<p>“If the NCAA really cared about these students, academics would come first.” - WHY? Why do you think that these athletes are looking for academics, in the first place? Many of them are looking for a chance to be recruited as a pro and make money :)</p>
<p>“Young attorneys are getting paid for the hours they work.” - They are paid far less than they deserve.
Look at medical interns. They are paid pennies, and work a lot!
Look at the PostDocs (sometimes 80 hours per week, hazardous conditions, radiation, chemical waste, ridiculously low pay).
Look at young actresses at Hollywood that are ready to take any role - any role - even for free - for a chance to become famous (and they are rumored to be sometimes engaged in questionable relationship to recruited).</p>
<p>Life is not a union membership. :)</p>