美国国家公共电台 NPR--The rule changes that could help to explain the many March Madness upsets

The rule changes that could help to explain the many March Madness upsets

Transcript¹

NPR's Michel Martin talks to ESPN's Jesse Washington about how new NCAA rules — on transfers as well as name, image and likeness² — contribute to the high level of play in this year's tournament.

MICHEL MARTIN, HOST:

Let's talk about March Madness, the NCAA men's and women's basketball championships. This year, the tournament has had more than the usual share of something sports fans love but rarely get, which is to say surprises, Cinderella stories, where the top seed gets toppled. Why might that be? Well, one difference is that this year's student athletes are working under new NCAA rules that give them greater mobility³ than ever before. We wanted to know whether these changes are contributing to this year's surprising results. We called Jesse Washington for this. He writes for ESPN's Andscape website, which looks at ways that race, sports and culture intersect. Jesse, thanks so much for joining us.

JESSE WASHINGTON: It's great to be here.

MARTIN: So first of all, let's just set some terms, if we can, 'cause a couple of terms come up that don't necessarily sound like they have anything to do with sport. The transfer portal - what are we talking about?

WASHINGTON: We are talking about the relatively⁴ new ability of college players to leave one school and play immediately at another school. In the past, they had to sit out a season, which had the effect of really restricting their movements. Coaches, mind you, are always able to go wherever they want, whenever they want. So the players recently got this right, which they deserve and should have, and it's really changed the whole landscape.

MARTIN: How? How do you think it's changed college basketball?

WASHINGTON: Well, each year, your team has to bring in some impact transfers if you want to be successful, because that's what the other guy is doing. And what it also does is it allows guys to get to their more natural level of college basketball. Maybe they were under-recruited. Maybe they're really better than the Division II college that they're playing at. Maybe they're not quite good enough to play at Kentucky, but they go down to a mid-major and bring them to the Sweet 16. So it's really created more parity⁵ in the sport.

MARTIN: You know, people objected to this strongly, arguing that it would have a negative effect on team cohesion⁶ and coach ability. Those were the arguments. Does it seem to have had that effect?

WASHINGTON: It might here and there, but let's be real about it - when people look at college athletes in college basketball, most of whom are Black, they really don't think that they deserve the same rights as, say, the white coaches. No one has ever objected to coaches, who are predominantly white, moving to get a better opportunity, to make more money at another school. But when it comes down to a player doing it, all of a sudden we catch a bad case of the morals. And so I don't think that that objection holds any water, and especially given that players - despite this NIL⁷ money, which we'll get to - are still not sharing in the revenue they generate, it's really just a slice of what they really deserve.

MARTIN: OK, tell us a little bit more about NIL, which is shorthand for the NCAA's revised name, image and likeness policy. What do you think that has meant to student athletes?

WASHINGTON: Oh, man. Well, this is a game-changer because finally these athletes can earn some money from all of these billions of dollars that are swirling⁸ around college sports. And it's really allowed teams to recruit in a new way. So the best example of NIL as a game-changer is over at the University of Miami. In the off season, they brought in a transfer, immediately eligible⁹, great young guard - Nijel Pack from Kansas State. Now, his price to attend - a smooth $800,000. Miami has a superbooster alumni money-deliverer. His name is John Ruiz, and his mission is to pay athletes, ostensibly to endorse¹⁰ his companies. You know, this may or may not skirt the NCAA rules. The athletes are supposed to provide some value in return. Nijel Pack comes in, makes a huge impact for Miami, propels them to a great run in the tournament. And that's what NIL is changing in the college game today.

MARTIN: What about the women's game?

WASHINGTON: You know, it's different in the women's game, but in general in the women's game - and this is what I find a little bit unfortunate - due to the stereotypes¹¹ and gender¹² stereotypes of society, the women who get the most NIL money are usually the type who are on Instagram, who may cause a teenage boy's eyeballs to pop out, if you know what I'm talking about. Now, I'm not criticizing any of these women for doing what they want and how they want, but I think that that is what a lot of these endorsers¹³ value rather than their ability on the court. And so we have a disproportionate amount of NIL money in the women's game going to women who conform to a certain standard of beauty. And that's unfortunate.

MARTIN: Before we let you go, what about the fans? Do you think that these rules have contributed to a more exciting tournament...

