One might ask why there are so many loopholes in the 4 and 20 rule and why not calculate
“voluntary” workouts when accounting for the time athletes spend on their sport? Given the fact that, through numerous public statements by coaches and athletes in its own study, the NCAA is fully aware that the number of hours athletes are expected to devote to their athletic activities is well above that of the official maximum, why does it continue to limit the number of hours engaged in athletic work per week to 20? An argument can be made that the 4 and 20 rule is in place primarily to give the appearance that athletes are to be students first, an impression the
NCAA desperately needs the public to believe if it is to continue to maximize profits.
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To the contrary, one could more persuasively argue that an athlete is exploited when he is expressly disallowed from realizing his value while his reputation and skill are being used to realize a profit for others.
- Jay Bilas (2010), former Duke and pro basketball player, current ESPN and CBS sports analyst According to the NCAA, its version of amateurism is all that is needed to prevent the commercial exploitation of college athletes. The protectionist rationale for its concept of amateurism that has served as the foundation for the NCAA’s position on issues related to revenue-generating player compensation is imbedded in the notion that the NCAA is attempting to, in their words, “maintain a clear line of demarcation between collegiate athletics and professional sports” so as to prevent the undue exploitation of college athletes (NCAA Amateur and Membership Staff, 2010, p. 1).
Note the linguistic nuance, as if simply labeling “collegiate athletics” as being distinctive from
“professional sports” would be a sufficient barricade to the commercial interests that now include, in modest estimation, a 14 year, $10.8 billion contract to broadcast NCAA Division I men’s college basketball annually with CBS and Turner Sports (Schlabach, 2011); a 15-year