Geo Baker In The News

[brucelaw8]

I agree with many of the sentiments expressed by Geo(though somewhat inarticulately stated).It is nice I'm sure to have a dad who is a professional athlete or Dr. or lawyer.It is a fact that many college basketball players are african american,coming from poverty.College basketball is beginning to generate huge sums of money at Rutgers.They are the beneficiary of big TV money,with sell outs of all home games pre pandemic.Now players are being asked to virtually cut themselves off from the outside world for 6-12 months.
You love to play and don't want to let down your team.As is true all over, clouded thoughts & depression sets in .Powerful interests make essentially all of the money,while co opting the talents name, image and likeness.
Something is not right here.
Of course there is serious corruption.Criminal & unsavory elements take the front seat on an unequal basis(i.e. SEC).The powerful will always fight to keep their advantage.Change will happen,but at a snail's pace.(It took Olympic athletes forever to get paid.)
Don't think for a minute that there are not racist underpinnings to this story(run Fox News run).We have seen that where a black athlete speaks out ,it is all hands on deck.
Geo.Change the wording if you must,but your substance is virtuous .Now go and kick the **** out of Northwestern.

 

[JDNB]

These kids haven't been able to see their family or friends for months.

You telling me that doesn't earn them the right to their own likeness?

Geo is absolutely right. I am proud he plays for RU.

Who has it rougher the young man in the military, who is deployed to a foreign country, or is in boot camp, separated from family, and friends, or the college youth, who is playing basketball?

 

[Salvi's Headband]

Whoooof. Ugly comment. Geo is so far gone and uninformed mentally man. I root for the kid and our players but they have some really toxic views

imagine thinking playing basketball on a full scholarship with free housing, food, training, education is equal to slavery? Yikes. Someone needs to talk to these kids.

Geo is so much smarter than you will ever be, Chud.

 

[Pancho1939_rivals]

Can we jusy F*cking focus on winning for f*ck sake? Lose 5 in a row now we want to fight the ncaa... this is Donald Trump type stuff.

 

[bac2therac]

it is certainly the wrong time to cause a stir, thats for sure, but its probably what was intended

 

[leftoright]

And where did they learn this type of outrage . In the school systems mainly or on the street. I’m sure Baker will have a long career in the professional ranks of the NBA . Oh wait ...he’ll be playing in Europe I forgot..

Name his professors!

 

[newell138]

Giving them a piece of the action is indeed fair and an option.

I haven’t commented on how it could/should be implemented, just that they shouldn’t loose the rights to their likeness. I imagine most players would be agreeable to a royalty pool.

Does the scholarship get deducted before royalties kick in?

 

[Pancho1939_rivals]

Secondly if this is “modern day slavery” then why doesn’t he just quit? It makes no sense. If he is terribly upset he should quit and pay for his education, pay for his trainer, pay for his meals, pay for his tutors, get to pick his classes when the rest of the university picks them, for some students get rejected from the schools they are currently studying at.... it is madness. These guys don’t understand what it is like to be an “ordinary” student not on the basketball team so they end up saying playing a sport is modern day slavery.

Lastly if geo was not wearing a Rutgers jersey not one person in the world would pay to see him play. Has he seen crowds in the g- league?


I wish before saying these things they would research a little. Does he understand that like 10-15 schools actually make money on athletics. That for every male basketball player that needs to get paid there is a corresponding female athlete that needs to get paid? Does he understand that not a single sport at Rutgers generates a dollar for the university? That if he gets paid the women’s field hockey player needs to get paid?

Does he understand that he actually costs the university money? Literally the university loses money on letting him play basketball and he has the nerve to call it slavery.

 

[Proud NJ Sports Fan]

I really like Geo, I don't have to agree with him, but I'm still a big fan of his

 

[Caliknight]

If I use your likeness for my own profit you’d have no issue with that right? And I’ve worked those hours too man, you’re not a martyr.

