On June 21st, in NCAA v. Alston, the U.S. Supreme Court unanimously upheld a lower court’s decision that National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) rules limiting the education-related benefits that schools may make available to student athletes violate federal antitrust law.
The decision has been widely hailed by various commentators as a victory for underpaid college athletes who have been denied a fair share of the revenues that they generate for NCAA member colleges. A closer look, however, indicates that the decision will likely prove harmful to American college sports fans — and many student athletes as well.
Not all colleges and universities are NCAA members. Those institutions that join the organization, however, agree to adhere to a variety of NCAA rules governing intercollegiate sports competitions. Those rules seek to promote amateurism as a key feature of college sports.
Read Full Article »