The Shame Of College Sports

14:50

September 23, 2011

In August, Miami's head football coach, Al Golden, leaves a news conference before football practice in Coral Gables, Fla. Allegations surfaced last month of a booster give illicet benefits to players. (AP)

Every season seems to bring more scandals involving college sports, but a provocative article in The Atlantic says the real scandal is the NCAA's concept of amateurism, and the story makes a case for paying college athletes. In his piece, historian Taylor Branch argues for paying athletes and also says a spate of lawsuits making their way through the courts could destroy the NCAA.

NPR's Frank Deford called it "the most important article ever written about college sports."

The Atlantic: The Shame Of College Sports

Guest:

Taylor Branch, Pulitizer Prize winning historian

This segment aired on September 23, 2011.