College Athletes for Hire: The Evolution and Legacy of the NCAA's Amateur Myth

(Hardback)

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Many books have been written on the evils of commercialism in college sport, and the hypocrisy of payments to athletes from alumni and other sources outside the university. Almost no attention, however, has been given to the way that the National Collegiate Athletic Association has embraced professionalism through its athletic scholarship policy. Because of this gap in the historical record, the NCAA is often cast as an embattled defender of amateurism, rather than as the architect of a nationwide money-laundering scheme. Sack and Staurowsky show that the NCAA formally abandoned amateurism in the 1950s and passed rules in subsequent years that literally transformed scholarship athletes into university employees. In addition, by purposefully fashioning an amateur mythology to mask the reality of this employer-employee relationship, the NCAA has done a disservice to student-athletes and to higher education. A major subtheme is that women, such as those who created the Association for Intercollegiate Athletics for Women (AIAW), opposed this hypocrisy, but lacked the power to sustain an alternative model. After tracing the evolution of college athletes into professional entertainers, and the harmful effects it has caused, the authors propose an alternative approach that places college sport on a firm educational foundation and defend the rights of both male and female college athletes. This is a provocative analysis for anyone interested in college sports in America and its subversion of traditional educational and amateur principles.

Reviews

"Every now and then we have a conversation or a debate without rancor which is energizing and thoughtful. This book is one of those conversations. Its topic is one of significance for us today and, if reason fails to prevail, it is one of dire significance for tomorrow's athletes, male and female alike."-Linda Carpenter, Professor of Physical Education Brooklyn College
"Professors Sack and Staurowsky have written a provocative and important book. By showing that the myth of amateurism in big time college sports has led to educational and financial abuses and the exploitation of African-American athletes, they have presented college presidents with a chance to clean their house in the 21st century. This is the most sensible proposal for college athletics I have seen in some time. This book should be read by coaches, athletic administrators, university presidents, and all faculty members concerned with the governance of college sports."-Mark Naison, Professor of African American Studies and History Fordham University
"Sack and Staurowsky 'played the game, ' competed in college sports at a high level, Sack as a member of the famed Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team. The authors know sports from the inside, love it, and see the NCAA from the athletes' point of view--as a huge, greedy organization exploiting college athletes for its own profit. They also offer a provocative solution to the current problems--a return for many schools to need-based-only scholarships."-Murray Sperber, author of Onward to Victory: The Creation of Modern College Sports (1998)
"Sound in thinking and fair in presentation, Sack and Staurowsky take positions that many (including myself) will challenge. But there is no doubt that their arguments are compelling and offer food for thought for all of us in intercollegiate athletics. I recommend this book to everyone interested in collegiate sports."-Joel Maturi, Director of Athletics University of Denver
"The 'amateur myth' is alive and well, and thriving in collegiate athletics today. Authors Sack and Staurowsky clearly illustrate that athletic scholarships have failed our nation's 'student-athletes' as they have catapulted them into a system of professional sport that continues to deny equal opportunities to women. A must read for every athletics administrator and college president who has the power to influence the NCAA and the future of college athletics."-Laurie Priest, Chair of Physical Education and Director of Athletics Mount Holyoke College
"The authors have carefully subjected the myth of being an amateur (athlete) to clear, hard-hitting analysis and have shown that such a myth, like many myths, is no longer deserving of much respect. Amateur athletes are, in fact, professionals and should be understood and dealt with as such. They are not 'regular' students and they do not study or learn like their classmates. Sack and Staurowsky face all of these painful truths ...and they end their book by contributing yet another service: they imagine a sensible way for most universities to return to genuinely amateur athletics."-William M. Chace, President Emory University
"The pressure to win by alumni, athletic directors, coaches, and the media has changed the face of college athletics. Even a novice can see the NCAA and the schools are getting richer off the back of the so-called 'amateur' athlete. I wonder, when is there time for academics Many players, especially in college football, understand and recognize 'what time it is' since many opt to turn true professionals and 'get paid' before their eligibility ends. This is an ideal book for the potential college athlete and his or her parents. It is well researched and insightful, giving the average reader a closer look and a better understanding of the state of professional college athletics."-Harry Carson former All-Pro Linebacker, New York Giants President, Harry Carson, Inc.