He is getting paid. He gets a free education, tutors, and flown around in private jets.

 

[DHajekRC84]

Why are folks offended? When have you walked in Geo's shoes? Is it so hard to appreciate what Geo is saying without being offended? You do realize that college athletes have a very unique perspective relative to the average student and when they realize that all the work and achievements during their time in college benefits someone else from a financial standpoint, it makes sense for them to question the system. Has Slavery ended in the USA? Yes! Does the principle of Slavery remain in other forms today today? You can answer that question...

Lol.Geo's a slave. I have only 2 issues with what he said. 1, he's not there to entertain and if he thinks so maybe he could give me a refund for some of his play. 2, what an insult to those who actually went thru the horror of real slavery. Cheap play on topic by him. Immature and weak.

EDIT: Didn't watch his post game comments but but if he was smart enough to pull back on his statement to better clarify then I can be happy enough to come back here and give him credit for that.

 

[JudgeSmails56]

What an idiot

 

[Night Man]

Geo after the game: "If I could go back I think I would word it differently. It's a great opportunity that we have here, but that doesn't mean the system is perfect."

Most would agree with that statement.

I think he learned a lesson, not many 21 year olds I would want making statements to the media on labor issues but he's getting there.

 

[ItsDifferentThisTime]

Secondly if this is “modern day slavery” then why doesn’t he just quit? It makes no sense. If he is terribly upset he should quit and pay for his education, pay for his trainer, pay for his meals, pay for his tutors, get to pick his classes when the rest of the university picks them, for some students get rejected from the schools they are currently studying at.... it is madness. These guys don’t understand what it is like to be an “ordinary” student not on the basketball team so they end up saying playing a sport is modern day slavery.

Lastly if geo was not wearing a Rutgers jersey not one person in the world would pay to see him play. Has he seen crowds in the g- league?


I wish before saying these things they would research a little. Does he understand that like 10-15 schools actually make money on athletics. That for every male basketball player that needs to get paid there is a corresponding female athlete that needs to get paid? Does he understand that not a single sport at Rutgers generates a dollar for the university? That if he gets paid the women’s field hockey player needs to get paid?

Does he understand that he actually costs the university money? Literally the university loses money on letting him play basketball and he has the nerve to call it slavery.

A few things to touch on here:

1: These kids aren’t just normal students, they have an elite skill and should be compensated fairly for it. I think we would all agree with that. If you think $300k is fair comp for 4 years of work that’s fine but don’t sit there and try and pout about “regular students” having it worse.

2: Do people watch their favorite NFL team for the third string QB? Probably not, but they still get paid. We watch because we care about the university/team and Geo is a major part of both, he should be compensated for it.

3: What players are arguing about is getting a share of what the NCAA (Billion dollar corporation) makes, not school revenue.

4: Stop being so soft and offended what a 22 year old thinks or says. I think he starts a meaningful dialogue about a real issue in College Athletics.

 

[bethlehemfan]

Im glad he said that. (What night man said. above). It’s a difficult topic. I don’t pretend to have any answers. Geo is very likable imo and he seems to be willing to look back with some introspection which is great. He’s a young man who’s passionate about things which is also great. Now he just needs to get back to 5 assists to one turnover ratio.

 

[Proud NJ Sports Fan]

I got more into RU MBB because of Geo a few years ago

I hope Pike, Knight and staff have a talk with him and advise to not talk to the media about stuff until AFTER the season

Focus 110% on winning games and leading the team.

No distractions!

 

[Pancho1939_rivals]

Legit question, are you honestlytr


A few things to touch on here:

1: These kids aren’t just normal students, they have an elite skill and should be compensated fairly for it. I think we would all agree with that. If you think $300k is fair comp for 4 years of work that’s fine but don’t sit there and try and pout about “regular students” having it worse.

2: Do people watch their favorite NFL team for the third string QB? Probably not, but they still get paid. We watch because we care about the university/team and Geo is a major part of both, he should be compensated for it.

