The author starts the chapter by defining the motivation of the men who direct big time intercollegiate athletics: “There are three definitions…Greed, greed, and greed.” The NCAA has become a very big business and as always it comes down to money. As expenses increase, the athletic departments have to find a way to pay the bills. Getting that money from basketball and football is one way to do that. So the NCAA began working closely with ESPN who shows sports 24 hours. It broadcasted hundreds of regular season games, increasing the fan base for college teams all over the country, multiplying the audience for basketball tournaments such as March Madness. As ESPN and the NCAA joined forces with television, March madness became the NCAA’s major money machine. Many of the decisions made by the NCAA are made because of money and it seems that it is the only thing that matters to people. It is a selfish world.
ESPN transformed sports creating a level of intensity that is fun for everyone, especially college students. ESPN caused people to be obsessed with the 24 hours highlights and shows to entertain new fans and caught the attention of nonfans.
The term “doublethink” is used in this chapter and is defined as the “ability to believe contradictory ideas simultaneously, such as acknowledging the dysfunction of sports while fervently following its teams and games.” The younger generations of today accept and are much more tolerant about off field problems of a sport, such as the commercialization in sports. The older fans believed alcohol shouldn’t be allowed as sponsors of sporting events, whereas two thirds of the young fans have no problem. The younger generation does not understand and don’t really care about what happens off the field. As long as the teams win and the students get to party, and the NCAA gets their money, which is what really matters.
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