Jeremy Bloom to accept skiing $$$ and try to play football

[Jeff]

http://espn.go.com/ncaa/news/2004/0119/1712907.html

Good for him. If he can remain eligible while pursuing the ski career, he should be able to accept $$$ and play football. Two different sports. Many athletes have kept their eligibility in football and played other sports professionally; I saw Ricky Williams play minor league ball myself in Lowell, MA.

[soccernutter]

Moved to football as this will/does effect his football status.

[Malaga CF fan]

I hope Bloom is able to win this case for two reasons.

For one, I hope this will challenge the monopoly that is the NCAA and keep them minding their own business. They most assuredly hope to avoid corruption (fixing of games, payment of players by boosters, etc...) but this is so clearly outside of that realm. Bloom is a world-class athlete and like the article says "The unfortunate side of this is that the NCAA possesses the power to kick me off the football field and take my scholarship away, even though their own rule book states that an amateur student-athlete can simultaneously be a professional in another sport (such as baseball)," Bloom said.

Bloom has not gained a single endorsement through his performance in NCAA competition, therefore, he really shouldn't have to forfeit his amateur status in football.

For two, the guy just flies, and as a CU alum, we need him on the football field returning kicks and posing big problems for opposing defenses. He's a stud and deserves to play football, simply for his talent alone.