3: What players are arguing about is getting a share of what the NCAA (Billion dollar corporation) makes, not school revenue.

4: Stop being so soft and offended what a 22 year old thinks or says.

1. Compensated for what? They cost the school money. Actually not just the school all students pay their athletic fees when paying tuition. There are a lot of very “elite” student at Rutgers whether it be in engineering, violin, economics or basketball... should we pay them? They all enhance the brand of Rutgers right? Except only geo costs Rutgers money.

2. The third string qb is compensated because if he wasn’t compensated he would be working another job. If geo wasn’t playing basketball my guess would be he would be taking classes at another school. Also if the third string quarterback said it was like slavery he would be out of a job.

3. It is all the same thing the NCAA gives the schools money of their share of the tournament. The NCAA is mot just basketball. It is bowling, field hockey, soccer, volley ball, softball, baseball, etc... these sports cost the NCAA money. I don’t know the exact financials but if geo gets paid $1,000 for the NCAA tournament how much do the all Americans get paid? Then how much do women’s field hockey players get paid? Title 9 says the same.

4. All I know is that he is talking like we are duke. Rutgers hasn’t played a meaningful game in 30 years and he is talking about getting paid and if he doesn’t it is like slavery. Focusing his attention on his school work and winning would probably serve him much better. He should also read a book about slavery. I am not sure if he knows what actually happened.

Seriously imagine you are slogging away to pay 30k per year so your kid can go to Rutgers and this basketball player who has not done anything with respect to his “elite” talent to enhance Rutgers is on scholarship then is bitching about not getting paid.

Not to mention not one person on this board posts because of geo. They watch and post because it is Rutgers.

 

[ItsDifferentThisTime]

1. Compensated for what? They cost the school money. Actually not just the school all students pay their athletic fees when paying tuition. There are a lot of very “elite” student at Rutgers whether it be in engineering, violin, economics or basketball... should we pay them? They all enhance the brand of Rutgers right? Except only geo costs Rutgers money.

2. The third string qb is compensated because if he wasn’t compensated he would be working another job. If geo wasn’t playing basketball my guess would be he would be taking classes at another school. Also if the third string quarterback said it was like slavery he would be out of a job.

3. It is all the same thing the NCAA gives the schools money of their share of the tournament. The NCAA is mot just basketball. It is bowling, field hockey, soccer, volley ball, softball, baseball, etc... these sports cost the NCAA money. I don’t know the exact financials but if geo gets paid $1,000 for the NCAA tournament how much do the all Americans get paid? Then how much do women’s field hockey players get paid? Title 9 says the same.

4. All I know is that he is talking like we are duke. Rutgers hasn’t played a meaningful game in 30 years and he is talking about getting paid and if he doesn’t it is like slavery. Focusing his attention on his school work and winning would probably serve him much better. He should also read a book about slavery. I am not sure if he knows what actually happened.

Seriously imagine you are slogging away to pay 30k per year so your kid can go to Rutgers and this basketball player who has not done anything with respect to his “elite” talent to enhance Rutgers is on scholarship then is bitching about not getting paid.

Not to mention not one person on this board posts because of geo. They watch and post because it is Rutgers.

1: I think you are missing the point here. Elite students are compensated whether it be sports or academics via (scholarships, etc.) what I am saying is the debate should be over what fair compensation is for those elite students. As I said in point 2, they want a piece of what the NCAA makes not the school. The NCAA does profit quite a bit off athletes, and there is a legit argument to be made that athletes should get a cut of that. My comp is based off of the value I bring to the organization I produce for. A student athlete has the right to want a cut from the NCAA or other means to make money off of their abilities.

2. My point here is we watch because we are fans of the team and every player is a major contributor to that team. You can’t separate one from the other. Also, the third string QB probably wouldn’t say that cause they are getting paid fairly, unlike student athletes.

