We all know how much revenue is generated for our colleges and universities by their football and basketball programs, and yet the average college athlete who participates in these programs often doesn’t have enough money in his pocket to buy himself a pizza. Playing football or basketball in college is a full-time job, sometimes requiring up to 8 hours per day, and yet these same athletes aren’t allowed to even hold down a part time job. It’s no wonder that the idea of receiving some extra cash under the table is highly tempting to them.

If we want to dramatically reduce the cheating that goes in college sports, here’s one idea. First, this should be done initially on a test basis and should only apply to those athletes who are recruited and receive scholarships in sports that produce substantial revenues for their schools, such as football and basketball. Athletes would receive $1,000 per month during their four years of eligibility, PROVIDING they maintain a pre-determined grade point average. If their grades fall below a certain average, they automatically lose their $1,000 per month payments. Expensive you say? Perhaps, but who would be in the best position to help pay the athletes? The NFL and the NBA. After all, colleges and universities are essentially farm systems for these highly profitable sport franchises and they are presently getting a free ride.