NCAA President Mark Emmert seeks help from Congress in governing a national pay-to-play policy in the NCAA.
A national pay-to-play policy
For decades, the NCAA has distanced itself from politics, especially Congress. The tide suddenly turned against them as California’s law patronizing the pay-to-play policy threatens the billion-dollar system of amateur athletics in the NCAA.
NCAA President Mark Emmert seeks legislative help after 20 states expressed their plan to submit their by-laws regarding pay-to-play policy following Canada’s move.
The 20 states are pushing legislative proposals allowing amateur student-athletes to profit from merchandise out of their likeness and image. The NCAA board sees this as a threat over the association’s governing power over student-athletes under the league.
Different state laws will complicate things
According to Emmert, having 50 different state laws regarding commercialized athlete plays is very challenging.
Having this discussion elevated at the congressional level is very welcoming from my point of view.
Unanimous voting from the NCAA board last October approved the notion of letting student-athletes profit from any form of advertising that uses their name, image, and likeness. The decision reached NCAA’s three athletic divisions for immediate implementation.
The decision to allow paid student-athletes in the NCAA came just a month after the body tried to block California Governor Gavin Newsom’s law from being passed.
Emmert’s first response against Newsom’s law was to remove California’s college teams from participating in NCAA governed tournaments. But it didn’t faze Newsom who continued and successfully filed the bill on student-athlete profit protection.
Now, with the emerging threat from other states in following California’s move, Emmert is seeking for help from legislators at the congressional level.
Legislators will always prioritize student-athletes
Mark Emmert has the attention of a few legislators.
Senator Mitt Romney, Senator Chris Murphy, Senator Marco Rubio, and Senator Cory Booker all agreed that there should be a legislation that will monitor and set standards on a national level regarding pay-to-play policies.
We support the welfare of student-athletes gaining profit over their popularity. But, it should be fair and consistent for everyone in the league.
The senators suggest that they should work out legislation along with the presence of the NCAA board and student-athlete representatives to hear both sides.
There are a lot of other voices that we need to hear on this matter. First and foremost are the student-athletes, because they are the ones working the hardest in this situation.
-Sen. Murphy
Feature image by SI
