The exploitation of US college athletes | Tim Nevius

Transcriber:

譯者: Chung Hin Tam 審譯者: Helen Chang

In college sports, American universities are exploiting, disproportionately,

在大專體育比賽裏，

美國大學不斷離譜壓榨黑人運動員，

Black athletes

for billions of dollars,

以賺取上億的利潤，

while diminishing their education, health and safety.

還給他們更少教育， 犧牲他們的健康和人身安全。

Let me start with a bit of history.

讓我先講一點歷史。

In November 1984,

1984年11月，

an undersized quarterback from Boston College named Doug Flutie

一位來自波士頓學院的矮小四分衛— 道格·芙露蒂，

threw a game-winning touchdown pass against the defending national champions,

他在比賽中丟出關鍵一擊，擊破防守，

打敗當時的全國冠軍：邁阿密大學。

University of Miami.

As the Hail Mary pass floated through the fall air

正當他丟出的 「萬福瑪莉亞長傳」劃過秋空,

in front of a packed stadium,

在擁擠的體育場一展雄風,

millions more watched with excitement on TV.

已經有上百萬人聚在電視前 看得神情緊張。

After the dramatic win,

奇跡取勝後，

undergraduate application rates at Boston College shot up by 30 percent,

申請入讀波士頓學院本科的學生 多了原本的三分一。

revealing to universities the enormous marketing value

那場球賽，向其他的美國大學證明，

of building high-profile sports programs.

設計醒目的體育課程是一檔大生意。

That same year, the United States Supreme Court heard a case

同年，美國最高法院審理了一單案件。

in which the Universities of Georgia and Oklahoma

控方喬治亞大學和奧克拉荷馬大學，

challenged rules that limited the number of football games they could play on TV.

要求廢除限制電視廣播球賽的規條。

Those schools saw the opportunity to not only make money

那些學院不但發現

球賽廣播有多賺錢，

by televising their games,

but to also market their universities to the world.

還從中找到，向國際推銷自己的機會。

The Supreme Court agreed that the broadcasting restrictions were illegal

很快最高法院裁定 球賽廣播限制非法，

and schools began to negotiate TV deals worth millions.

而那些大學亦開始和電視台 談值上百萬的生意。

That case opened the floodgates to money in college athletics,

那單案件雖然讓大學運動員財源廣進，

and with it, ever-growing conflicts of interest

不過同時招致橫禍， 如無止境的利益衝突，

that prioritize sports over education,

忽略教育而只著重運動，

promote wins over health and safety

鼓勵學生捨身求勝，

and reinforce the disturbing racial and economic inequities in our country.

還讓本來的種族和經濟不平等惡化。

Since then, the growth in college sports has been extraordinary

自此以後，大專體育比賽只有增無減，

and schools have earned record revenues year after year.

學院的盈利每年創新高。

The spending during that same time period

不過學院向體育投資的花費，

has increased at almost the same dramatic pace,

同樣以驚人的速度飆升。

as universities engage in an arms race to the top of the rankings.

它們為爭奪世界排名首位不惜代價。

Massive expenditures on new stadiums, bigger staffs and record salaries

以龐大開支、建體育館、 招聘人才、且薪水步步高升，

have made it appear, on the books at least,

結果至少在賬目上，

that athletic departments are losing money,

各大學的體育部門都只賠不賺。

while they build lavish facilities

而在它們建設奢華的設施同時，

and make multimillionaires out of coaches and administrators.

還順便將一堆教練和體育行政人員 變成百萬富翁。

In fact, in 40 out of 50 states,

實際上，在美國五十個州裏有四十個州

the highest-paid public employee is now a college football or basketball coach.

最能賺錢的公務員 不是學院足球教練就是籃球教練。

Meanwhile, college athletes, whose elite talents generate these massive revenues,

同時，那些幫學院賺大錢的 頂尖學生運動員，

are not only denied the ability to share in the riches they create,

除了不可分一杯羹，

too many of them are not given the education they're promised, either.

