.jpg)
Ed O'Bannon
“A federal judge ruled Friday that the NCAA's limits on what major college football and men's basketball players can receive for playing sports "unreasonably restrain trade" in violation of antitrust laws.” *
The NCAA lost the first round of the O'Bannon case in court last Friday (follow this link). Essentially, the NCAA is breaking antitrust laws, there will be more rounds, and this case will more than likely go before the Supreme Court if the NCAA keeps pursuing this. We find it interesting that the National College Athletic Association has taken an anti-American, anti-union, anti-capitalism approach to this case. It is clear the NCAA wants to play the monopolist and deprive athletes their due. In this country we believe a man has a right to be paid what he/she is worth; the NCAA doesn’t think so. Interesting.
We think the best thing the NCAA can do is to concede and work out a compensation deal for athletes in the past and in the future. The Olympics faced this dilemma over 20 years ago and worked it out, letting all athletes, amateur and professional, compete in the Olympics. The result of is spectacular performances by the world’s best athletes. The fans won on this one as well, as the fans will win when college athletes get fairly compensated for their contributions. This will make the game stronger and ELIMINATE schools getting sanctioned and given time-outs.
What do you think? We would love to hear your opinion via the comment button below. Our opinion:
“College athletes being fairly compensated for their contributions is a winner for the athletes, the fans, the game, and yes, even the NCAA.”
* USA Today