Three things in life are certain death, taxes, and the NCAA fight to not pay the “student-athletes.” Wednesday was no different as NCAA president Mark Emmert objected the passing of SB 206: Fair Pay to Play Act, approved by the California State Assembly. Claiming the bill allowing athletes to receive outside compensation based on their image and likeness is “unconstitutional” and would blur the line between professional and amateur athletics.

The debate of whether or not college athletes should be paid has gone on for years, even though this past year the shiny black eye last spring amid a federal bribery and fraud investigation done by the FBI. Which lead to the termination or imprisonment of several Athletic department representatives, an alleged pay-to-play scheme surrounding college coaches, sports agents, sports apparel company representatives, college and high school players and their families. An example would be paying players or their family members to ensure they would attend schools sponsored by a certain sports apparel company and then sign with them upon going pro.

This was a scandal that definitely demonstrates how far these coaches and sponsors are willing to go to get the next superstar athletes on their team. The recent investigation is just a drop in the bucket of reasons why “student-athletes” should be paid. 

The NCAA has forcefully pushed back against the bill, saying it has the potential to kill amateur athletics if it becomes law. Corruption and the amount of money made prove these are amateur athletes if the university has a coach that gets them a winning program that means more money from boosters, more tickets sold, more exposure on television, leading more people that want to attend your school, so more money from tuition. People are smarter than what you give them credit for the NCAA can no longer pull the wool over your eyes as amateur sports when it’s a billion-dollar business masquerading as a non-profit.

If passed the SB 206 will allow college athletes to be paid for the use of their names, images, and likenesses. A number of professional athletes, including LeBron James, have endorsed the bill.

Everyone is California- call your politicians and tell them to support SB 206! This law is a GAME CHANGER. College athletes can responsibly get paid for what they do and the billions they create.

— LeBron James (@KingJames) September 5, 2019

Or….because of this bill, you can work with everyone to create a national policy that is fair to the athletes. 🤷🏾‍♂️✊🏾👑https://t.co/Ey3lBzeB3v

— LeBron James (@KingJames) September 11, 2019

Lawmakers supporting the bill provided examples of other situations in which college athletes are unable to earn money for their services that they said simply do not seem fair: a collegiate swimmer barred from teaching swim lessons, a volleyball player unable to put on a summer camp or a baseball player who can’t promote an autobiographical book.

The NCAA sent Newsom a letter Wednesday calling the legislation “unconstitutional” and “harmful.” The belief California Senate Bill 206 would upend the balance if the bill becomes law and California’s 58 NCAA schools would erase the critical distinction between college and professional athletics.

“Forget shoe deals and video games, NCAA athletes can’t make a little money over the summer coaching youth sports, can’t promote their social media, can’t model athletic wear, can’t accept groceries or help with rent or equipment,” Assemblyman Kevin Kiley (R-Rocklin) said. “When a line in the sand is enforced obsessively, excessively and to the point of absurdity, that’s usually a sign it doesn’t belong there.”

Right now, nearly half a million student-athletes in all 50 states compete under the same rules. This bill would essentially to give the school in California an unfair recruiting advantage, leading to those schools being unable to compete in NCAA competitions negatively impact more than 24,000 California student-athletes across three divisions. 

What is really unfair is if the coach that recruited someone leaves the university for another for a bigger play day, leaving that athletes scholarship( which has to be renewed annually) in question once the new coaching staff arrives. Or the fact that young men play high earning/profile sports is lead to take “easier” majors to comply with the rigorous training schedule. 

So the next time you think about filling out a bracket for your chance at a million dollars imagine yourself earning your place of employment billions and all you have to show for it is a nice trophy or pat on the back.

Check out NCAA president Mark Emmert letter to California Governor Newsome below:

Governor Newsom: 
 
The 1,100 schools that make up the NCAA have always, in everything we do, supported a level playing field for all student-athletes. This core belief extends to each member college and university in every state across the nation. 
 
California Senate Bill 206 would upend that balance. If the bill becomes law and California’s 58 NCAA schools are compelled to allow an unrestricted name, image and likeness scheme, it would erase the critical distinction between college and professional athletics and, because it gives those schools an unfair recruiting advantage, would result in them eventually being unable to compete in NCAA competitions. These outcomes are untenable and would negatively impact more than 24,000 California student-athletes across three divisions. 
 
Right now, nearly half a million student-athletes in all 50 states compete under the same rules. This bill would remove that essential element of fairness and equal treatment that forms the bedrock of college sports. 

The NCAA continues to focus on the best interests of all student-athletes nationwide. NCAA member schools already are working on changing rules for all student-athletes to appropriately use their name, image and likeness in accordance with our values — but not pay them to play. The NCAA has consistently stood by its belief that student-athletes are students first, and they should not be employees of the university. 

It isn’t possible to resolve the challenges of today’s college sports environment in this way — by one state taking unilateral action. With more than 1,100 schools and nearly 500,000 student-athletes across the nation, the rules and policies of college sports must be established through the Association’s collaborative governance system. A national model of collegiate sport requires mutually agreed upon rules. 
 
We urge the state of California to reconsider this harmful and, we believe, unconstitutional bill and hope the state will be a constructive partner in our efforts to develop a fair name, image and likeness approach for all 50 states. 
 
Sincerely,  
Members of the NCAA Board of Governors