Andrew Bogut reveals the two biggest problems with American sport

WHEN it comes to sport, we hear it all the time: the US does it better. But according to Aussie NBA star Andrew Bogut, that’s not the case at all.

WHEN it comes to sport, we hear it all the time: the US does it better.

But according to NBA star Andrew Bogut, that’s not the case at all.

Bogut is one of those refreshing athletes who always speaks his mind.

The Aussie’s latest revelation came over the weekend, when he hit out at the American college system and also the issue of player salaries being made public.

In a wide-ranging interview with The Courier-Mail, Bogut spoke about his early struggles in America where he was an unpaid player at the University of Utah.

The towering Golden State Warriors centre took particular issue with the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) exploiting young athletes.

“I just don’t think it is fair what they do to some of these kids,” said Bogut.

“(The NCAA) signed a billion-dollar television deal and you have kids playing who can barely afford to eat. It is not right.

“I ended up in America in the college system where you don’t get paid.

“You cannot even get help from friends or people in the club. They cannot give you a dollar or buy you a drink or a meal, it’s illegal by the laws of the NCAA.

“I went to America with one suitcase and that was about it. My family were not wealthy by any means. My father was a labourer.

“I ended up getting a job in a sports bar for about six weeks on weekends and I built up a little fund of money.

“When we did not have a team meal I would be at Wendys or Subway getting the dollar items. I would spend three or four bucks on a few cheese burgers and chips. That was my meal. That was the reality of it.”

“I disagree with the publishing of figures. You have a bunch of women cutting that out and following guys around at night clubs. It just creates a plethora of problems.”

Bogut’s world is far different now. He was listed as Australia’s highest paid athlete with estimated earnings of $16 million last year.

That brings us to his next point. Bogut hates the fact that player salaries are made public.

“I disagree with the publishing of figures. The big paper in the States, USA Today, actually has a lift-out every three or four months which has every professional athlete’s salary in every sport in America.

“You have a bunch of women cutting that out and following guys around at night clubs. It just creates a plethora of problems.”

Bogut said the publishing of salaries also created issues within the team.

“You play on a team and you have got two blokes who are free agents at the end of the year and they are trying to get their numbers up,” Bogut added.

“They want to get paid the next year and, on top of that, you are trying to win games and keep team camaraderie.”

Click here to read the Andrew Bogut interview in full.