Student Athlete

Reminds me of the music industry and how govt. sponsored (thanks Obama!) big business America have capitalized on the exploitation of talent... only, instead of a billion dollar industry we're talking about 100's of billions annually and real musicians wont be earning any money after graduation. There wont be any movies about that simply because the HBO's of todays world are a big part of the problem, not the solution.

Lets face it, Americans don't care enough to do anything about it.. so long as they "get theirs" for free, all is golden. After all, why should talented individuals, those who spend every ounce of energy, every dime, every last minute of every day perfecting their craft all in the name of entertaining us, be rewarded with fair pay for their hard work?! GET A REAL JOB!!! Sheesh

No shock to find out LeBron James was involved in this sham of a documentary. These "student athletes " are NOT exploited. They are essentially being paid the cost of an American college tuition (40-60K average annually) with free room/board and more importantly access to a first class college education. If it's about exploited college athletes, why are we introduced to two who have completed their college careers with zero evidence presented that either is attempting to use his education to launch any semblance post-athletic career. What we are shown is Graves chasing his football dream beyond its logical conclusion. Shaw repeatedly tells those who encourage him to get started with his life that he has opportunities. His brother encourages him to apply for a position at Enterprise Rent-A-Car, which has a demonstrated soft spot for former college athletes. He refuses.

These athletes expect to get paid while they go to school? Free tuition to prestigious schools that most of them probably wouldn't get into academically isn't enough? The rest of us need to do internships and fellowships, but they want to get paid for basically going through the same thing?

This a very disturbing indictment of the values of the NCAA, our vaunted institutions of higher learning and, by extension, our values as a nation as we watch the cynical mining of raw athletic talent in underprivileged, low income communities populated primarily by minorities (in this case African American) using the not-so-subtle carrot and stick of success in professional sports. What young athlete coming from these depressed places doesn't dream of professional sports as a career where it is revealed that 56% and 66% of players in the NFL and NBA are African American? What these young men (primarily) aren't reminded of is that only approximately 3% of undergraduates at any of these institutions are African American and only .003% of players are drafted by professional teams, let alone make the cut. It's made quite clear that their primary purpose in being on campus is to enrich that particular university's profile and bottom line. If the individual's performance is sub-par, is injured or is in violation of one of the NCAA's myriad self-serving rules then the Exit door appears quickly and decisively in favor of the next recruit to fill the slot. It's a shameful waste of the aspirations of youth. These Universities are making millions upon millions of dollars on the backs of these athletes. They hire (recruit, train and play) and fire, or un-subsidize, through injury, sub-par performance or self-serving rule violation at will. They should pay these kids as in any employer/employee enterprise.

This documentary should be a requirement for everyone entering the NCAA. It sheds light on the harsh realities many college athletes face and exposes the industry's practices that perpetuate a cycle of poverty for those that pursue this dream. Excellent job!!!!