A major theme of the book is Title IX and its effect on women's sports. The authors believe that it was a mixed blessing, providing women more access while forcing them into the competitive male model where education is incidental to athletics. A solid addition to any sports collection that should have particular appeal where there is interest in the political aspect of sports history and where there are women's programs.-Library Journal
After reading College Athletes for Hire: The Evolution and Legacy of the NCAA's Amateur Myth, it is apparent that Allen Sack and Ellen Staurowsky have expended a significant amount of time and energy in researching their book. It is also apparent that the time was well spent. The book offers an insightful look into both the development of professionalism in college sports as well as the development of women's athletics in the NCAA. For anyone interested in college athletics, College Athletes for Hire is a must-read book. The book should be required reading for students in courses such as ethics in sports and college athletics and sports policy.-The Texas Observer
Anyone who has an interest in college sports as a "staple" in American higher education needs to read this book.-Journal of College Student Development
Carefully researched.... An important book for future college athletes, parents of athletes, and anyone with a concern for the integrity of college athletics.-Booklist
Highly readable and well-documented ...A "must" book for anyone interested in the history or sociology of collegiate sport, or criticism of sport in society. Public, high school, and academic libraries; general and collegiate readers as well as practitioners.-Choice
The heart of the authors' argument is that the NCAA continues to maintain 'that corporate college sport is education rather than business' and that the educational establishment 'has rallied around the myth.'... The historical perspective provided in this well-organized study helps readers to understand how the present system came about.-Publishers Weekly
This is a good book.-Journal of Sport Management
This is a good book.Journal of Sport Management
"A major theme of the book is Title IX and its effect on women's sports. The authors believe that it was a mixed blessing, providing women more access while forcing them into the competitive male model where education is incidental to athletics. A solid addition to any sports collection that should have particular appeal where there is interest in the political aspect of sports history and where there are women's programs."-Library Journal
"Anyone who has an interest in college sports as a "staple" in American higher education needs to read this book."-Journal of College Student Development
"Carefully researched.... An important book for future college athletes, parents of athletes, and anyone with a concern for the integrity of college athletics."-Booklist
"Highly readable and well-documented ...A "must" book for anyone interested in the history or sociology of collegiate sport, or criticism of sport in society. Public, high school, and academic libraries; general and collegiate readers as well as practitioners."-Choice
"The heart of the authors' argument is that the NCAA continues to maintain 'that corporate college sport is education rather than business' and that the educational establishment 'has rallied around the myth.'... The historical perspective provided in this well-organized study helps readers to understand how the present system came about."-Publishers Weekly
"This is a good book."-Journal of Sport Management
"After reading College Athletes for Hire: The Evolution and Legacy of the NCAA's Amateur Myth, it is apparent that Allen Sack and Ellen Staurowsky have expended a significant amount of time and energy in researching their book. It is also apparent that the time was well spent. The book offers an insightful look into both the development of professionalism in college sports as well as the development of women's athletics in the NCAA. For anyone interested in college athletics, College Athletes for Hire is a must-read book. The book should be required reading for students in courses such as ethics in sports and college athletics and sports policy."-The Texas Observer

Author Bio

ALLEN L. SACK is Professor of Sociology and Management at the University of New Haven. He played defensive end on Ara Parseghian's 1966 National Championship football team and was drafted by the Los Angeles Rams. In 1981-82 he was the Director of the Center for Athletes Rights and Education, and he is currently the Coordinator of the Management of Sports Industries Program at the University of New Haven. ELLEN J. STAUROWSKY is Associate Professor of Sport Sciences at Ithaca College. As a former college athlete, coach, and athletic director, she brings a unique blend of academic credentials and practical insight to the problems facing intercollegiate athletics.