September 10, 2024
Courtesy: Prime Video
"The Money Game," Prime Video's latest six-part documentary, debuted today on the streaming network. It follows college athletes who, because of new policies, are now allowed to profit from their name, image, and likeness (NIL) for the first time ever due to previous NCAA regulations.
"The Money Game," produced by Campfire Studios, Axios Entertainment, and Shaquille O' Neal's Jersey Legends (a division of Authentic Studios), was directed by Drea Cooper and takes viewers through a detailed look at the cost of playing college sports in a billion-dollar enterprise (college athletics generate $13.6 billion in revenue from over 500,000 students). The commercial enterprise has everyone profiting off the games except for the actual athletes who were expected to play solely for the love of the game, however that changed in 2021 with the Supreme Court's decision to allow students to be compensated for the use of their NIL (which includes a larger settlement of distributing $2.75 billion from the NCAA and schools to college athletes who played before July 2021, forever changing the landscape of college athletics).
Courtesy: Prime Video (Olivia Dunn)
"The Money Game" gives an inside look with featured interviews and commentaries from college superstars from LSU (Louisiana State University), a juggernaut in college athletics known for its record-breaking national championships. These players now use their ever-increasing platforms on social media like Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook to take advantage of the new rules where they, too, can profit with a strategic mindset, building their personal and highly groomed brands through several endorsement deals, creating a winning formula for success.
With increased opportunities for the featured collegiate athletes of the documentary, Olivia Dunn with 15.6 million followers, Angel Reese with 7.9 million followers, Flau'Jae Johnson with 3.4 million followers, and Alia Armstrong with 53 000 followers, they have all used their massive social following to nurture burgeoning careers. Jayden Daniels is also featured, and while he only has 300,000 followers, he has taken advantage of NIL's new policies, using his newfound leverage to successfully transition from a college athlete who won the 2023 Heisman Trophy to a professional player with great success.
Courtesy: Prime Video (Angel Reese)
"The Money Game" is a fascinating sports documentary that not only chronicles the new NIL policies but also features the personal and academic lives of these college athletes as they train with determination and grit for their respective sports while capitalizing on their individual pursuits. The fans of LSU are at the forefront with exuberant vigor as college athletics continue to dominate with passion from those who watch. Aided with interviews are Taylor Jacobs, LSU Associate Athletic Director of NIL Strategy Initiatives; Mary Claire Logue, LSU Assistant Director of NIL; Scott Woodward, LSU Athletic Director; and injury attorney Gordon McKernan.
A documentary highlight is Shaquille O' Neil (NBA legend and former LSU basketball player), who shared that the more money the athletes make, the greater the expectation for them to be perfect, underscoring the immense pressure of building and maintaining said brand for these athletes.
"The Money Game" ambitiously pursues the new NIL policies that are elevated through social media but also sheds light on the potential pitfalls of success. As featured athlete Dunne, who uses the same platform for her success, points out, "social media has gotten way more toxic and mean than when I first started," she says. "But, I always say, the more eyes on you and the more you're doing something right, the more people will try to tear you down..."
The days of college athletes struggling through financial hardships are now a thing of the past. With the introduction of the new NIL policies, athletes are now in control of their destinies. However, this also serves as a reminder of the challenges faced by those who have not received the same level of media attention. It's a stark contrast, with some finding themselves on the outside looking in without the multi-million dollar contract waiting for them.
"The Money Game" is an eye-opening documentary that immersively highlights college athletics in a society where athletes can profit off their successes while playing the sport they love if they are savvy enough. It transforms the original narrative and offers a new perspective on the choices that the new student-athletes now have, choices that were not offered to them before.
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The Money Game is currently streaming on Prime Video.
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