Accepting gifts from a sports agent may be tempting, but beware... there are considerable consequences if you're caught!

Another Instance You'll Want to Just Say No!
By Feona Sharhran Huff
October 2001

The CollegeBound Network NewsClick -- You like getting free stuff, right? Sure you do (who doesn't?!). The thought and thrill of receiving something you ordinarily wouldn't have the money to buy is a much-appreciated treat. If you're a college athlete, however, you might want to rethink your get-a-gift mentality.

Accepting gifts from sports agents will present a dramatic danger to your recruitment potential -- like being booted off your college team, say Marc Isenberg and Rick Rhoads in The Student-Athlete Survival Guide (Rugged Mountain Press/McGraw-Hill, 2001). According to NCAA rules, you'll be ineligible to play college sports if you and/or your family and friends accept transportation or other perks which aren't available to the general student body. The authors, however, do see how you could get caught up in the 'season of gift-taking.'

Isenberg recognizes that it can be financially frustrating when you're not making any money from your hard athletic labor -- while the school is reeling in big bucks from games you play. He also realizes that while you're in athlete-mode, you're flying on chartered planes, eating at fancy restaurants, and getting top-of-the-line sneakers, but back in the reality of your dorm, you're broke.

To make matters worse, when you're offered tantalizing freebies, it seems like you've hit the jackpot. Even though these great gifts are hard to refuse, Isenberg strongly advises you stop yourself before you make a decision you'll regret. Think before you act, he says.

"Understand what's behind the money," he warns. "If [the sports agent] is treating you special because of your athletic ability, [ask yourself] is that the way you want to start off your [athletic] career?"

By accepting gifts, Isenberg continues, you're going to be the one who suffers. The sports agent can always find a new recruit, but will you still be able to play the game? Not if you break the rules!

"If you aspire to play college sports, you have to abide by NCAA rules. If you're taking money and intend to stay on [your team] but get caught, you can lose your playing eligibility," Isenberg says.

When you look at it that way, wouldn't your best bet be to refuse the gifts? Consider this question: "Do I really need all this free stuff anyway?" The answer should be "No!" Tell that to the jolly gift-giving sports agent the next time he or she waves some goodies in your face.