In its simplest form the question is...

... Is it ok to run a sports league that consists only of players who don't get paid for playing. And I think the answer has to be...NO.

If the sports league in question were a elementary school soccer league, the answer would be yes. So, technically yes. But the NCAA is a billion dollar business, the schools get paid, the coaches get paid, the staff get paid, the sponsors get paid, the TV stations get paid. The only people who don't get paid are the athletes. It is not ok.

Many people argue that the student athletes do get paid in the form of an education- something you can't put a price tag on. First of all, you can put a price on education. All the schools do it. It's called tuition. As for the value of the education, it depends on the person and how she uses the experience and how it impacts her life. Now back to the argument. First, payment in the form of tuition is pitiful in comparison to the size of the business and the size of the profits. It's not in proportion. Second, student athletes have a scholarship contract to play sports, and perform well. Otherwise they are in danger of losing that contract. Their times is limited, so how much learning are they going to do, after the grueling schedule of training, games, and tournaments? Over 90% of college athletes don't go on to play professional sports. If they graduate, they may have a diploma, but do they have an education?

Back to the original question. I think it can be rephrased: Is it ok to run a business where the main employees, the main contributors to the value of the business, don't get paid?

I think the answer would have to be...NO.