Player tattoos... Whose paying for them?

[DrinkToIt]

Im always curious how college athletes are able to pay for tattoos that cost several hundred, if not thousands of dollars. A large chest piece can cost upwards of $1000 or more depending on whose doing it. Tats are NOT cheap and a lot of players have large pieces. Just something that concerns me, and it doesnt seem like anyone seems to care or notice. Yeah they look cool, but these guys arent paying for them with their per diem.

 

[GuaranteedFresh!]

Most large or intricate tats aren't done in one sitting and you can pay for them as you go in most places. Kind of like a layaway art piece. $100 once every couple of weeks isn't too hard to come by. I'd much rather the guys spend their cash on sleeves instead of a cellophane bag of wasted opportunity. Besides, tattoos are now as acceptable as girls getting their ears pierced. No longer a biker or gang bangers only club. I wouldn't read too much into it.

 

[clob94]

Don't kid yourself. Ink artist aren't stupid. They know that these kids play on live TV in front of millions. Their art work gets featured every time the kid gets a close up. It's bragging rights for tattoo inkers. They can sit at the bar amongst friends, point at the TV and announce "check that sh!t out! I know that guy and did all his ink!" Free advertising bro.

 

[Cotton #12]

Not a fan of tattoos.

 

[FlourBluffHorn]

They probably chew a lotta Double Bubble Bubble gum as there is a free tattoo in each wrapper!



Hook'em

 

[bubba2023]

Don't kid yourself. Ink artist aren't stupid. They know that these kids play on live TV in front of millions. Their art work gets featured every time the kid gets a close up. It's bragging rights for tattoo inkers. They can sit at the bar amongst friends, point at the TV and announce "check that sh!t out! I know that guy and did all his ink!" Free advertising bro.

What about the ones who are never on TV?

 

[FlourBluffHorn]

What about the ones who are never on TV?

Friends, Relatives, Girlfriends pay for them or do them at home ..etc, Tattoo parlors aren't the only ones who can do damn good tats..

Hook'em

 

[Top Gum]

Not a fan of tattoos.

Creepy to us old guys.

 

[DrinkToIt]

Most large or intricate tats aren't done in one sitting and you can pay for them as you go in most places. Kind of like a layaway art piece. $100 once every couple of weeks isn't too hard to come by. I'd much rather the guys spend their cash on sleeves instead of a cellophane bag of wasted opportunity. Besides, tattoos are now as acceptable as girls getting their ears pierced. No longer a biker or gang bangers only club. I wouldn't read too much into it.

Yes, I know how large artwork is done lol. Of course its not in one sitting, but again, its not cheap, and if the insinuation is that artists are doing it for free, simply for exposure, Im not real comfortable with that either. My concern is where the money is coming from, and if there is any kind of accounting for this kind of thing. Tats are a luxury item, and if I were an athletic department, I would be very very thorough in making sure that my student athletes arent getting special favors for something that everyone knows costs a lot of money. If tat artists are doing this sort of thing for free, then Im not sure what is wrong with auto dealers letting athletes drive expensive cars for exposure either......

 

[GuaranteedFresh!]

Ok, I get where you're going with this. The more I think about it the less I care if special players get special favors. Tats, cars, golden things, money.....I just dont want highschool kid commitments being bought a la Poney Express. How to ensure fairness is the problem.

I think most everything a scholly player needs is pretty much provided from food to clothing to quarters & they are given a stipend to use as they see fit. I could be completely misinformed as well. Maybe Clob can throw in a little insight on this.

 

[DrinkToIt]

Ok, I get where you're going with this. The more I think about it the less I care if special players get special favors. Tats, cars, golden things, money.....I just dont want highschool kid commitments being bought a la Poney Express. How to ensure fairness is the problem.

I think most everything a scholly player needs is pretty much provided from food to clothing to quarters & they are given a stipend to use as they see fit. I could be completely misinformed as well. Maybe Clob can throw in a little insight on this.

Im just trying to make sure asses are covered. When you hear from athletes that they can barely feed themselves and they arent allowed to have jobs, and that tuition, room and board isnt enough, and then you see these guys with $1000 tats, no matter how many sessions it took to get them, then I start to wonder just how much they are hurting financially. Tattoos arent necessary. They are totally a whim, a luxury, and if the players are complaining about money but then have no trouble tatting half their torso, then Im concerned about rules violations. Its not just UT, but its everywhere across D1 football and basketball.

 

[GuaranteedFresh!]

We were all that age. I can tell ya that getting a 12er and a pack of smokes was a higher priority than fixing that busted out tail light or putting something other than ramen noodles in the pantry.

What I'm saying is that it is completly common and expected. So much that it is ignored. Nobody gets in trouble for it unless they are already busted for a more severe violation. Think of it like driving with an expired inspection sticker, you won't get pulled over for it but if you're caught speeding it gets added to the ticket.

Your concern is without a doubt spot on. Yes, they are more than likely being wined & dined. $100 handshakes from sugar daddies happen all the time, everwhere. It's well known but isn't a problem until it's a problem. Just another one of those hypocritical NCAA things where they overlook it until they feel it's time to rejustify their existence.

 

[HornosaurusRex]

like a boss

Hook 'em

 

[jsto60]

We were all that age. I can tell ya that getting a 12er and a pack of smokes was a higher priority than fixing that busted out tail light or putting something other than ramen noodles in the pantry.

What I'm saying is that it is completly common and expected. So much that it is ignored. Nobody gets in trouble for it unless they are already busted for a more severe violation. Think of it like driving with an expired inspection sticker, you won't get pulled over for it but if you're caught speeding it gets added to the ticket.

Your concern is without a doubt spot on. Yes, they are more than likely being wined & dined. $100 handshakes from sugar daddies happen all the time, everwhere. It's well known but isn't a problem until it's a problem. Just another one of those hypocritical NCAA things where they overlook it until they feel it's time to rejustify their existence.

This.

Hell I just had lunch with a buddy who played safety at Rice. Yes, that Rice University.

And even he talked about handshakes and signing Rice gear for $.

If it happens at Rice for little known starting DBs. It happens everywhere. Some players more than others. And to higher degrees at some places. But getting a little cash here and there, for NCAA athletes....happens all the time and cash is tough to police.

 

[GuaranteedFresh!]

like a boss

Hook 'em

Mind you I'm looking at this on my cell but is that a tattoo of the Latin Kings gang or did something obvious fly over my head?

 

[clob94]

Rolex...