[M T]

I think the use of "corruption" with regards to the NCAA is entirely inappropriate.  I can't recall any whiffs of corruption of the NCAA itself.  Indeed, it seems to do a pretty good job of finding and removing instances of what might be termed corruption at the schools.

From the point of view of someone who doesn't care at all about pro sports, my enjoyment of college sports has NOTHING to do with who might become a major pro player.  For those that do care about proto-pro development, why aren't they watching more college baseball or golf or ice hockey or whatever?

There is an immense amount of money, or similar value, spent on promoting pro sports in the US.  We are bombarded by it on the TV and newspapers.  It seems many of us drink that Kool-Aid.  I think we get hoodwinked by the pro sports because they try to appeal to the homer tendency of their constituency, only to pull up roots and plant themselves in some other market when they want a new community to give them something big.

The support & financing of big college sports seems more stable.  The athletic departments at schools seem to be financed by alums that are tied to the school by their college experience.  That generally ties a single donor to a single school for life.  While how much any one donor gives varies dramatically, you're not going to see many donors for Stanford switch to donating to a school in Berkeley.

[M T]

I think the use of "corruption" with regards to the NCAA is entirely inappropriate.  I can't recall any whiffs of corruption of the NCAA itself.  Indeed, it seems to do a pretty good job of finding and removing instances of what might be termed corruption at the schools.

From the point of view of someone who doesn't care at all about pro sports, my enjoyment of college sports has NOTHING to do with who might become a major pro player.  For those that do care about proto-pro development, why aren't they watching more college baseball or golf or ice hockey or whatever?

There is an immense amount of money, or similar value, spent on promoting pro sports in the US.  We are bombarded by it on the TV and newspapers.  It seems many of us drink that Kool-Aid.  I think we get hoodwinked by the pro sports because they try to appeal to the homer tendency of their constituency, only to pull up roots and plant themselves in some other market when they want a new community to give them something big.

The support & financing of big college sports seems more stable.  The athletic departments at schools seem to be financed by alums that are tied to the school by their college experience.  That generally ties a single donor to a single school for life.  While how much any one donor gives varies dramatically, you're not going to see many donors for Stanford switch to donating to a school in Berkeley.