3. I don’t have an answer to how much college athletes should be paid (profit share, getting paid for likeness, etc.) but I am saying Geo and all the players have the right to raise questions about getting their fair share.

4. He isn’t speaking for just Geo, he’s raising this question for all student athletes. It takes a ton of courage to speak out and bring some more light to this problem. I want my face of the program to have the mindset of Duke and blue bloods.

You are seriously gonna argue he hasn’t done a ton for the University and our brand? We were a joke in Basketball before he helped build the program to where we are today. Not being able to see that because of a few comments is sad.

 

[RUBOB72]

Name his professors!

No Baker used the term slavery. If he equates his school and his sport in the same sentence to being a “slave” he would be wrong. The use of that word becomes invalid by the continued incorrect context. No way near what slavery was 300 years ago. Take a survey on campus of all students and then let us know ... if they are not threatened or coerced you may find Geo Baker was not speaking for all athletes or students however you should include all students attending Rutgers as well... all those paying out of pocket.

 

[RUBOB72]

The comparison to slavery is dumb and allows people to dismiss everything else he says, which is spot on IMO.

Also, it makes me pretty confident that he has no plans to come back next season.

That would be fine if he chose to go to the NBA ....maybe some other appreciative player would love a chance at a World Class school with decent sports. Oh did I say NBA. ooops that ain’t happening.

 

[JerseyShoreKnight]

Some of you need to relax and watch his postgame interview.

 

[cm_13]

That would be fine if he chose to go to the NBA ....maybe some other appreciative player would love a chance at a World Class school with decent sports. Oh did I say NBA. ooops that ain’t happening.

Sickkkkk burn dude.

Kid has been the foundation for this program for four years now and you’re, what, reveling in the fact that he isn’t going to play in the NBA?

 

[MadRU]

Good job by Geo, learning lesson

 

[RUBOB72]

Sickkkkk burn dude.

Kid has been the foundation for this program for four years now and you’re, what, reveling in the fact that he isn’t going to play in the NBA?

The foundation perhaps but he has had many ups and downs while here . I’m stating a fact : he’s not playing in the NBA. That’s not a disgrace by any means I ‘m just telling it honestly something this young stud needs to start doing after college and maybe after playing in Europe or China.I don’t wish him anything but a great life and career wherever that is. I just find that for such an” intelligent “ student athlete ( according to some on this board ) Geo manages to be extraordinarily inept at not making comparisons .

 

[Yeah Baby]

A few things to touch on here:

1: These kids aren’t just normal students, they have an elite skill and should be compensated fairly for it. I think we would all agree with that. If you think $300k is fair comp for 4 years of work that’s fine but don’t sit there and try and pout about “regular students” having it worse.

2: Do people watch their favorite NFL team for the third string QB? Probably not, but they still get paid. We watch because we care about the university/team and Geo is a major part of both, he should be compensated for it.

3: What players are arguing about is getting a share of what the NCAA (Billion dollar corporation) makes, not school revenue.

4: Stop being so soft and offended what a 22 year old thinks or says. I think he starts a meaningful dialogue about a real issue in College Athletics.

I’ve always argued that these kids give up 4-5 years of their life and defend them to those who think the scholarship is so much. Yes they should be grateful for the scholarship because there are so many out there who would jump to have his slot. On the other hand they see people making millions out there and they want in. I get it. His wording was bad but I get what he is saying.

What he will soon learn is there are many people out there who make more money than most of us and not all are deserving. I am always grateful for what I have even though I often get pissed when I see what people are making and many fell into those positions or were born into them. I e worked hard all of my life and I deserve what I have today. Now I need Covid to end so I can get out and spend it.

 

[brucelaw8]

Name his professors!

Of course Geo was brainwashed by the liberal establishment.An intelligent guy has no ability to think for himself.

 

[RUBOB72]

Sickkkkk burn dude.

Kid has been the foundation for this program for four years now and you’re, what, reveling in the fact that he isn’t going to play in the NBA?

