The Money Issue

Pay dirt. Cash in. Dropping dimes. Putt for dough. They’re not just clichés: at some level, every sports story is intertwined with money. Stars gain wealth—and create it for everyone else in their orbit. Scandals have not only moral costs but financial ones as well. Booming new markets—think online betting—are easy targets for creative cons, and the NIL revolution has created a new generation of young business-minded athletes. Now, staying in school can be more lucrative than going pro. Money players has a whole new meaning.