Please ensure Javascript is enabled for purposes of website accessibility
California to Let College Athletes Make Money, Defying NCAA
gvw_ap_news
By Associated Press
Published 5 years ago on
September 30, 2019

Share

SACRAMENTO — Defying the NCAA, Governor Gavin Newsom signed a first-in-the-nation law Monday that will let college athletes hire agents and make money from endorsements — a move that could upend amateur sports in the U.S. and trigger a legal challenge.

“It’s going to change college sports for the better by having now the interest, finally, of the athletes on par with the interests of the institutions. Now we’re rebalancing that power arrangement.” — Gov. Gavin Newsom
Under the law, which takes effect in 2023, students at public and private universities in the state will be allowed to sign deals with sneaker companies, soft drink makers or other advertisers and profit from their images, names or likenesses, just like the pros.
“It’s going to change college sports for the better by having now the interest, finally, of the athletes on par with the interests of the institutions,” the Democratic governor said in a tweeted video. “Now we’re rebalancing that power arrangement.”
He predicted other states will introduce similar legislation. Two lawmakers in South Carolina have already announced plans to do so.
The new law applies to all sports, though the big money to be made is in football and basketball. It bars schools from kicking athletes off the team if they get paid. It does not apply to community colleges and prohibits athletes from accepting endorsement deals that conflict with their schools’ existing contracts.
Photo of an athlete near the NCAA logo
FILE – In this April 19, 2019, file photo, an athlete stands near a NCAA logo during a softball game in Beaumont, Texas. California will let college athletes hire agents and make money from endorsements, defying the NCAA and setting up a likely legal challenge that could reshape U.S. amateur sports. (AP Photo/Aaron M. Sprecher, File)

Professional Athletes Have Endorsed the Law

The NCAA, which had asked Newsom to veto the bill, responded by saying it will consider its “next steps” while also moving forward with “efforts to make adjustments to NCAA name, image and likeness rules that are both realistic in modern society and tied to higher education.”
The NCAA, which has 1,100 member schools and claims nearly a half-million athletes, said that “changes are needed to continue to support student-athletes,” but that such changes must be done at a national level through the NCAA, not through a patchwork of state laws.
Before the governor signed the bill, the NCAA cautioned that the law would give California universities an unfair recruiting advantage, which could prompt the athletic association to bar them from competition.
Powerhouse programs like the University of Southern California, the University of California, Los Angeles, Stanford University and the University of California, Berkeley, could find themselves banned.
But while the NCAA is the top governing body for college sports, membership is voluntary. If the California schools are forced out, they could form a new league.
Professional athletes have endorsed the law, including NBA superstar LeBron James, whose 14-year-old son is a closely watched basketball prospect in Los Angeles and will be 18 when the measure takes effect.
On Instagram, James exulted over the signing of the law, saying it will “change the lives for countless athletes who deserve it!”
He added: “NCAA, you got the next move. We can solve this for everyone!

The NCAA Has Steadfastly Refused to Pay Players in Most Cases

State Sen. Nancy Skinner (D – Contra Costa), the bill’s author, said the measure lets athletes share in the wealth they create.

“For decades, college sports has generated billions for all involved except the very people most responsible for creating the wealth. That’s wrong.” — State Sen. Nancy Skinner
“For decades, college sports has generated billions for all involved except the very people most responsible for creating the wealth. That’s wrong,” she said.
Newsom likewise portrayed the law as righting a wrong.
“Other college students with a talent, whether it be literature, music, or technological innovation, can monetize their skill and hard work,” he said. “Student athletes, however, are prohibited from being compensated while their respective colleges and universities make millions, often at great risk to athletes’ health, academics, and professional careers.”
The NCAA has steadfastly refused to pay players in most cases. But a committee led by Ohio State Athletic Director Gene Smith and Big East Commissioner Val Ackerman is studying other ways players could make money. Its report is expected in October.
The NCAA does let some athletes accept money in some instances. Tennis players can accept up to $10,000 in prize money per year, and Olympians can accept winnings from their competitions. Plus, schools in the big “Power 5” conferences can pay players yearly cost-of-living stipends of between $2,000 and $4,000.
The NCAA reported $1.1 billion in revenue in 2017.