Dude you must mean your father ?

 

[cm_13]

The foundation perhaps but he has had many ups and downs while here . I’m stating a fact : he’s not playing in the NBA. That’s not a disgrace by any means I ‘m just telling it honestly something this young stud needs to start doing after college and maybe after playing in Europe or China.I don’t wish him anything but a great life and career wherever that is. I just find that for such an” intelligent “ student athlete ( according to some on this board ) Geo manages to be extraordinarily inept at not making comparisons .

Fair enough.

My outlook is, 22 year olds generally aren’t particularly measured in how they respond to things on social media, I certainly wasn’t. But it also shows a ton of character and maturity to take responsibility for what he said and admit that he could have chosen his words more carefully. I know plenty of people much older than Geo who do not possess that level of maturity or self awareness.

 

[NotInRHouse_anon]

Who has it rougher the young man in the military, who is deployed to a foreign country, or is in boot camp, separated from family, and friends, or the college youth, who is playing basketball?

Is it a competition? Or can we just be thankful for the sacrifice of both?

 

[Yeah Baby]

Geo has the right to say whatever he believes. If he does believe it, I hope he doesn’t apologize. Everyone is entitled to their opinion.

Will there be blowback? Maybe, and if there is he’ll learn to deal with it which is an equally important lesson. It is ironic to me that the group that takes umbrage with his comments and wants him to shut up is largely the same group that constantly complains about their “free speech being restricted.” Not hard to figure out why his should be in their minds.

At the end of the day, IMO the NCAA does exploit its athletes. It brings in a billion dollars a year, P5 schools’ athletic departments bring in $30M+ in revenue routinely, and coaches get paid millions routinely. Nitpicking his phrasing is semantics used to distract from the real issue.

Most pathetic part to me is the fact that a large part of our “fan base” has turned on our head coach and our senior captain who has arguably done as much for the program as anyone in Rutgers’ history in basically consecutive weeks. Not a lot of foxhole guys around here.

Pretty political post for someone who said to keep politics of the board. Hypocrisy at it’s finest. How’s that tracking sensor working out for you?

 

[GORU2014]

Pretty political post for someone who said to keep politics of the board. Hypocrisy at it’s finest. How’s that tracking sensor working out for you?

Don’t see anything political here relative to the thread.

Do think it’s weird you followed me two days ago (yes, people get notifications when you do that) and have apparently spent that time digging through my posts only to fail miserably and call me out on a pretty innocuous one. Go away.

 

[pmvon]

Geo is absolutely correct.

CFB and CBB make tons of money. There should be revenue sharing model.
Athletes should be majoring in only sports. That means there should be a major called football and basketball.

Why major in Mathematics when all they are doing is playing basketball?
How is math going to help them make free throws or 3-pt shot?

Seriously? 99% of kids graduating with a basketball degree and no prospects to play at the next level.

They shouldn’t have a revenue model. At best a profit model and since most schools don’t make a profit, they wouldn’t make anything. Some schools would and of course that would create its own problem.

 

[pmvon]

This is such a BS anti-labor argument. We don't tune in to watch some random middle reliever on a baseball team, but he still gets paid a professional athlete salary because they were allowed to unionize, which college athletes are expressly NOT allowed to do.

The middle reliever can host a baseball camp in the offseason and get paid for it. They can sell their team gear. They can do a whole bunch of things to make money that college athletes can't do.

They are getting paid a lot.

 

[Knight Ed_rivals]

In a strictlty business sense, Geo is probably maximizing the return on his basketball value most by staying at Rutgers. He could have left after any year and made as much money as the free market would pay for his basketball value. He made the business decision each year to renew his Rutgers contract'
Slaves were never given the option to leave anytime they want and take the most money they can elsewhere. Geo has that option when he wakes up every morning.

 

[RUTRINI_rivals]

Fair enough.