他們還不能接受應得的教育。

Today, college athletes are exploited to the tune of almost 15 billion dollars.

到今天，那些學院欠了他們 差不多150億美元。

That's how much money is generated by college sports each year.

那就是大專體育比賽每年的盈利。

And I'm all too familiar with the exploitation,

我之所以對剝削的情況清楚不過，

because I used to be responsible for enforcing it.

是因爲我以前就是負責執行的人。

Following my own college baseball career at the University of Dayton,

當我在戴頓大學的棒球生涯結束以後，

I went on to law school before becoming an investigator

我去了法學院，進修法律，

然後當上國家大學體育協會的調查員。

at the National Collegiate Athletic Association.

I traveled to college campuses across the country

我橫跨全國，探訪各學院的校園，

and helped enforce a 400-page rule book that denies athletes the right to get paid

還拿著一本400頁厚的指引， 去褫奪運動員的受薪權利，

for their performance

不論他們多出色也好，

or even profit from their own name.

連名字也不能用來獲益。

For instance: unlike the music student who, in addition to their scholarship,

來舉個例，音樂系學生不但有獎學金，

can get paid to record a song,

作曲成品還可以收費。

or the English student who, in addition to their scholarship,

同樣，英文系學生除了有獎學金，

can get paid to write a book,

寫出來的作品也可以收費。

college athletes cannot profit from their talents

不過，學校運動員卻要無私奉獻，

or even take a free meal

連吃一頓不用錢的飯，

without being ruled ineligible and risking their scholarship.

也要擔心丟失自己的獎學金。

During my time as an investigator,

當調查員的時候，

I questioned hundreds of athletes and their families

我要盤問上百位的運動員 和他們的家人，

about their financial transactions,

問他們有什麽金錢來往，

dug through their personal bank and phone records

挖出他們的個人銀行和電話記錄，

and scrutinized their relationships to a humiliating degree,

用離譜的方法 調查他們的私生活，

all for the possibility that someone gave them something beyond a scholarship,

做那麽多事，就是為了查 是不是有人給了獎學金以外的東西，

no matter how petty.

不論多麼小額。

In one case, I questioned Ohio State football players

有次我要盤問一些俄亥俄州的足球員。

who received free tattoos and cash in exchange for memorabilia.

他們只不過用紀念品 換了些錢和免費紋身，

The case received national attention and became known as "Tattoo Gate,"

然後便受到全國關注， 案件還被戲稱爲「紋身門案」，

as if it were a scandal on par with political espionage.

説的像政治刺探活動一樣嚴重。

The players were suspended and had to repay the cash

那個足球員不但被停賽， 還要還錢，

as well as the value of the tattoos.

更要付紋身的費用。

In effect, unpaid athletes were fined by a billion-dollar organization

實際上，不少無薪運動員 都曾被大機構罰款，

that gets paid by sponsors to decorate the athletes in corporate logos.

但是收受贊助，在他們全身 貼滿其他公司圖案的，也是這些機構。

I was told my job was to promote fairness, but there was nothing fair about that.

他們一開始說，我的工作是促進公平, 不過我看不到公平。

Shortly thereafter, I left the NCAA and started fighting for the athletes.

很快，我便離開了協會， 加入運動員的陣營，助他們抗爭。

It became increasingly clear to me

我很快發現，

that rules supposedly designed to prevent exploitation

那些原本旨在防止運動員 被剝削的指引，

instead allow a collection of universities and their wealthy corporate sponsors

反而被學院和他們富饒的贊助商挪用，

to profit off the athletes,

用來在運動員身上賺錢。

who are promised an education and lured by a chance at the pros

他們給了那些運動員很多希望， 接受教育、成爲職業選手，

but who too often end up with nothing.

不過他們多半兩頭落空。

Now, some people believe college athletes get a free ride.

