Geo Baker In The News

[zappaa]

O

Yes , a game we need to win

Agreed
You think his focus is in the right place.
Is this now a huge distraction...Nationally?

 

[Plum Street]

O
Agreed
You think his focus is in the right place.
Is this now a huge distraction...Nationally?

We’re gonna see tomorrow .

 

[Plum Street]

It is a completely ignorant, assnine, and childish comment.

I can say that confidently and still root for him like hell tomorrow and respect him as a person. It's not mutually exclusive. Those of you asking if people will still root for him or that fans are "turning" on him are equally childish.

But the comment absolutely sucks. You can argue about players getting compensation for jerseys, etc. That is a valid argument. But SLAVERY? Playing basketball and getting a high quality education for free is being compared to slavery? What? How can anyone put college basketball and slavery in the same mindset or thought process?

People are asking because many people in the rutgers fan community said they wouldn’t tolerate politics leaking into rutgers sports .

 

[kcg88]

O
Agreed
You think his focus is in the right place.
Is this now a huge distraction...Nationally?

I mean he probably posted those while he was bored at the airport.

 

[bac2therac]

Interesting Bac...we can support each other and not agree on everything. This is a very important thing to say and better yet to acknowledge. I would also add that we don't have to discredit or discount Geo's educated opinion and lived experience either.

And I fully support Geo's effort to make a change and do not doubt his earnesty and genuineness. Obviously Geo's experiences as an athlete and as a black man are quite different than almost all of us here.

 

[Anon1751594821]

Geo is not dumb,
It’s what he believes.
He’s putting a show on for you, and wants to sell is name and likeness.
Meantime we have a game tomorrow

One of these days, a team or player is going to decide to not play in the Final Four because of all of this.

If God forbid, Rutgers ever makes the Final Four and he gets the team to boycott it, he would be hated by our fans. Maybe, 10% would agree with that decision.

Best of Luck,
Groz

 

[mildone_rivals]

And if Paul equated his situation to slavery?

Slavery has been around for far, far longer than the United States. And people of many different ethnicities have been enslaved, often by people of the same ethnicity as themselves.

Geo didn’t make it about race. He said modern day slavery and the “modern day slaves“ to which he’s referring are all college basketball players, regardless of race.

 

[Plum Street]

And I fully support Geo's effort to make a change and do not doubt his earnesty and genuineness. Obviously Geo's experiences as an athlete and as a black man are quite different than almost all of us here.

Probably, all of us here . Unless Inman still posts here ? Those were always good threads

 

[RUDead]

Slavery was exploitative, slaves we’re stripped of their identity, family, and freedom and forced to work in a field for the enrichment of someone else. College athletics are exploitative. Student athletes must sign away the rights to their image and likeness in order to continue playing the game they love, all for the enrichment of other people.

No, it’s not literally slavery, he’s not plowing a field or being beaten and abused (unless Mike Rice is your coach). But it is exploitative. We could argue that the language is inflammatory, but we wouldn’t be sitting here posting nearly 300 comments about a 22 year old’s Instagram post here if it wasn’t.

Don't be ridiculous. Playing basketball in college has no relationship to slavery. He cheapened his argument by saying that.

He's a kid, he'll figure it out one day.

 

[e5fdny]

Just because things have been done a certain way for a long time doesn’t mean they are right or good.

Right.

But asking the course or the finish line to be changed after the gun goes off could make the runner look selfish in a lot of eyes.

 

[rubjk]

Slavery was exploitative, slaves we’re stripped of their identity, family, and freedom and forced to work in a field for the enrichment of someone else. College athletics are exploitative. Student athletes must sign away the rights to their image and likeness in order to continue playing the game they love, all for the enrichment of other people.

No, it’s not literally slavery, he’s not plowing a field or being beaten and abused (unless Mike Rice is your coach). But it is exploitative. We could argue that the language is inflammatory, but we wouldn’t be sitting here posting nearly 300 comments about a 22 year old’s Instagram post here if it wasn’t.

Well said.

 

[rubjk]

Right.

But asking the course or the finish line to be changed after the gun goes off could make the runner look selfish in a lot of eyes.

How does anything that’s been done one way for a long time get changed if people in the middle of it can’t ask for change?

 

[e5fdny]

You’re comparing baker to a six-figure professional job . The guy got political and you can cheer him on tomorrow or not. Like I posted, Jacob young actually did something way worse than what baker wrote . And this board gets on baker way harder

Depending on the school and the benefits that come along with it's not too far off.

It's part of the deal when you sign on the dotted line. Say and do what you want/will but realize there are repercussions by every action.

