There is nothing amateur about sports

OK lets clear this up, Televised Sports today is no longer considered amateur sports.

Rather it is strictly a professional business which in reality is all about the money, and the prestige, and national fame.

To say otherwise is a lie.

I have to say, my first reaction to the USC punishment is nya, nya serves you right.

But then thinking about it more, I realize that the people that punishment is supposed to be about, are no longer there.

And, those affected, were not there at the university either. In fact, today's players, were in high school. Perhaps the last truly scholastic amateur sports venue left.

So now we have these sanctions levied against an institution for shame on you behavior. Yet at the same time, we have Paul Dee, chair of the NCAA's Committee on Infractions, saying that college athletics "should be motivated primarily by education and its benefits, and not otherwise."

B.S.

Does anyone believe the recent efforts toward conference realignment are motivated by education? How about educating us on the "Pacific" qualities of Colorado? Or on the mathematical logic of a 12-team Big Ten Conference?

It is all about the money and the television rights and the colleges exploiting athletes along the way.

If it is to be about the virtues of education, then take money out of the equation. But we all know that is not going to happen. And it is about so much more than just the universities, and sports, and the athletes. It is also about TV, commercials, sponsorships, advertising, and so on.

Heck, just look at how sport scholarships are handed out. The most go to the biggest schools in the biggest divisions with the most marketability.

I remember when I was in college, I took an elective course titled "Ethics and Business".

My dad laughed and said there is none.

I'm beginning to think the same way about the NCAA and college sports.