On Wednesday, Louisville Cardinals guard Kevin Ware spoke at news conference attended by every local media outlet and several national news outlets. They all were curious about Ware's right leg, which he broke in Sunday's Elite Eight game before a national televised audience.
Ware's injury was the news peg used by many writers to discuss how the NCAA treats its athletes. Among those was David Sirota, who wrote in Salon.com:
Louisville Cardinals guard Kevin Ware's injury during Sunday's Elite Eight game sparked several articles looking at how college athletes are treated, raising questions about healthcare and the ever-present issue of whether they should be paid.
Days after he broke his leg on a nationally televised Elite Eight game, Louisville Cardinals guard Kevin Ware said his focus is on seeing his team head to the Final Four—and win a national title.
Ware also described what happened with 6:33 to go in the first half of Sunday's game against the Duke Blue Devils as he was sprawled on the court.
He'd been through a similar play when Louisville played Duke earlier in the season. But this time, Ware said, he landed the wrong way.
The Progressive Change Campaign Committee points out the NCAA makes $780 million per year off college athletes, but does not guarantee full payment of medical bills for injuries.
Louisville’s basketball program is also the most profitable in the country, raking in $40 million in revenue annually with a projected $23 to $28 million in profit.
The Ware injury has gained national media attention, but is has also put the spotlight on how college athletes aren't protected and universities aren't legally obligated to take care of players once they're hurt.
University officials say they go out of their way to inform students about the limits of insurance. Yet the situation has confused and frustrated athletes and their families, some of whom have had to shoulder large and unexpected medical bills.
