The NCAA

I have heard many people praise the NCAA. The general argument is that the athletes are playing for the love of the game rather than for fame and fortune. There are some serious problems with that argument.


The NCAA is a feeder for major sports leagues. If colleges can succeed at generating elite talent, it can boost their reputation. The league does not focus on recreational sports. They care more about feeding those who wish to pursue fame and fortune. Many players are in the NCAA because they care more about the benefits of becoming elite athletes than the sports they play.

Performance within the NCAA can also help boost a college's reputation. Much like the major sports leagues, winning is more important than honor. The problems that plague elite sports also plague the NCAA.

There is also a lot of money coming through the NCAA. Just because they do not pay players directly (there are such things as sports scholarships), does not mean that their league is not tainted by money.

With the fixation on school reputation, success of individuals and teams is valued far more than the actual sports. The NCAA focuses on the development of technical skills. They completely neglect recreational value and creativity. If you want proof of this, just look at the athletes they produce. American athletes are among the worst to watch in international play. I don't hide the fact that I root against our American hockey team (as well as the Canadians who play a similar style but for different reasons) in international play.

As I keep saying, schools should not be tied to sports. Teaching traditional subjects (and non-traditional subjects utilizing the same traditional methods) does not translate well into sports. Since the schools feel that their reputations are on the line, what's best for them outweighs what's good for the athletes. We have a problem with obesity in this country. It would be far better to have athletes develop a recreational interest in the games they play than feel obligated to boost their colleges' reputations. Apparently, the NCAA doesn't care about what's right. They only care about their money and their reputation.