

[365Poster24Seven]

You never answered my question from several months ago. What is your direct involvement with NIL?

No direct involvement I’m a no body just like you and everyone else here. $400 a month is my involvement split between football and basketball. Why? I love Rutgers spent 4 great years there and then went back for a Masters degree and have had season tickets in football and basketball since graduation. I don’t bash players or coaches and love a couple of away games a year in football.

 

[365Poster24Seven]

the last thing i want is a ticket increase. I am on the fence without one.

These are things i think I know
1. Our athletics department has a huge deficit
2. Schools are going to be allowed to pay $20,000,000 to athletes
3. Schools arent magically given the $20,000,000 to play players
4. There is a gubernatorial election coming up in November
5. NJ is bleeding tax payers and our taxes are very high
6. On the federal level DOGE appears to be gutting agencies looking at ways to save money
7. Trump has a positive approval rating (for now) gulp!

I am just connecting dots and think the extra $20,000,000 comes from those with good seats for FB and MBB.

I hope you’re in the 100’s in basketball and down close to the court. I’m also in the 100’s but I want to get closer to the floor so hopefully you give your seats up.

 

[NickRU714]

Stop with this already. You are great in spending other people's money with the increase you want and you always keep asking for. They have had many increases. Just look at your basketball bill compared to even 5 years ago.

RU gets and will continue to get a ton of money from the Big Ten(Big Ten Network plus other revenue at football and basketball) and that is where the money is and should come from. Football is going to get around 15 million and mens basketball is going to get around 3 million to give to the players next year.

The players that are fortunate enough to get a piece of that money are going to be signing contracts. The real argument is how little the olympic sports and others(meaning women's teams) are going to get. Unfortunately for them, they will be getting very little, comparatively. But, they will be getting more then they deserve for non-revenue teams. Yes, those athletes do work hard, but they will get the short end of the stick. Sorry, but that is the way it should be.

Best of Luck,
Groz

Your leaving out a key point that @Greene Rice FIG is bringing up.

The athletic department is the one spending other people's money.
They have zero interest in controlling their spending.
They already have a huge deficit and just basically 2x (3x?) the football staff salary in less than a year.
As you rightfully point out - increases have already occurred without the additonal "player revenue sharing" cost?

The coaching staffs are already part of "revenue sharing". Does the AD just absorb those costs or keep raising ticket prices?

So what makes you think the AD would just absorb player revenue sharing?
They will keep all their current spending and pass the cost onto the fans through increases.
Because they prey on fans through "well you went here for a couple years so have an obligation to pay extra and keep funding our reckless spending."

 

[rutgersal]

Of course Yankee tickets are expensive, better product, they are bought in to providing best team possible, and have a history of doing so. Gave mine up a few years back . It's also professional sports. You know what you are paying for. College has become a joke. Suddenly scholarships that most of society would have loved to have are considered worthless. Pay for play, no guarantee a kid stays. No thanks.

Yes, all true. I have partial tickets and they themselves are pretty expensive. But a portion of the ticket price goes towards paying for players salaries.

College is the same thing, but college tickets are much cheaper, if you compare with what the pros charge, even if you kick in 1000 for players salaries via the collective. And yes, you don’t know what you’re paying for, but you trust the coach will make the right Decisions. It is pay for play. But that’s how the game is played these days. We have to play the game the way things are, and not how we want them to be.