on the other hand

It's all very nice to talk about how Harvard has no scholarships and the student athletes can't miss class for sports, but let's not forget that it costs $44,000 a year to go to Harvard. So the school is willfully refusing to give a talented athlete with brains but no money a chance to get a Harvard education. We see all those commercials about how there are over 380,000 NCAA students and almost all of them "go pro in something other than sports" - but if you're not able to afford Harvard, your athletic ability won't take you there, like it will to other colleges where you might be able to make your way to a degree off your jump shot or your time in the 440.

I'm not saying Harvard should relax its academic standards. I'm just saying that there are some smart kids out there who will never get into the Ivy League... and might have, were things different. And that makes all this praise for Harvard's "no scholarships" ring just a little hollow. It's still snobbery, guys, even if the athletes themselves are admirable.