My outlook is, 22 year olds generally aren’t particularly measured in how they respond to things on social media, I certainly wasn’t. But it also shows a ton of character and maturity to take responsibility for what he said and admit that he could have chosen his words more carefully. I know plenty of people much older than Geo who do not possess that level of maturity or self awareness.

So very true...Some grown adults on this board aren't particularly measured on how they respond to things like a student athlete stating a widely held view my many student athletes...not just black student athletes...I will let Geo's unscripted and uncensored interview comments stand as the final word on this issue. I love my Rutgers Family...we are a diverse and opinionated bunch but I would not trade any of them. We are unfinished products, all of us.

Go RU!

 

[RUBOB72]

So very true...Some grown adults on this board aren't particularly measured on how they respond to things like a student athlete stating a widely held view my many student athletes...not just black student athletes...I will let Geo's unscripted and uncensored interview comments stand as the final word on this issue. I love my Rutgers Family...we are a diverse and opinionated bunch but I would not trade any of them. We are unfinished products, all of us.

Go RU!

You are the only poster in this dialogue who mentioned the color of the man’s skin. No one else mentioned “ black athletes” except you. This particular discourse was generated because a player who most love came out with a statement which he himself wound up trying to explain a day later. This is about all athletes . So in your opinion how much should Geo be paid monthly yearly by Rutgers?

 

[zappaa]

So very true...Some grown adults on this board aren't particularly measured on how they respond to things like a student athlete stating a widely held view my many student athletes...not just black student athletes...I will let Geo's unscripted and uncensored interview comments stand as the final word on this issue. I love my Rutgers Family...we are a diverse and opinionated bunch but I would not trade any of them. We are unfinished products, all of us.

Go RU!

Receiving some sort of compensation because today’s version of scholarship athletes can’t get jobs in the off season like in my day, should be debated.
The whole NIL thing is delusional and shouldn’t be part of the discussion.
I have no problem with some sort of profit sharing model where every player gets the same thing.

 

[RUTRINI_rivals]

You are the only poster in this dialogue who mentioned the color of the man’s skin. No one else mentioned “ black athletes” except you. This particular discourse was generated because a player who most love came out with a statement which he himself wound up trying to explain a day later. This is about all athletes . So in your opinion how much should Geo be paid monthly yearly by Rutgers?

I see...This is about all athletes...as you say. You and I are saying the same thing. The question about how much Geo should be paid is rhetorical because Geo's point while there is an obvious financial piece to it, it's about OWNERSHIP and Loosing your RIGHTS to your own IDENTITY in the current NCAA model. Some see it as a choice, Geo and others see it differently.
Similarly, the modern day slavery comment was used rhetorically, because while there is an obvious Racial piece to it, it's about OWNERSHIP and Loosing your RIGHTS to your own IDENTITY under that system. Some can see the similarities, others disagree.

We still Family...

 

[RUTRINI_rivals]

Receiving some sort of compensation because today’s version of scholarship athletes can’t get jobs in the off season like in my day, should be debated.
The whole NIL thing is delusional and shouldn’t be part of the discussion.
I have no problem with some sort of profit sharing model where every player gets the same thing.

I agree...Profit sharing seems the most likely solution.

 

[Yeah Baby]

Don’t see anything political here relative to the thread.

Do think it’s weird you followed me two days ago (yes, people get notifications when you do that) and have apparently spent that time digging through my posts only to fail miserably and call me out on a pretty innocuous one. Go away.

I followed you because you threatened me with a tracking sensor. That’s probably illegal so I wanted to see what you’re all about.

Two days ago I responded to someone else NOT YOU and you attacked. This is on you. We are all entitled to our opinions. I’m more than happy to disengage here just mind your own business if you don’t like one of my posts or opinions. If you want to debate it I’m open to that as well. Just don’t make personal attacks and threats to put a tracking sensor on my posts and I’m happy to move on.

No apology needed. Just don’t ever do it again.