很多人認爲 當運動員便可以坐順風車。

However, there is nothing free about risking health and safety

但是用健康和生命換來的， 又怎可以叫順風。

while working 40 to 50 hours per week

他們除了要每周工作40至50小時，

as you fight to keep your scholarship.

還要努力比賽，保護他們的獎學金。

In football alone,

單單在足球比賽，

there are over 20,000 injuries a year,

每年會受傷的足球員起碼兩萬位，

including 4,000 knee injuries and 1,000 spinal injuries.

其中有四千人膝蓋受傷， 一千人脊髓受傷。

Since 2000, forty players have died.

自2000年來，已經有40名運動員喪命。

Beyond football, a recent study revealed

除了在足球比賽， 最近有一項研究顯示，

that an estimated 60 percent of Division 1 college athletes

估計有60%的 國家大學體育協會一級運動員，

suffer a major injury in their career,

曾經在職業生涯中受過重傷，

and over half of them endure chronic conditions

而其中超過一半的運動員 受慢性病困擾，

that last well beyond their playing days.

發病持續時間 往往比他們參賽時間還長。

There is nothing free about that,

他們才不順風，

especially as the NCAA refuses to enforce health and safety standards

國家大學體育協會 不但無意維護健康和安全標準，

and has denied in court it even has that responsibility.

還在法庭上否認有這個責任。

And about that education they're promised --

至於他們所謂的教育機會——

according to the College Sports Research Institute,

根據學院體育研究所的報告，

Black football and basketball players in the top five conferences

在五強聯盟的黑人足球和籃球員，

graduate at 22 and 37 percent lower

畢業的人數比一般本科 少 22% 和 37%。

than the undergraduate population.

Those who do graduate are often shuffled into majors with watered-down courses

至於能畢業的運動員， 則被推去修一些不讀也罷的課程，

that conform to their athletic schedules to simply keep them eligible.

好讓他們有時間參加比賽。

The time demands and required focus on sports

參與賽事需要運動員 大量時間和高度專注，

makes it challenging for even the most well-intentioned athlete

甚至是最有心向學的運動員，

to get a meaningful education.

也很難在學校學到什麽。

This is unacceptable for a 15 dollar billion industry

這個結果是無法接受的。 一個總值150億美元的產業，

run by institutions whose mission is to educate young people.

還是由教育機構主導， 居然連推動教育也做不到。

Although plenty of athletes succeed,

雖然很多運動員成功了，

their achievements don't require rules that deny pay

但他們的成就和那些 斂財的規條無關，

or a system that limits educational opportunities

也和只會限制教育機會，

or neglects health and safety.

或忽視人們健康 和安全的系統毫無瓜葛。

The fact is,

所以現實是，

American universities oversee a multibillion-dollar entertainment industry

美國的大學在監督一個 值數十億美元的娛樂產業，

that denies fundamental rights to its essential workers,

卻否認其重要的工作人員的基本權利，

a disproportionate number of whom are Black,

其中不成比例是黑人學生運動員，

while making millionaires of largely white coaches and administrators.

來成就一大群白人教練和管理人員， 讓他們成爲百萬富翁。

This dynamic has not only deprived many young people of a meaningful education,

這種生態不僅剝奪了許多年輕人 接受真正教育的機會，

it has shifted generations of wealth away from mostly Black families

它還從大部分的黑人家庭 掠奪值好幾代人的財富，

and represents the systemic inequities plaguing our society.

這個現象就是系統性不平等的象徵， 不斷和我們的社會糾纏。

The good news is that people are starting to see the truth.

不過好消息是， 人們開始看到了真相。

The NCAA's own public polling

國家大學體育協會的公眾投票結果，

has revealed that a staggering 79 percent of the public

反映出多達79%的投票人

believe that colleges put money ahead of their athletes.

覺得那些大學 將錢看得比他們的運動員還重要。

State and federal lawmakers, both Republican and Democrat,

無論是州議員還是聯邦議員， 是共和黨人或民主黨人，

have also taken notice and started to act.

