Unpaid Professionals: Commercialism and Conflict in Big-Time College Sports (Paperback)

by Andrew Zimbalist (Author) "ON PAGE ONE of the 1997-98 NCAA Manual the basic purpose of the National Collegiate Athletic Association is written: "to maintain intercollegiate athletics as an..." (more)
Key Phrases: booster contributions, gender equity study, revenue inequality, Big Ten, Notre Dame, Big East (more...)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly
Although many of the problems facing college athletics today have been around for decades, the explosion of money and media attention has so raised the stakes that college sports is on the verge of self-destruction, argues Zimbalist (Baseball and Billions), a professor of economics at Smith College. The National Collegiate Athletic Association was formed in 1905 to address the problem of violence in college football. Between 1890 and 1905, Zimbalist reports, 330 students were killed playing the game, and President Theodore Roosevelt was threatening to intervene. But as Zimbalist convincingly argues, the NCAA's record of regulating intercollegiate athletics has been spotty at best. In his view, the NCAA is nothing more than a cartel geared toward protecting the association's own interests, as well as that of its largest members. By only tinkering with its well-established system, he charges, the NCAA has never effectively dealt with such longstanding problems as low graduation rates, point shaving, illegal payments to athletes (by alumni, agents and others) and gender inequality (although Zimbalist does allow that the NCAA has grudgingly made some progress enforcing Title IX, the 1972 law that mandates that collegiate women have the same access to sports as men). Zimbalist, who knows his way around the locker room and a balance sheet, provides a compelling case for the need to reform college athletics.
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Library Journal
Zimbalist, an economics professor at Smith College who has written extensively on the business side of sports, assays whether big-time sports are worth the wealth of problems they create for colleges and universities. College sports frequently conflict with the educational mission of academic institutions, foster gender inequality, and lead to questionable compromises with the demands of advertisers and the media. Furthermore, the assigned overseeing body, the NCAA, is generally seen as corrupt and mismanaged. Zimbalist concludes with a ten-point reform program, including such steps as gathering financial support from professional leagues, having a quota of paid nonmatriculated athletes, cutting football scholarships nearly in half, shortening seasons, and eliminating freshman eligibility. A thoughtful, thought-provoking book; recommended for all libraries.AJohn M. Maxymuk, Rutgers Univ. Lib., Camden, NJ
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 280 pages
• Publisher: Princeton University Press (January 15, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0691086907
• ISBN-13: 978-0691086903
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #647,235 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars A valuable study but..., June 22, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Unpaid Professionals (Hardcover)

This is a valuable study of college sports. Zimbalist shows how much money is really lost by schools, and how foolish they are to pursue dreams of glory in college sports.

The one problem with the book is that the author, a college professor, really writes like one. It is often hard to figure out what he is talking about, but if you hang in there, when you do find out, it is usually worth it.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars In-depth review of the economics of college athletics, February 6, 2000

By	R. Spell "raspell" (Memphis, TN USA) - See all my reviews (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

This review is from: Unpaid Professionals (Hardcover)

This book should be read by anyone working in or with college athletics as well as fans that want to understand the "business" behind the games. The author takes a view of the subject from many angles. The chapter dealing in the profit or loss of athletic departments is very enlightening particularly as it deals with the lack of accounting standard conformity.

In the last chapter the author recommends 10 steps to cure the problems. Frankly, I didn't find them compelling and generally not workable. This is a thought provoking read if you have interest in the subject but should not be purchased for entertainment purposes as it reads more like a business analysis.