In the area of collegiate sports, there have been numerous heated debates about the integrity of many things concerning the NCAA and how it handles legal and ethical issues. In this paper I will not do a standard report by simply regurgitating the information I read. 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. Instrumental constraint is basically the control, or constraint of material rewards and resources, or in this case room and board or extra spending money for athletes receiving scholarships based on their athletic performance. The whole point of athletic scholarships are to free the already over taxed athlete from worrying about getting a full time job in order to pay for classes, spending money, and room and board, on top of the full time job of school, and sports. But the dilemma is not in the money or in the scholarship itself; instead it lies in the eligibility and ethics of the issues. Take for instance Joe Schmoe, a well-rounded basketball player for the University of Anywhere. Last summer, after graduating from high school, Joe receives a letter from U of A offering him a full ride basketball scholarship starting this fall. Joe, excited as ever and not thinking of the fine print, agrees and leaves that September to attend the University. During that years ' regular season, Joe receives a resounding blow to his elbow and upper arm from a slip and fall accident on his way to class. The doctors tell Joe that he will not be able to play basketball ever again. Devastated, Joe returns to his dorm room and finds a letter from the university, informing him that he no longer has his full ride scholarship and must begin paying for his own room and board. Not able to pay for the $15,000 a year to attend
References: 1) " Bennett pleads innocent to charges" Sports Illustrated. Article. March 05, 2001, 2) "Crime Among NCAA College Players" APBnews.com. Article. January 25, 2000, article by Jim Edwards