Show Combs the Money

Earlier this week, ESPN reported that UCLA was defending the $54,000 athletic scholarship it awarded to Justin Combs, son of rap mogul Sean "Diddy" Combs.  After many had suggested that, because of his father's wealth, Combs should pass on the scholarship and pay his UCLA tution himself, the school released a statement explaining its decision.  According to the statement,

"Unlike need-based scholarships, athletic scholarships are awarded to students strictly on the basis of their athletic and academic ability -- not their financial need.  Athletic scholarships, such as those awarded to football or basketball players, do not rely on state funds. Instead, these scholarships are entirely funded through UCLA Athletics ticket sales, corporate partnerships, media contracts and private donations from supporters."

As the debate rages on through sports talk shows, blogs and other forms of sports media, I figured it was time for Caught Looking to weigh in.  Personally, I have absolutely no problem with Combs earning a football scholarship to UCLA.  The school has the right to use its self-funded 285 athletic scholarships however it wants, and should be able to award them to whomever it wants, regardless of that athlete's financial situation.  I'm sure there are other players getting football scholarships at UCLA whose parents can afford the tuition, and no one will be complaining when they attend school for free this fall.  Justin Combs should be proud of his athletic and academic accomplishments, and the right to earn a football scholarship to a school as prestigious as UCLA should not be taken from him just because his father is extremely rich.


Asking Combs to pass on the scholarship makes no sense.  If anything, it would be nice if Combs took the scholarship and then went on to donate $54,000 to UCLA's general scholarship fund, ensuring that a well-qualified but financial-unstable candidate could attend UCLA for strictly academic purposes.  People should respect UCLA's choice to award these non-need-based scholarships to any student athletes that meet the school's athletic and academic requirements.  I think it would be awesome if Combs donates money to the school to help make it easier for other kids to attend UCLA, but I see that gesture as entirely separate from the school's decision to give his son a football scholarship. 

When his son was awarded his scholarship last fall, Diddy was quoted as saying "This is everything a father could want for his son, for him to excel at what he loves to do and is truly passionate about. Justin is a shining example of what hard work, determination and a strong mentality can achieve. I am honored to call him my son and am happy that he is fulfilling his dream."  And you know what?  He's absolutely right.  Justin Combs should be proud of the fact that he earned his college tuition through his accomplishments on and off the football field, and he shouldn't be made to feel undeserving just because of who his father is.  If his dad wants to give some money to his school independently of his scholarship, that would be a wonderful gesture.  But at the end of the day, Justin Combs should be treated like any other UCLA student athlete and deserves the scholarship he worked hard throughout high school to earn.