Since most of my readers aren’t feeling too warmly toward the NCAA lately, with its leftist virtue signaling and threats to pull championship games out of states that pass laws to ensure election integrity, you’ll probably be happy to hear that the Supreme Court just slamdunked the NCAA right in the face.

https://legalinsurrection.com/2021/06/scotus-rules-unanimously-ncaa-violates-antitrust-law-by-limiting-athlete-compensation/

In a unanimous 9-0 decision, the SCOTUS found that the NCAA’s strict rules limiting compensation for student athletes violate antitrust law. The ruling written by Justice Gorsuch said this doesn’t open up the door to unlimited pay for college athletes, but the NCAA has to let colleges recruit them with compensation and benefits tied to education, such as internships, study abroad programs and limited pay for doing well in class.

Justice Kavanaugh went even further. You’ve got to click the link to read his opinion that sarcastically eviscerates the NCAA’s business model that he says would be “flatly illegal in almost any other industry in America.” For instance, imagine news organizations getting together to slash the pay of reporters and claim they’re preserving the spirit of public-minded journalism.

The fact is that the NCAA and pro football use colleges as minor leagues to develop talent. Star athletes risk their health to generate huge profits for colleges, but face a choice of having to work part time to survive or take help under the table and risk getting expelled. Nobody wants to see colleges openly acting like the junior NFL, but if they’re already doing it while hiding behind a veneer of NCAA-enforced rules, at least be honest and stop exploiting the athletes who make it possible.