Shabazz Napier's comments about his inability to afford food, which came right before one of the most lucrative sporting events of the year in the United States, sheds light on a much larger issue at hand.

The NCAA takes advantage of the student-athletes that generate millions -- no, billions -- of dollars for it. Regardless of whether or not a player can afford food or not, the NCAA remains much more focused on its corporate interests. Four years ago the NCAA announced a whopping $10.8 billion deal with CBS Sports and Turner Broadcasting just for the rights to the NCAA Tournament, none of which is paid to the players that make the exciting, game-winning shots. Players are not even allowed to walk onto the basketball court if they are holding a cup that does not represent one of their corporate sponsors. Meanwhile, games can go on all night but the student-athlete handbook says meals are only provided for players until 7:15 p.m.

Furthermore, athletes within certain demographics may face even more problems as they stand under the huge spotlight that the NCAA puts over them as a result of television deals and an atmosphere that is much more reminiscent of a professional stage rather than an amateur one. Napier, who is of Puerto Rican descent, is not the only player of Latino descent to face problems while under that spotlight. In March of 2012, Kansas State freshman named Angel Rodriguez, who was born in Puerto Rico, was the target of incredibly offensive "Where's your green card" chants from the opposing team's band at the University of Southern Mississippi.

Student-athletes are often afraid to speak up due to the unstable future they have at their respective schools. Scholarships can disappear in the blink of an eye and most of the players that are making shots or scoring touchdowns go unnoticed, never making it to the professional level. Thus, the call for unionization is one that could help pave the way for much-needed stability and security for the players. But the players who are able to speak out, such as Shabazz -- perhaps since he was at the national title game and felt he was in a secure enough position to speak up -- are able to make a difference. Influential groups, such as lawmakers who are eager to make changes to the exploitative system, hear their voices.

"(Shabazz) says he's going to bed hungry at a time when millions of dollars are being made off of him. It's obscene," Rep. Matthew Lesser of Connecticut, said to CNN. "This isn't a Connecticut problem. This is an NCAA problem, and I want to make sure we're putting pressure on them to treat athletes well."

Despite the fact that many people believe these student-athletes are now celebrities and thus have it made in the shade, this could not be further from the truth. The NCAA reported that only one in 75, or 1.3 percent, of male senior basketball players are drafted by an NBA team. Student-athletes who might have unstable immigrant status and are afraid of being deported face even more issues. Many players who do reach the professional level end up having visa issues that can put their jobs in jeapordy.

Once the games are over and the lights are out, the future for these players remains uncertain. What is certain, however, is that the discourse will finally put increased pressure on the NCAA to start treating its players with respect.