Sooner or later, it all comes crashing down. The house of cards known as college athletics has always had cracks in its foundation. It’s a skyscraper that a short-sighted architect created. Faulty wiring and cheap materials were used to construct it, and unpaid workers were forced to build it. During the 2016-2017 school year, the NCAA made history when it brought in $1 billion in revenue and has remained at that mark, or near it, since. When it happened, it initially raised eyebrows. How could a non-profit organization that “governs” college sports bring in that much? Schools make their money off tickets, television deals, conference alignments/payouts, and merchandise, making it a little easier to understand how they generate millions each year, but the NCAA? What do they even do? The answer is nothing, and 2020 has proven that. Did the NCAA come up with a plan to safely play college basketball? No. They’re trying to have the entire NCAA tournament in a “bubble” in Indianapolis, and just announced they’re planning the same for San Antonio on the women’s side. Did the NCAA do anything to protect college football players? Nope. Conferences and teams are just flying by the seats of their pants doing all they can to finish a season so that they can bring in as much television revenue as possible, as ticket sales are nonexistent outside of a few schools. In a year that’s felt like it’s lasted forever, it’s quite easy to forget about all the things that have transpired. Here’s a refresher. The Name, Image, Likeness (NIL) Movement The NCAA is doing everything it can to limit how much, and how, college athletes can make money. According to the Los Angeles Times, over 30 states have introduced some kind of legislation in favor of the NIL movement. However, the NCAA’s plan will get voted on in January, and if passed could go into effect in August of 2021. Unions Before the college football season started players called for a union, as the season at the time was up in the air. They wanted to play, but safely. They also wanted more say in how things work. The two biggest names behind the call to action were Heisman Trophy front-runners Trevor Lawrence (Clemson) and Justin Fields (Ohio State). Both players posted this on social media in August. Since then, things have gone silent. Trevor Lawrence missed some games due to testing positive for the coronavirus, and Fields plays for the team that’s been at the heart of the conversation about playing the sport during a global pandemic, as at least 135 games have been postponed or canceled this season, according to CBS Sports. Racial Issues: For everything that 2020 will, and won’t be, remembered for, race may wind up being its legacy. And in college sports, the curtain was pulled back on just how much racism runs rampant. Mike Gundy revealed to us that he thought that his team full of Black players could “fight off” COVID-19 “with their natural bodies,” because football needed to be played to help the economy in Oklahoma. Former Penn State basketball coach Pat Chambers resigned after a former Black player alleged that the coach told him “I want to loosen the noose that’s around your neck.” There are multiple allegations of Dabo Swinney using the N-word, while schools like Iowa and Wisconsin have been linked to multiple instances where current and former players have alleged toxic racial atmospheres. And those are just a few of the instances that happened this year. This is where we are in college athletics, and with only a few weeks left in the year, it doesn’t feel like things are getting better. Michigan’s football season is finally over after COVID-19 canceled its last three games. Gonzaga, the No. 1 team in college basketball, has already had five games canceled or postponed this season. And when Coach K at Duke decided to shut down the rest of his non-conference schedule so that his players could see their families for the holiday, he was mocked by other coaches and many in the media for suggesting that the sport take another look at how they were playing during a pandemic, all because his program lost games to better teams early in the season. Universities don’t make millions off live-streaming commencement services. And that is the issue. And then Florida’s Keyontae Johnson collapsed during a game, and now we’re all left hoping and praying that he won’t become the cautionary COVID-19 tale we’ve too long ignored. If you haven’t noticed, many schools around the country have canceled fall graduations due to COVID-19, yet, football and basketball games are still being played. Universities don’t make millions off live-streaming commencement services. And that is the issue. We’ll tune in to watch unpaid teenagers generate millions and billions of dollars on the football field and basketball court, but don’t do the same when it’s time for them to walk across a stage. A system with that foundation was never built to last. And as we’ve seen this year, it’s one that needs to be demolished and properly constructed. Relatedonline betting sitebest new online sportsbooksapps for sports bettingbet livebetting sites with live streamingbetting sites with cash out
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Man of the hour / Image via mirror.co.uk
Spain’s biggest teams met in an emotional night at Camp Nou on Saturday evening as both sets of fans paid their respect to Dutch legend Johan Cruyff before and during the match.
It was a thrilling affair as you should expect it to be in the Spanish El Clasico between Barcelona and Real Madrid.
Gerard Pique’s header put Barcelona in front after 56 minutes of action, but Karim Benzema’s acrobatic effort equalized the score only six minutes later, before Cristiano Ronaldo sealed the win for his team with a composed finish inside the box with five minutes off time.
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Ryan Bennett s late goal gave Wolves a 2-1 win at Bristol City in a fiery top-of-the-table Championship clash on Saturday to send them 10 points clear, while Derby County picked up a fifth win in six by beating Ipswich Town 2-1 to move up to second.
