CA PASSES “FAIR PAY ACT” FOR COLLEGE ATHLETES
By Diaz Mackie
10.4.2019 During the last week of September, CA passed the SB 206. Better known as “The Fair Pay Act”, this bill will allow student athletes to earn money off their image & likeness. The bill passed the CA State Senate unanimously 72-0. The bill was later signed by Gov. Gavin Newsome, live on the LeBron James produced show “The Shop” with a special online only showing. The product company “Uninterrupted” usually airs the show on HBO.
The “Fair Pay Act” may have passed the Senate unanimously, but not without opposition. Former Florida Gator QB & Heisman Trophy recipient, Tim Tebow expressed his concern and opposition on the show “First Take” that airs on ESPN. Stating that he believed the amateurism added value to the sport and that education was a reward. The biggest opposition happens to be one of the biggest powers in all of sports, the NCAA. The NCAA has long argued that allowing student athletes to earn money, would ruin the amateurism of college sports & thus its beauty as well. NCAA also argues the introduction would invite agents and perhaps would sway the balance of power too much in favor of the student. Also how to separate the monies amongst the different sports. College football & basketball garnering in the most money for schools.
However, “The Fair Pay Act”, would not require colleges themselves to pay student athletes. The bill will allow the student athlete to earn money from their image and likeness. The student athletes would be able to earn from filming commercials, print ads, video game images & public appearances (booster events). The latter is where some see a potential issue of danger. Bribes & also the entrance that the student athlete would be able to hire an agent.
The Bill was endorsed by none other than LeBron James, not only endorsed by, but also added his weighted support & assistance in helping to have it passed. Support like this may place pressure on the NCAA tonight either adopt this model currently only legal in the state of CA., or perhaps become extinct. Some argue the irrelevancy of the NCAA & believe they’re just making billions off of the backs of college kids.
The Bill is not law until Jan 1, 2023, so that gives the NCAA time to adjust. Here are things to look for: Will other states begin to follow suit? NY is already in the process of considering the same course of action. Will this help the schools in CA with star power recruiting, ending favorable recruiting of power house schools like Alabama in football & Duke in basketball? Schools obviously outside of the state of CA.
Schools in the state of CA will have a huge recruiting advantage, if other states drag their feet in following suit with “The Fair Pay Act”. Star recruits could possibly turn down schools like Duke, North Carolina, Kentucky for USC, UCLA, CAL, Stanford, even the D2 schools & Community Colleges. The ability to earn money will have a huge effect. It’s a known problem now with programs violating for compensating players now. If the NCAA allows this to be the standard, perhaps it saves college athletics as a whole. No more violations, because the kid would be able to legally make monies off of their likeness.
We haven’t even dwelled on the ability for the student athlete to an agent. College sports programs make their money from ticket sales to their events, merchandise, boosters & alumni donations & shoe & jersey deals. Now with the ability to have an agent, does the student athlete sign separate deals regarding the shoes they decide to wear. The 2017-2018 college basketball season with Zion Williamson was a glimpse of what attention one kid could garner. The game his shoe blew out, the next morning we saw the effects in NIKE stock. Can you imagine if Zion had the ability to make money during his time in school? Perhaps he stays in college to win a championship, instead of leaving early to have the ability to earn money.
No matter what now, the train has already left the station. Either the other states and the NCAA follow suit with CA, or you will see a dramatic change in recruiting & college income received. If the other states follow suit & the NCAA continues to fight change, they can be cut out of the picture all together. It will be interesting to see “The Butterfly Effect” from this monumental moment, that will affect all of sports.
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