DON'T MISS

Dog Found in Horrid Conditions Now Seeks Loving Home

DON'T MISS

Trump Takes Aim at California Six Times in 24 Hours

DON'T MISS

Elon Musk Sells X to His Own xAI for $33 Billion in All-Stock Deal

DON'T MISS

US Naval Academy Ends Affirmative Action in Admissions

DON'T MISS

Elon Musk Backtracks on a Legally Questionable Plan to Pay Voters

DON'T MISS

Appeals Court Clears Way for DOGE to Keep Operating at USAID

DON'T MISS

Trump Pledges US Aid for Asia Quake Despite Former Official Saying System in ‘Shambles’

DON'T MISS

Is Fresno Political Consultant Alex Tavlian Behind Election Attack Mailer?

DON'T MISS

Gronk-a-Mania Set to Run Wild Over WrestleMania Weekend

DON'T MISS

Federal Judge Blocks Trump From Dismantling Consumer Financial Protection Bureau

UP NEXT

California Food Banks Brace for Funding Cuts, and Not Only From the Trump Administration

UP NEXT

Cal State Automatically Admitting High School Students With Good Grades

UP NEXT

California Democratic Lawmaker Exaggerated His Record as a Police Officer

UP NEXT

Snell Wins Dodgers Debut, Hernández and Ohtani Go Deep in Home-Opening Victory

UP NEXT

Utah Becomes the First State to Ban Fluoride in Public Drinking Water

UP NEXT

Wilmer Flores’ 3-Run Homer in the 9th Inning Propels Giants to Victory Over Reds

UP NEXT

Trump Challenges California on Transgender Parental Notification

UP NEXT

Fresno Mayor Praises a State Bill That Would Speed In-Fill Housing

UP NEXT

Feds Revive Funding for the Tiny Delta Smelt Trump Hates

UP NEXT

LeBron Finishes Big to Lift Lakers Past Pacers and Extend Record Scoring Streak

US Naval Academy Ends Affirmative Action in Admissions

16 hours ago

Elon Musk Backtracks on a Legally Questionable Plan to Pay Voters

16 hours ago

Appeals Court Clears Way for DOGE to Keep Operating at USAID

16 hours ago

Trump Pledges US Aid for Asia Quake Despite Former Official Saying System in ‘Shambles’

16 hours ago

Is Fresno Political Consultant Alex Tavlian Behind Election Attack Mailer?

16 hours ago

Gronk-a-Mania Set to Run Wild Over WrestleMania Weekend

17 hours ago

Federal Judge Blocks Trump From Dismantling Consumer Financial Protection Bureau

18 hours ago

St. Agnes’ Newest Robot Promises Less Invasive Surgeries, Faster Recoveries

18 hours ago

California Food Banks Brace for Funding Cuts, and Not Only From the Trump Administration

18 hours ago

Why the Nation Would Be Wise to Support a Third Term Amendment for Donald Trump

18 hours ago

Dog Found in Horrid Conditions Now Seeks Loving Home

Meet Punkin — yes, not Pumpkin. This young dog, around 1 to 2 years old, requested a unique name, and it reflects his distinctive journey. P...

9 minutes ago

Punkin, a 1-2-year-old dog with a tough past of living in a hoarding situation, is looking for a patient, understanding home with another dog to help him adjust and thrive. (Mell's Mutts)
9 minutes ago

Dog Found in Horrid Conditions Now Seeks Loving Home

17 minutes ago

Trump Takes Aim at California Six Times in 24 Hours

15 hours ago

Elon Musk Sells X to His Own xAI for $33 Billion in All-Stock Deal

16 hours ago

US Naval Academy Ends Affirmative Action in Admissions

16 hours ago

Elon Musk Backtracks on a Legally Questionable Plan to Pay Voters

16 hours ago

Appeals Court Clears Way for DOGE to Keep Operating at USAID

16 hours ago

Trump Pledges US Aid for Asia Quake Despite Former Official Saying System in ‘Shambles’

16 hours ago

Is Fresno Political Consultant Alex Tavlian Behind Election Attack Mailer?

Help continue the work that gets you the news that matters most.

Search

Send this to a friend