都注意到民情改變， 並開始行動。

Several US senators have rightly described the problems in college sports

好幾位美國參議員 也凜然聲明大學體育中的問題

as a civil rights issue.

是個民權問題。

Meanwhile, college athletes from across the country

與此同時，來自全國各地的學生運動員

have started to stand up to demand greater health and safety protections,

也開始站出來， 要求更好的健康和安全保障，

representation rights,

更多代表權，

attention to racial and social justice issues

更多對種族和社會正義問題的關注，

and economic fairness.

以及更公平的經濟環境。

Those who think the players should just stick to sports

而那些認為運動員 應該乖乖就範的人，

fail to recognize how rarely college athletes speak up

並不知道學生運動員很少發聲，

and ignore the great personal risk they take

也不見發聲的人 要承擔的風險有多大。

in confronting a powerful industry,

他們沒有考慮 隻身對抗一個強大的行業，

especially without any representation.

還是在沒有任何代表的情況下的壓力。

More importantly, critics fail to acknowledge

更重要的是， 批評他們的人也不明白，

that college athletes are simply seeking rights

那些大學運動員只是在苦苦尋求，

that are afforded to virtually everyone else in this country

奪回幾乎其他國民都有的權利，

and basic protections that shouldn't even be in question.

追求本身就應該有的基本保障。

I agree that college sports should be an enjoyable distraction,

我也覺得 大學體育活動應該是娛樂盛事，

but not when they're distracting us from the very injustice they enable.

但如果要他們受不義折磨， 我不能接受。

In his retirement,

在他退休時，

the NCAA's first and longest-serving executive director, Walter Byers,

國家大學體育協會任期最長的 首位執行董事，沃爾特·拜爾斯，

described college sports as

這樣描述大專運動：

"the plantation mentality resurrected and blessed by today's campus executives."

「曾經讓黑人奴隸摘棉花的心態， 在學院高管的照料下死灰復燃」

This is a telling quote from the man who designed this system

說這番話的人， 親手設計了這個系統，

and the one who knew it best.

同時也是最了解它的人。

But you don't have to be an insider

不過你不需要是個內幕人士，

to recognize the exploitation of young people.

才能發現年輕人正被剝削。

You don't have to be a Republican or a Democrat

你也不需要是 共和黨人或民主黨人，

to be troubled by the irresponsible spending or the disregard for values

才會因為我們大學不負責任的花費，

和對普世價值的不敬感到困擾。

at our universities.

You don't even have to be a sports fan.

你甚至不用是個體育迷。

You just have to believe in basic ideas of fairness

你需要的 只是堅信公平的重要

and the values of higher education.

和明白高等教育有多珍貴。

So let's require that all college athletes

所以，請讓我們為 所有的大學運動員致力爭取機會，

are given a chance at a meaningful education.

讓他們能得到真正的教育。

Let's demand responsible spending by our universities

我們要令 大學的支出會對學生負責任，

and fairly allocate the billions of dollars being generated.

並公平分配它們所賺取的數十億利潤。

Let's create robust health and safety standards

我們要定下健全的健康和安全標準，

to protect those who entertain us with their bodies

保護那些獻上身心， 為我們帶來歡樂的學生，

and enforce those standards.

並確保這些標準得以執行。

Let's provide college athletes with a representative body

我們也要為那些運動員提供代表機構，

so they have recourse when things go wrong

讓他們在有事發生時， 還能有所依靠，

and a voice about how to make things right.

並且為他們發聲， 讓一切重回正軌。

Finally, let's rise to the challenge of our time

最後，我希望各位能和我們共度難關。

and once and for all correct

並一勞永逸，痛改前非，

the persistent racial and economic inequities

根治多年來不只在大學體育出現，

that apply to college sports and beyond.

還在其他領域肆虐的 種族和經濟不平等。

Change is long overdue,

我們一直以來，沒踏出過一步，

but there has never been a better time than now.

不過只要有去改變的心，便永遠不遲。