Education, January 8 1999)More recently, Mike Rozier, a winner of the prestigious Heisman Trophy, the award given annually to the best college football player in the United States, estimated that he received 1,200 letters while playing football for the Cornhuskers at the University of Nebraska. He commented that: most of the letters came from people I had never heard of, and who did not know me, or want to know me. All they wanted was to line their pockets with the money that I would soon earn in professional football. (from Unsportsmanlike Conduct: Exploiting College Athletes, pages 14-16)Most college athletes find agents during their years in college, and generally keep the same agent when they become professionals. Agents, who are aware that it is illegal to give players money while they are still in college, lend money to the players, and are then paid back once the athlete is drafted by a professional team. This technique of signing athletes is so common today, that controlling it is nearly impossible. (from Unsportsmanlike Conduct: Exploiting College Athletes, page 15)Spike Lees He Got Game (1998) directly addresses these issues of corruption in collegiate athletics. Milwaukee Bucks star Ray Allen plays Jesus Shuttlesworth, a character who is the number one ranked and most recruited high school basketball player in the United States. This fictional character, like the real life athletes that his character is based on, is faced with decisions that would be difficult for anyone to make. Keep in mind that Jesus is an 18 year old whose father is in jail for killing his mother, and who is forced to take care of his younger sister all alone. Despite Jesuss modesty and level-head, those closest to him cant help but get caught up in the idea that Jesus will soon be a multi-millionaire. Jesuss uncle buys him a car with money he does not have, in hopes that Jesus will one day, in return, give his uncle a large portion of his fortun...
