The documentary is a social justice piece raising awareness about how NCAA athletes are treated. They focus on how players should get paid, are misled by companies/schools, and are unfairly treated.
Nick is a high school senior and is being recruited by many schools to play basketball. Nick’s story shows how much athletes have to go through to get to NCAA sports. He said that he worries about failing and that can put a lot of pressure on someone. When he announced what school he was going to he was just happy that it was finally over. Nick’s story also showed us how big-name companies are using high school athletes. When athletes are outstanding, and they have a big social media presence it is free advertising when they wear their brands.
Mike is a senior from Bradley. He got a career ending injury and this ended his plans to play professionally. He goes home after school and you can see that he is struggling with what to do next. He’s just taking time to figure life out, but it seems like he’s still trying to come to terms with the situation. He goes to physical therapy for his injury. Which he struggles with physically and mentally. He ends up going to a psychiatric hospital. The NCAA doesn’t care what happens to athletes after they get what they can from them.
Shamar is a graduate of Rutgers, 2010. All he wants is to play professional. He went to college to make it pro and he got the chance to go to the Bears minicamp. Where he fell and hurt his shoulder. The only reason why they are there is to make it professional and most of them don’t even do that. They are forced to choose between being a good student or a good athlete. Which means if they don’t make it their degree doesn’t go as far.
Silas is ineligible and was banned from college football. He excepted a place to live and food from his friend’s family. The NCAA said that he violated a rule. These schools are making so much money each year while they have players living in their cars. Silas is then unable to be recruited for professional football. It was also strongly suggested that if he went to a better school and was more likely to be drafted. His punishment wouldn’t have been so server and he would have gone back to playing.
John was a coach for the NCAA and became an advocate for players. He was told that you can’t fight a billion-dollar industry but that wasn’t going to stop him from trying. He polled players whether they would want the flashy stuff that the schools give them or the money. Everyone said they wanted the money. They paid these coaches so much money and they just stood there and let their players live below the poverty line.
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