<i>Unwinding Madness</i> is a timely contribution to the growing body of research on commercialism and its role in shaping the path college athletics has paved in recent years away from the broader academic mission of higher education in America. The book fits neatly beside other recent critical assessments of the NCAA like Joe Nocera's <i>Indentured: The Inside Story of the Rebellion Against the NCAA </i>(2016) . . . The book will appeal to university leaders, college athletics practitioners, and opponents of commercialized intercollegiate athletics. This book could be integrated seamlessly into a course dealing with contemporary issues in higher education, issues in college athletics, sports law, or the history of college sports.—Robert D. McDermand, <i>Journal of Higher Education Athletics & Innovation</i> This book provides a comprehensive look at the issues facing big-time college sports. Anyone interested in teaching or researching intercollegiate athletics will find this book to be a useful resource. —James Morton, <i>Journal of Issues in Intercollegiate Athletics</i> In general, big time college sports have become so far removed from any reasonable connection to higher education as to be a sham. Who better than AndyZimbalist to lay out the issues and provide a sensible plan for reform?—Bob Costas, Broadcaster, NBC Sports and Major League Baseball Network <i>Unwinding Madness: What Went Wrong with College Sports and How to Fix It</i> by Dr. Gerald Gurney, Donna Lopiano and Dr. Andy Zimbalist is a new book I highly recommend for anyone interested in the business of intercollegiate athletics and college sports governance. . . . it is one of the better books I have read on how to repair the rapidly deteriorating business of college sports.—B. David Ridpath, <i>Forbes</i> College and sports are an instant pairing for most of us. But sports have come to play an outsized role at many colleges, and they now overshadow the core college mission: to educate. The authors of <i>Unwinding Madness</i> carefully and dispassionately dissect the problem and offer a realistic path forward that makes education central once again.—Arne Duncan, Secretary of Education, 2009–16 The NCAA is a dirty cartel hiding under the skirts of a sham called "amateurism." Everybody, however, pretty much accepts this as just one more prize example of good old American exceptionalism. While <i>Unwinding Madness</i> might not expose this obvious, long-standing hypocrisy, it provides, in comprehensive, scorching detail, every unfair and cruel aspect of the NCAA humbug. The book is a powerful indictment of our most shameful sports sin, and it should be read, foremost, by school presidents and university board chairs. And, too, by those athletic directors and coaches still bearing a conscience.—Frank Deford, Author and Commentator
<i>Unwinding Madness</i> is a timely contribution to the growing body of research on commercialism and its role in shaping the path college athletics has paved in recent years away from the broader academic mission of higher education in America. The book fits neatly beside other recent critical assessments of the NCAA like Joe Nocera's <i>Indentured: The Inside Story of the Rebellion Against the NCAA </i>(2016) . . . The book will appeal to university leaders, college athletics practitioners, and opponents of commercialized intercollegiate athletics. This book could be integrated seamlessly into a course dealing with contemporary issues in higher education, issues in college athletics, sports law, or the history of college sports."- Robert D. McDermand, <i>Journal of Higher Education Athletics & Innovation</i>;<br /><br />"This book provides a comprehensive look at the issues facing big-time college sports. Anyone interested in teaching or researching intercollegiate athletics will find this book to be a useful resource."- James Morton, <i>Journal of Issues in Intercollegiate Athletics</i>;<br /><br />"In general, big time college sports have become so far removed from any reasonable connection to higher education as to be a sham. Who better than AndyZimbalist to lay out the issues and provide a sensible plan for reform?"- Bob Costas, Broadcaster, NBC Sports and Major League Baseball Network;<br /><br />"<i>Unwinding Madness: What Went Wrong with College Sports and How to Fix It</i> by Dr. Gerald Gurney, Donna Lopiano and Dr. Andy Zimbalist is a new book I highly recommend for anyone interested in the business of intercollegiate athletics and college sports governance. . . . it is one of the better books I have read on how to repair the rapidly deteriorating business of college sports."- B. David Ridpath, <i>Forbes</i>;<br /><br />"College and sports are an instant pairing for most of us. But sports have come to play an outsized role at many colleges, and they now overshadow the core college mission: to educate. The authors of <i>Unwinding Madness</i> carefully and dispassionately dissect the problem and offer a realistic path forward that makes education central once again."- Arne Duncan, Secretary of Education, 2009–16;<br /><br />"The NCAA is a dirty cartel hiding under the skirts of a sham called "amateurism." Everybody, however, pretty much accepts this as just one more prize example of good old American exceptionalism. While <i>Unwinding Madness</i> might not expose this obvious, long-standing hypocrisy, it provides, in comprehensive, scorching detail, every unfair and cruel aspect of the NCAA humbug. The book is a powerful indictment of our most shameful sports sin, and it should be read, foremost, by school presidents and university board chairs. And, too, by those athletic directors and coaches still bearing a conscience."- Frank Deford, Author and Commentator