The History of NCAA "Pay-For-Play" You Never Knew About | Spolitics

What if I told you that before the NCAA became the behemoth it is today, college athletes were actually paid to play? In fact, one of the oldest intercollegiate sports events in history was literally "pay-for-play." In August 1852, Harvard and Yale faced off in a two-mile rowing race on Lake Winnipesaukee. While Harvard won the race, the real story is the lavish rewards given to the athletes. These early practices set the stage for the hypocrisy and corruption that would shape the NCAA into one of the most powerful, and controversial, organizations in sports. ___________________________________________________________________________ SPOLITICS is where we don’t just stick to sports, but examine the world and all of its complexities through the lens of sports. Each week, this podcast will enthusiastically explore the intersection between sports, race, gender, sexuality and culture. In this narrative-style podcast, expect sharp commentary, novel conversations, and compelling guests that will drive nuanced sports conversations that drive culture. SUBSCRIBE ▶︎ https://www.iheart.com/podcast/1119-spolitics-222755070/ Listen to the full episode now on iHeart ▶︎ https://www.iheart.com/podcast/1119-spolitics-222755070/ Follow the podcast and Jemele on social media: IG ▶︎ https://www.instagram.com/spoliticspod TT ▶︎ https://twitter.com/spolitics Jemele IG ▶︎ https://www.instagram.com/jemelehill Jemele TW ▶︎ https://twitter.com/jemelehill Award-winning journalist and culture critic Jemele Hill interviews the most compelling figures in news, pop culture, politics and sports. Expect unbothered and unfiltered conversations.