"College Athletes for Hire, The Evolution and Legacy of the NCAA's Amateur Myth" written by Allen L. Sack and Ellen J. Staurowsky. In their book, the authors enlighten the reader on such issues as athletic scholarships, professionalism in college sports, and favoritism for athletes as well as many more important legal, and ethical issues that we as a country need to address. In this paper I will not do a standard book report by simply regurgitating the information I read in their book. Instead I will try my best to give you my opinion of the issues previously mentioned, and finally what the authors feel should be done to remedy this dilemma as well as my own opinion on the matter, but first I will discuss the issues involved in athletic scholarships.

"It is not whether an activity is perceived to be enjoyable that distinguishes employment from leisure. Rather it is the presence or absence of instrumental constraint," ( p.4 ). This quote from the book best describes the

"It would be difficult, if not impossible, to find a major athletic program in the country that does not lower admissions standards for athletes, especially in the revenue-producing sports of football and basketball," ( p.96 ). Is this college or the NBA, or NFL? Is the focus for colleges' higher education, critical thinking, and the development of the leaders of tomorrow? Or is it to bring in the best ball player, the most revenue, and the most popularity? According to this book, full-time students at the University of Notre Dame have average combined SAT scores in the 1,260 range, and 94% of freshman in 1995 were in the top fifth of their high school graduation class. Yet, the SAT average for their football team was about 890, 30% lower than that of the AVERAGE student, not exactly CEO material huh? The men's basketball team at St. Johns University had an SAT score of 784. And you get 400 points for just signing your name! " A recent study based in part on NCAA data found that the average athlete on a top college football or men's basketball team enters college in the bottom quarter of his class," ( p.96 ). When colleges' substitute athletic prowess for academic integrity, they lose respect for an unethical decision, as the authors of this book put it, the major task of a university is to challenge falsehood and ideology, not to perpetuate them.

it does now, if a player is injured there needs to be some form of workers compensation; for in fact, athletes are employees of the university. Secondly, if an athlete is given a full

ride scholarship, it should not be revocable, but instead should be on a yearly basis, this way if an athlete decides to quit, he has one year to get his grades up enough for an

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Approximate Word count = 1417
Approximate Pages = 6 (250 words per page double spaced)