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Bristol City were by no means the only side in the top five to suffer defeat, though, with Leeds United beaten 1-0 by rock-bottom Birmingham City.
Hull City let a two-goal lead slip at home to Fulham in their 2-2 draw, Brentford beat Sheffield Wednesday 2-0 and Reading were held 1-1 at Barnsley.
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Andrea Pirlo s last-gasp strike earned 10-man Juventus a dramatic 2-1 win over city rivals Torino in Serie A on Sunday.
The veteran playmaker lashed home a low shot from 25 yards with virtually the last kick of the game to cruelly deny Torino and extend Juventus remarkable winning run at home in the league to 25 matches.
It looked as though the reigning champions and leaders would have to settle for a draw when Torino s Bruno Peres scored a superb individual goal midway through the first half, cancelling out Arturo Vidal s twice-taken penalty in the 15th minute.
The home side were even reduced to 10 men in the 78th minute when Stephan Lichtsteiner picked up a second yellow card, but Massimiliano Allegri s men were still able to find a winner right at the end.<…
Competition: Premier League
Market: Arsenal to beat Crystal Palace
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The Premier League returns for yet another huge weekend of action as the competition continues to heat up. Every side in the league will want to embark upon a run of wins to move up the table, and with this in mind, struggling Arsenal host Crystal Palace on Saturday.
Arsenal have been awful in recent weeks and they will feel that the Champions League places are slipping through their fingers this season. After 23 games they have won 11 times, drawn six and lost six, scoring 41 times and conceding 30 goals. In their last five they have won once, drawn three times and lost once, seeing them onto 39 points for the season so far. Their last game ended in a damaging 2-1 defeat …
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Juventus have confirmed that they are keeping tabs on the prolific forward, with the Bianconeri understood to be willing to offer the Uruguay international a staggering five-year deal worth 30 million euros.
Napoli finished outside of the Champions League qualification zone this season, but Cavani says that the club s domestic cup triumph may persuade him to stay at the San Paolo.
I feel fine at Napoli, and our victory in the Coppa Italia is the starting point for us to go further, Cavani said.
I am not listening to the rumours. I do not know what my future holds, but I do not think that a cycle is closed with the victory in the Coppa Ita…
Lilian Thuram s retirement has meant one of France s finest players of the past decade, who transcended the sport and made an impact in political and social circles, has finally hung up his boots.
The 36-year-old defender announced his retirement at the Parc des Princes in Paris on Friday just weeks after a one-year contract at Paris Saint Germain was scuppered when his medical examination discovered a heart problem.
Thuram won the 1998 World Cup and 2000 European championship with France and earned a national record of 142 appearances.
The elder statesman of French football was also held in high esteem in the dressing room and was admired by team-mates.
The former Monaco, Parma, Juventus and Barcelona defender had his greatest hour for his national …
Neymar has revealed Paris Saint-Germain s staff predicted he would score a free-kick against Montpellier on Saturday, with the Brazil international s set-piece goal helping to spark a come-from-behind win.
PSG were trailing to Leandro Paredes own goal when Neymar won a set-piece 25 yards out in the final 20 minutes having been fouled by Pedro Mendes, who was sent off for picking up a second booking.
Brazil international Neymar stepped up and dispatched a brilliant strike into the top-right corner of the net to equalise, with Kylian Mbappe and Mauro Icardi then on target in a 3-1 victory.
Neymar later revealed PSG s staff felt he would score a free-kick in the game, which helped imbue him with the confidence as he stood over the ball.
It was a very tough …
History was made at Wembley as Manchester City became the first English men s team to win a domestic treble, with club legend David Silva once more central to their success.
The Man City fans call El Mago, the magician, scored the opening goal against Watford in the FA Cup final as Pep Guardiola s men added the trophy to the EFL Cup and the Premier League title they beat Liverpool to last week.
It has been at times a strangely underwhelming campaign for David Silva, who has shown the first signs his influence is on the wane, with namesake Bernardo eclipsing him in the City midfield more often than not.
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West Bromwich Albion have completed the signing of Joleon Lescott on a free transfer from Manchester City, .
The 31 year old had looked to be closing in on a move to Hull City, though he has opted to reunite with new Baggies boss Alan Irvine, who he worked with for three seasons at Everton.
In his five years with City, Lescott won two Premier League titles, the FA Cup and the League Cup though he had been used sparingly last season, with just eight starts coming in the league.
The defender began his career with Wolverhampton Wanderers, where he spent six seasons before moving to Goodison Park in 2006, and then onto to the Etihad Stadium.
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Yanga-Mbiwa has largely struggled at the start of his career in England and he is being linked with a return to French Ligue 1, with Bordeaux also interested in his services.
The 25-year-old joined the Magpies in January 2013 following several very successful seasons with Montpellier, but he has so far made just 37 Premier League appearances.
And with Newcastle looking to shake up the squad this summer, the centre-back will probably be allowed to leave in case of a good offer.
The lack of first team football at club lev…