A great article in the Atlantic laying out the case for how the NCAA, rather than protecting college athletes, perpetuates their exploitation.
I’ve always felt conflicted over my love for college sports, especially football. On the one hand, sport provides hundreds of thousands of athletes with funding, life skills, and in many cases a shot to make it to the highest level of competition – professional or olympic. Sport also encourages a lifetime bond between alumni – no matter how slothful – and their alma mater. On the other hand, colleges, sponsors, and media partners make hundreds of millions of dollars off of the backs of the athletes who are forbidden from profiting from their collegiate athletic endeavors. Michael Jordan never saw a dime in UNC merchandise revenue, yet he made the tar heels brand incredibly lucrative. Maybe we do need to start paying these kids.
Joseph’s Blog 