WASHINGTON: Oh, 100%.

MARTIN: ...Which may have contributed to more viewership?

WASHINGTON: Absolutely. I mean, this is a great tournament. I think we're seeing a leveling of the field in college basketball because you've got older guys who are 22 and 23 years old. In past eras, they probably would still be at their original schools, but they're on the biggest stage. All of this creates more parity in the game, more excitement, more upsets and a better NCAA tournament.

MARTIN: That is journalist Jesse Washington, who is a senior writer at ESPN's Andscape website. Jesse, thanks so much for talking to us.

WASHINGTON: Thank you, Michel.

1 transcript   

n.抄本，誊本，副本，肄业证书

参考例句：

• A transcript of the tapes was presented as evidence in court.一份录音带的文字本作为证据被呈交法庭。
• They wouldn't let me have a transcript of the interview.他们拒绝给我一份采访的文字整理稿。

2 likeness   

n.相像，相似（之处）

参考例句：

• I think the painter has produced a very true likeness.我认为这位画家画得非常逼真。
• She treasured the painted likeness of her son.她珍藏她儿子的画像。

3 mobility   

n.可动性，变动性，情感不定

参考例句：

• The difference in regional house prices acts as an obstacle to mobility of labour.不同地区房价的差异阻碍了劳动力的流动。
• Mobility is very important in guerrilla warfare.机动性在游击战中至关重要。

4 relatively   

adv.比较...地，相对地

参考例句：

• The rabbit is a relatively recent introduction in Australia.兔子是相对较新引入澳大利亚的物种。
• The operation was relatively painless.手术相对来说不痛。

5 parity   

n.平价，等价，比价，对等

参考例句：

• The two currencies have now reached parity.这两种货币现已达到同等价值。
• Women have yet to achieve wage or occupational parity in many fields.女性在很多领域还没能争取到薪金、职位方面的平等。

6 cohesion   

n.团结，凝结力

参考例句：

• I had to bring some cohesion into the company.我得使整个公司恢复凝聚力。
• The power of culture is deeply rooted in the vitality,creativity and cohesion of a nation. 文化的力量，深深熔铸在民族的生命力、创造力和凝聚力之中。

7 nil   

n.无，全无，零

参考例句：

• My knowledge of the subject is practically nil.我在这方面的知识几乎等于零。
• Their legal rights are virtually nil.他们实际上毫无法律权利。

8 swirling   

v.旋转，打旋( swirl的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• Snowflakes were swirling in the air. 天空飘洒着雪花。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
• She smiled, swirling the wine in her glass. 她微笑着，旋动着杯子里的葡萄酒。 来自辞典例句

9 eligible   

adj.有条件被选中的；(尤指婚姻等)合适(意)的

参考例句：

• He is an eligible young man.他是一个合格的年轻人。
• Helen married an eligible bachelor.海伦嫁给了一个中意的单身汉。

10 endorse   

vt.(支票、汇票等)背书，背署；批注；同意

参考例句：

• No one is foolish enough to endorse it.没有哪个人会傻得赞成它。
• I fully endorse your opinions on this subject.我完全拥护你对此课题的主张。

11 stereotypes   

n.老套，模式化的见解，有老一套固定想法的人( stereotype的名词复数 )v.把…模式化，使成陈规( stereotype的第三人称单数 )

参考例句：

• Such jokes tend to reinforce racial stereotypes. 这样的笑话容易渲染种族偏见。
• It makes me sick to read over such stereotypes devoid of content. 这种空洞无物的八股调，我看了就讨厌。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

12 gender   

n.（生理上的）性，（名词、代词等的）性

参考例句：

• French differs from English in having gender for all nouns.法语不同于英语，所有的名词都有性。
• Women are sometimes denied opportunities solely because of their gender.妇女有时仅仅因为性别而无法获得种种机会。

13 endorsers   

n.背书人，转让人( endorser的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• We hereby agree with the drawers, endorsers and bona fide holders of drafts. 我行在此向汇票的出票人，背书人及合法持有人表示同意。 来自辞典例句
• Marketing experts say celebrity endorsers can increase sales, and improve the company's image. 销售专家说名人支持者能为公司增加销售量，并改善公司的形象。 来自互联网