 

[e5fdny]

How does anything that’s been done one way for a long time get changed if people in the middle of it can’t ask for change?

I guess someone has to be that guy.

 

[WPUknight]

Is someone forcing Geo to play? Tell him to go home if this is so bad.

 

[Anon1751594821]

How does anything that’s been done one way for a long time get changed if people in the middle of it can’t ask for change?

Almost like what is going on in the stock market with the Reddit group.(bringing down the large hedge fund short sellers). It will be interesting how all this Robin hood, Reddit and all end up.

Best of Luck,
Groz

 

[Plum Street]

Depending on the school and the benefits that come along with it's not too far off.

It's part of the deal when you sign on the dotted line. Say and do what you want/will but realize there are repercussions by every action.

And what should be the repercussions for this action?

 

[newell138]

What does skin-color or ethnicity have to do with what Geo said? Geo’s talking about basketball players. There are college basketball players of all ethnic backgrounds.

Why are you making it about race?

Get your sarcasm meter checked rookie

 

[kcg88]

Is someone forcing Geo to play? Tell him to go home if this is so bad.

Is someone forcing you to watch or to post here?

Plenty of people here say they disagree with Geo but will watch and root for him anyway.

Geo disagrees with the NCAA model but plays anyway.

 

[newell138]

And what should be the repercussions for this action?

There shouldn’t be. Most likely it’s not even a blip on any of his teammates radars either. It’s just a message board thing.

 

[newell138]

Who among us has not said something stupid to get laid?? Maybe he’s trying to hook up with some liberal chick

 

[WPUknight]

Is someone forcing you to watch or to post here?

Plenty of people here say they disagree with Geo but will watch and root for him anyway.

Geo disagrees with the NCAA model but plays anyway.

disagreeing with the NCAA model is one thing, comparing it to slavery is another. If you actually think playing college basketball is like slavery then maybe you shouldn’t be playing.

 

[RUsojo]

disagreeing with the NCAA model is one thing, comparing it to slavery is another. If you actually think playing college basketball is like slavery then maybe you shouldn’t be playing.

He didn’t say that. You are saying that.

 

[WPUknight]

He didn’t say that. You are saying that.

he literally said it’s “modern day slavery”

 

[rubjk]

disagreeing with the NCAA model is one thing, comparing it to slavery is another. If you actually think playing college basketball is like slavery then maybe you shouldn’t be playing.

Geo said signing over the rights to make money off his name and likeness is. He did not say playing college basketball is.

It’s still a stretch and he could have said it differently, but he got people and the media’s attention and talking about it and that’s how change starts.

 

[e5fdny]

And what should be the repercussions for this action?

That's not my decision. That's a Rutgers or a Pike call.

As I said earlier, I doubt nothing happens with what he said or what he wants to happen.

 

[e5fdny]

Geo said signing over the rights to make money off his name and likeness is. He did not say playing college basketball is.

It’s still a stretch and he could have said it differently, but he got people and the media’s attention and talking about it and that’s how change starts.

The ole' "it got the conversation started" thing? LOL

 

[RUsojo]

he literally said it’s “modern day slavery”

Geo said signing over the rights to make money off his name and likeness is. He did not say playing college basketball is.

It’s still a stretch and he could have said it differently, but he got people and the media’s attention and talking about it and that’s how change starts.

“Modern day slavery” is an expression of exploitation. He said all college basketball players not owning their own name and likeness is “modern day slavery”. Slavery is no more (in this country). There is no slavery. Hence, “modern day slavery” does not mean slavery as it’s an institution that existed before “modern day”.

 

[anon_0k9zlfz6lz9oy]

Geo has 15k followers on Instagram alone. I bet there are a lot more than 200 jerseys sold with his name on it and barstool sold a lot more than 200 of the RHJ shirts.

Though they may not be as famous as you, they are more popular than you think they are.

15k followers isnt alot. I think youre wildly overestimating the reach/ “brand” these kids have. Id bet barstool sold no more than maybe 200 RHJ shirts and theyre a huge company

 

[ru66]

I quess some just want Geo to shut up and play--- how does that sound?? pretty f'in sad

 

[anon_0k9zlfz6lz9oy]

I mean, at the end of the day, there’s now several articles and 200+ comments on this board discussing a 22 year old college student’s Instagram comment. Geo said what he said to get people to consider and discuss an issue he is passionate about, and that’s exactly what’s happening here.

