Some curious friends who are not as obsessive as I am often ask me to explain NIL.

Where does the money come from?

How much are the kids getting paid?

How involved are the schools and coaches?

All of which remains somewhat mysterious. Even for those of us trying to stay up to speed.

It would take Endeavour Morse teamed with the Bletchley Circle to truly figure out what’s behind every padlocked door or taped under a drawer somewhere in the Yum!.

A few clues do exist. Such as . . .

 * * * * *

Those locked into college softball will recognize the name Nijaree Canady. The game’s best hurler was a student at Stanford last, a new member of the ACC without a very robust sense of NIL.

Ms. Canady, no fool, set out to to continue her quest for higher learning while matriculated at an institution more inclined to show how much they appreciated her talent in the circle.

So, at some point earlier this summer, she and her family found themselves supping in Lubbock, Texas with two couples who are All Red Raiders all the time. With oil Benjamins falling out of their pockets.

Long story short, Ms. Canady will be continuing her education at Texas Tech, while being compensated for her appearances toeing the rubber to the tune of — pinkie to lower lip — one million dollars.

So, yeah, that’s kind of how it works.

The money also comes from lifetime obsessives like me who send along what farthings they can afford to such as the 502 Circle.

Which helps bolster what the fat cats must contribute. In the millions it appears.

Though I have no idea who they may be anywhere, even here in Louisville. But Brohm’s and Kelsey’s bolstered rosters tell me it’s a comin’ from somewhere.

Floyd Street Media, a streaming offshoot of the Cards’ collective, is new and treated fandom to the games in the Bahamas. That’s one way to market.

Others . . .

Football behemoths such as Ohio State, Nebraska, and Alabama are taking an approach that seems to be generating cash, peripheral in the big scheme of things of course.

They charge to come to some selected preseason pigskin practices.

In Lincoln, it’s $25 a head, no discount for the kiddos.

Along the banks of the Olentangy, there are four Buckeye practices set aside for viewing. For the first 750 only, who wish to pay the tariff of fifty bucks apiece.

In Tuscaloosa, the available viewing opps are free, but, should the youngsters want to add to their autograph collection when the guys are done, it will cost.

 * * * * *

L’s Down.

I don’t get the whole brouhaha.

Every school’s fans give grief to their hated rivals.

Is that one any different from Cardinal fans referring to arch rival as sUcK.

Of course it isn’t.

It’s the nature of diehardom in this contentious world.

Why get in a huff if a visiting winner plants a flag on the school’s logo in the middle of the gridiron?

Just beat ’em.

 * * * * *

I love sports and am endlessly fascinated about how they are presented.

I like to focus on the competition.

Which is why I hit the Mute button on the clicker often during U of L’s games in the Bahamas. I’ve written how, as knowledgable as Rob Dauster and Terrence Oglesby might be, their banter annoyed me.

Just call the game. Share your expertise.

Which firm take was underscored when I watched an Olympic hoops match in which neither team had USA on their jersey.

My new favorite expert hoops commentator Robbie Hummel was on the call. He gives insight into what’s going on. He doesn’t mince words. He’s even keeled. He doesn’t peel off and list his five favorite Olympic hoopsters of all time.

But NBC’s choice as color for the main events of King LeBron and Friends is Dwayne Wade. Who is just too chatty and cute and full of stories about his own days playing which have zero to do with what’s happening on the court.

Plus he’s teamed with young up and comer Noah Eagle, Son of Ian. Noah doesn’t quite have the gravity or experience yet to reel Wade in. He’s almost in fanboy mode. So they laugh a lot at their own jokes.

Gimme Robbie.

 * * * * *

Speaking of the Celebration of Five Rings, how about Louisvillian Yared Nuguse.

A world class miler — Do they still run the mile or is it just 1500 meters now? — he led wire to wire in his semi heat in Paris, and will compete for gold in the final.

He matriculated at DuPont Manual HS, right next door to the Belknap Campus.

I’ve watched more of the Games this time around than in years.

You know, beach volleyball under the Eiffel Tower.

Races through the Place de la Concorde.

Paris is as beautiful as they say. Even if they couldn’t rid the Seine of E, coli.

As much as I love the events NBC is focusing on, I’m grateful they have enough channels to be able to watch other stuff besides All Simone All The Time.

Badminton. Ping Pong. I know table tennis, but it’s always been ping pong to me.

Archery. The mens singles final went to a final set. An American. A South Korean. Three bullseyes apiece. So they go to what is called The Golden Arrow. One to win. Both got bullseyes. But the Asian won because his shot was something like 1/2 of a centimeter closer to dead center.

Skeet shooting. How much skill does that take? A lot.

My new fave: Kayak Cross. It’s like bumper cars on whitewater.

I’ve even watched some swimming, which really has never been my favorite spectator sport.

During which we get the Yo Bro Dude commentary stylings of the oh so aptly nickname Rowdy Gaines.

— c d kaplan