College Athletes Can Now Profit From Own Likeness in Texas
Picture it: California. 2019. California lawmakers pass a bill allowing college athletes to profit off of their own likeness. They cannot be paid by their team, but they can endorse products, lease their image, profit from jersey sales, the whole nine yards. (Actually, for football that should be the whole 50 yards, right? I’m more of a baseball gal).
Despite Greg Abbott’s never-ending quest to claim how much California sucks, two years later he signs the same bill that originated in California. If only Johnny Manziel had a time machine.
I’m posting this mostly to foster discussion because the people that come to the beauty salon know way more about college sports than I do – I’m a Mean Green Eagle and a Houston Cougar and unless they make headlines I mostly tune out.
My first and last opinion on the matter is this: My liberal populist heart is sated just a little bit this morning. Regardless of the impact on the sport itself, for once, the little guy can get his share of the take. For those college athletes that put their all into sports only to be sidelined with injury before they ever make a dime, perhaps they’ll have a chance to profit off of their work, even if the career ends before it gets a chance to begin. What say y’all?
This is a no-brainer, and has been for years (of course when dealing with the NCAA, “no-brainer” has its own meaning).
We must recall that the whole “amateur athlete” thing began in the 19th century as a dodge to give the British aristocracy the upper hand in athletic competition. Those who didn’t have to work 12-hour days, 6 days a week, could devote time to training and practice, while those who did…couldn’t. It’s a model that hasn’t aged well, and certainly doesn’t adapt well to the alleged Land of the Free.
Tick Tock, Indianapolis…
1What!!! Pay someone for what they do. And their masters not get a cut of, or all of it. What a concept.
2Next thing you know, They will want to end slavery.
And it could go toward student loans for those who have them.
3I can hardly wait to see corporate tie-ins: collectible cards; go cups with pictures on them; feed caps; action figures….. all done with Texas-style restraint and modesty.
There may not be an I in Team, but soon there can be some $I$ in Team$
Alumni with control over promotional budgets are going to be a separate category in the donor database.
I’m pretty certain some recruiting coaches and alumni cooperating with recruiters will mention the legal and “totally individual” contracts of some star athletes to help high schoolers make decisions about where to go to school.
4john in denver,
This does make recruitment a whole new ball game. Why go to Nebraska when the LA market has so many more endorsement opportunities and sunshine? And less Republicans!
Alabama is too big for their damn britches anyhow.
5It’s about time!
6Football players need a UNION! (with an apprenticeship program called college)
7College ball has become the same as a AAA club. Think if Earl Campbell had been able to make money?
8Professional athletes can compete in the Olympics now. The NCAA is decades behind the times, and exists only to make money for its executives. It seems to have no other purpose these days. Allowing college athletes to make some of the huge amounts of money they rake in for their schools is only fair, and long overdue.
9Seems only fair when politicians can profit from insider trading and phony PACs.
10I have to wonder why anyone should care if someone else sells their autograph. If a college or university’s top physics or English lit major could make some money from their signature, then why should anyone be allowed to stop him or her?
Underwater basket weaving majors is where I draw the line, though.
11Like Grandma Ada, I have long referred to “college” sports as the minor leagues. The NBA and NFL don’t need a farm system as long as schools, many supported with public money, provide a place for athletes to hone their skills. Time to drop the pretense of the scholar-athlete and just pay them to compete. They should of course have the chance to obtain an academic education if they like, but I think Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Bill Bradley stand out as exceptions.
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