If you think geo was that well thought out about that comment and that measured then boy do i have a bridge to sell you. Its really as simple as it was a dumb not well thought out comment by a college kid

 

[RU-Choppin-Ohio]

US college athletes are the only people not paid for their fame and likeness.

If you put an actors name or image on some merchandise, they get paid. Heck, if you put my name on a Jersey and sell it you'd have to pay me.

 

[cm_13]

15k followers isnt alot. I think youre wildly overestimating the reach/ “brand” these kids have. Id bet barstool sold no more than maybe 200 RHJ shirts and theyre a huge company

He’s got that blue check mark though

 

[SJScarlet]

Is someone forcing you to watch or to post here?

Plenty of people here say they disagree with Geo but will watch and root for him anyway.

Geo disagrees with the NCAA model but plays anyway.

The problem with Geo’s and other similar takes on the topic is, ill-fitting slavery analogy aside, when you criticize something without attempting to propose a real solution you aren’t really saying anything at all. It may as well be gibberish. Does Geo understand the counterarguments regarding unfettered name/image/likeness rights, and the reasons rules have existed for decades? It sounds nice to say someone should be able to profit off their own name, until you confront the concern that there’s nothing to stop setting up a card table for athletes at big programs where they sign autographs for boosters at $300 a pop. And if the NCAA tried to regulate the practice, everyone with a brain knows it will be utterly toothless and unenforceable. I’m at the point with it where I almost think go ahead, set up some rules (or don’t), and let’s see how it goes. Let’s just not act like it’s easy and obvious.

This doesn’t even speak to his comments about playing in the midst of the pandemic, which are also off base, though I do understand the emotional reaction to the Baylor guy’s quote which comes off slightly tone deaf if you interpret it a certain way.

 

[ru66]

by the way RU students (non atheletes included) who know Geo and interact with him really like him and it has nothing to do with race--he's a good guy

 

[RUDead]

“Modern day slavery” is an expression of exploitation. He said all college basketball players not owning their own name and likeness is “modern day slavery”. Slavery is no more (in this country). There is no slavery. Hence, “modern day slavery” does not mean slavery as it’s an institution that existed before “modern day”.

Of course there is still slavery. Human trafficking is slavery. Uighers are enslaved in China right now.
Modern day slavery is a term used by the ignorant. It's also stupid, because "giving up the rights to your likeness while you get a scholarship" isn't slavery under any definition.

 

[e5fdny]

US college athletes are the only people not paid for their fame and likeness.

If you put an actors name or image on some merchandise, they get paid. Heck, if you my name on a Jersey and sell it you'd have to pay me.

They are getting paid.

 

[RUsojo]

The problem with Geo’s and other similar takes on the topic is, ill-fitting slavery analogy aside, when you criticize something without attempting to propose a real solution you aren’t really saying anything at all. It may as well be gibberish. Does Geo understand the counterarguments regarding unfettered name/image/likeness rights, and the reasons rules have existed for decades? It sounds nice to say someone should be able to profit off their own name, until you confront the concern that there’s nothing to stop setting up a card table for athletes at big programs where they sign autographs for boosters at $300 a pop. And if the NCAA tried to regulate the practice, everyone with a brain knows it will be utterly toothless and unenforceable. I’m at the point with it where I almost think go ahead, set up some rules (or don’t), and let’s see how it goes. Let’s just not act like it’s easy and obvious.

This doesn’t even speak to his comments about playing in the midst of the pandemic, which are also off base, though I do understand the emotional reaction to the Baylor guy’s quote which comes off slightly tone deaf if you interpret it a certain way.

Bro, the solution IS proposed in his comment it’s implicitly stated players should be able to profit off their name and likeness.

Getting paid what they are worth (if boosters pay them) is not a reason to prevent someone from from changing the rule, in fact, it’s a reason to clearly see the current system is wrong.

 

[cm_13]

If you think geo was that well thought out about that comment and that measured then boy do i have a bridge to sell you. Its really as simple as it was a dumb not well thought out comment by a college kid

I mean no he probably wasn’t trying to actually start this level of debate. If he was, it probably would have been something he would have posted to his actual page, not a reply to something he saw while scrolling through Instagram.

That’s why I don’t understand all the outrage here though. He didn’t tweet this or post this for his followers to see, it was a reply to someone else’s post. If it wasn’t on this board, I probably never would have even seen it.

 

[RUsojo]

Of course there is still slavery. Human trafficking is slavery. Uighers are enslaved in China right now.
Modern day slavery is a term used by the ignorant. It's also stupid, because "giving up the rights to your likeness while you get a scholarship" isn't slavery under any definition.

Human trafficking is legal in this country? News to me.