In a historic speech, Bob Knight highlighted the absurdity of the NCAA's extensive rulebook compared to the simplicity of the U.S. Constitution, arguing that constant violations necessitated its thickening. His sentiments echoed the reality that college sports are plagued by rule-breaking behaviors, as pointed out by Jerry Tarkanian. The recent House settlement in California allows for revenue-sharing with athletes, pointing towards continued evolution in college athletics rules and reiterating the challenges of balancing ethics and capitalism in sports.
Knight's point was accurate, although in fairness to the NCAA, the only reason its manual grew to such extremes was because coaches, players, boosters, administrators and even shoe companies kept breaking or finding work-arounds to almost every rule it ever made.
College athletics is back in the rules business after a brief respite during which name, image and likeness essentially allowed donors to compensate players and recruits as they saw fit.
Claudia Wilken, a federal judge in California, approved the so-called House settlement, ushering in a new era with echoes of the past.
The simplest of concepts -- players may receive only tuition, room and board -- didn't stand a chance against the wheels of capitalism, where your value is what someone will pay you.
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