Ledecky’s Decision to Turn Pro Highlights the Risks of NCAA Amateurism Rules

Posted on by Lindsay Munschauer

Remember when swimmer Katie Ledecky won the 800-meter freestyle at the 2016 Olympic Games?  She finished more than eleven seconds ahead of her closest competitor—a gap that show-cased the then nineteen-year-old’s dominance in the pool and cemented her status as an Olympic superstar. When the games ended, Ledecky packed up her five medals (four gold, … Continue reading Ledecky’s Decision to Turn Pro Highlights the Risks of NCAA Amateurism Rules

[Un]Frozen: The NCAA’s Amateurism Rules Bow Only to Disney

Posted on by Joe Schafer

The NCAA is coming down from its high horse on enforcement of amateurism rules, at least for Disney. On Friday, USA Today columnist Nancy Armour reported that the NCAA will allow Arike Ogunbowale (the Notre Dame guard who drilled back-to-back buzzer beaters in the National Semifinals and Finals to lead the Irish to this year's National Championship) to compete … Continue reading [Un]Frozen: The NCAA’s Amateurism Rules Bow Only to Disney

Hey, NCAA, Time’s Up

Posted on by Joe Schafer

On the eve of the Final Four—the biggest moneymaker in college sports—there has never been a time when student-athlete compensation has been more in the public spotlight, as the NCAA’s lucrative governance model has come under intense scrutiny. And rightfully so. Where the NCAA, its conferences, schools, coaches, administrators and even Sister Jean, can permissibly … Continue reading Hey, NCAA, Time’s Up

The NBA’s continuing conversation on social justice: what are the limits of freedom of Expression?

Posted on by Joe Notartomas

On the evening of Thursday, March 22nd, protestors gathered outside of the Golden 1 Center, the home arena of the NBA’s Sacramento Kings. The protestors were gathering in response to the shooting death of twenty-two year old Stephon Clark. Clark, an African-American man, was unarmed and was shot twenty times by two Sacramento police officers … Continue reading The NBA’s continuing conversation on social justice: what are the limits of freedom of Expression?

Sister Jean is saving the NCAA from itself

Posted on by Joe Schafer

The first Thursday night primetime game of the second week of the NCAA tournament on CBS featured eleventh-seeded Loyola University Chicago taking on seventh-seeded Nevada, while third-seeded Michigan and seventh-seeded Texas A&M were relegated to TBS. In a season marked by the "resolution" of academic fraud at UNC, Louisville's stripped national championship and the FBI … Continue reading Sister Jean is saving the NCAA from itself

Women’s Cinderella Teams See Only Rags, Never Riches

Posted on by Nellie Drew

While we at SUNY Buffalo celebrate the extraordinary success of our women's basketball team, it is worth noting that the Bulls' initial Sweet Sixteen appearance won't be reaping them any material rewards.  As headlines continue to trumpet the incredible revenue the NCAA generates from March Madness - more than $1 billion last year - the recent … Continue reading Women’s Cinderella Teams See Only Rags, Never Riches

A Big Week for the Little Guys

Posted on by Joe Schafer

March Madness is nothing without its Cinderellas; and it has been a big week for the little guys. For the first time in the history of the tournament, a 16 seed took out a 1 seed as the UMBC Retrievers outclassed overall number one seed Virginia in Charlotte on Friday. Two 13 seeds shocked 4 … Continue reading A Big Week for the Little Guys

Hey, NCAA, $100,000 can’t buy a Cinderella

Posted on by Joe Schafer

But don't blame Ayton for taking it There have always been villains in college basketball going into the NCAA tournament--just ask Duke. But this year, the "bad guys" are that much easier to identify as a result of the current FBI probe into college basketball. Of these bad guys, Arizona stands out as easily the … Continue reading Hey, NCAA, $100,000 can’t buy a Cinderella