The Supreme Court decided Wednesday they would finally hear arguments from a case involving NCAA rules limiting compensation to players, and how it might interfere with their education. Even typing that sentence makes this blogger question why it took so long for a higher court to come down on the NCAA’s conservatorship of profit from the players.
It turns out the butt whooping we all desired from the justices to the NCAA lawyers came to fruition.
Justice Elena Kagan likened the NCAA’s practices to price fixing. "Schools that are naturally competitors ... have all gotten together in an organization,” she said, and used their power to “fix athletic salaries at extremely low levels.” BURN! Total burn, Justice Kagan! Even conservative justices got in on the NCAA shaming.
According to the Associated Press, “Justice Brett Kavanaugh agreed, saying ‘antitrust laws should not be a cover for exploitation of the student-athletes. He told a lawyer for the NCAA that ‘it does seem ... schools are conspiring with competitors ... to pay no salaries for the workers who are making the schools billions of dollars.’”
Sports fans have known for years about the power imbalance between the NCAA, and players who perform the entertaining feats of strength and guile. It’s seemed antiquated not to allow players the option to seek compensation on their name.
It was nice to see an unbiased group of litigious professionals confirm what many in the college sports community have been thinking for a while. GET THOSE ATHLETES PAID!
