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    Back to To the Point

    To the Point

    The Crazy Money behind "March Madness"

    This year's NCAA basketball championships will generate $1.5 billion; Division One athletics are major business. Big schools get big money and coaches make millions, but many players may be left with nothing but injuries — and no education at all.

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    By Warren Olney • Mar 27, 2015 • 1 min read

    This year's NCAA basketball championships will generate $1.5 billion; Division One athletics are major business. Big schools get big money and coaches make millions, but many players may be left with nothing but injuries — and no education at all. "March Madness" usually features Syracuse University, where millionaire coach Jim Boeheim has developed a winning record. But, after penalties leveled by the NCAA, Syracuse withdrew from this year's competition, and while Syracuse and North Carolina may be this year's examples of how academic fraud victimizes "student athletes," the practice is widespread. As another season is winding down, is it time to give the players what they're really worth? What's the best way to do it?

    The full episode

    2 of 3
    Should College Athletes Be Paid?
    1. 1:44Was Mental Illness behind the Germanwings Crash?
    2. 8:23The Crazy Money behind "March Madness"You’re reading this
    3. 42:04DEA Agents Busted for Sex Party
    • https://images.ctfassets.net/2658fe8gbo8o/AvYox6VuEgcxpd20Xo9d3/769bca4fbf97bf022190f4813812c1e2/new-default.jpg?h=250

      Warren Olney

      former KCRW broadcaster

    • https://images.ctfassets.net/2658fe8gbo8o/AvYox6VuEgcxpd20Xo9d3/769bca4fbf97bf022190f4813812c1e2/new-default.jpg?h=250

      Jenny Hamel

      KCRW

    • KCRW placeholder

      Sáša Woodruff

      Producer, 'To the Point'

    • KCRW placeholder

      Mike Kessler

      freelance journalist

    • KCRW placeholder

      Michael Hiltzik

      business columnist for the LA Times

    • KCRW placeholder

      Michael Hausfeld

      Hausfeld Global Litigation Solutions

    • KCRW placeholder

      Ed O'Bannon

      former power forward for the UCLA Bruins

      NewsNationalPolitics

    The full episode

    2 of 3
    Should College Athletes Be Paid?
    1. 1:44Was Mental Illness behind the Germanwings Crash?
    2. 8:23The Crazy Money behind "March Madness"You’re reading this
    3. 42:04DEA Agents Busted for Sex Party
    Back to To the Point