CRONKITE SPORTS

California’s Fair Pay to Play Act has Arizona sports figures divided

Sep 30, 2019, 8:56 PM

PHOENIX – A controversial law signed by California Gov. Gavin Newsom that could change the landscape of NCAA athletics has drawn mixed reactions from Arizona sports figures.

Newsom signed Senate Bill 206, also known as the “Fair Pay to Play Act,” on the set of HBO’s “The Shop” on Friday and news broke this morning when the episode aired. The law allows NCAA athletes in California to make money off endorsement deals as well as hire licensed agents. It is set to take effect in 2023.

“Every single student in a university can market their name, image and likeness. They can go and get a YouTube channel, and they can monetize that,” Newsom said in an interview with The New York Times. “The only group that can’t are athletes. Why is that?”

Critics worry about the long-range impact of the decision. Arizona State football coach Herm Edwards is concerned it will make it easier for the four Pac-12 California schools – Stanford, California, USC and UCLA – to lure top athletes if other states don’t follow suit.

“It’ll give the California schools an advantage in recruiting, to be quite honest,” Edwards said. “I think you’re opening Pandora’s box when you do that.”

The Pac-12 Conference issued a statement that it was “disappointed” in the decision:

“This legislation will lead to the professionalization of college sports and many unintended consequences related to this professionalism, imposes a state law that conflicts with national rules, will blur the lines for how California universities recruit student-athletes and compete nationally, and will likely reduce resources and opportunities for student-athletes in Olympic sports and have a negative disparate impact on female student-athletes.”

One of the WNBA’s top players, Diana Taurasi, however, suggested the move is long overdue.

The Phoenix Mercury guard, appearing on “The Shop,” which is co-produced by Los Angeles Lakers standout LeBron James, noted that her jersey was still hanging in the student union of Connecticut, where she played college basketball.

“I graduated in 2004,” she said. “We’re talking about 10 (plus) years later. They’re still making money off of us.”

Could Arizona follow suit? Attorney Don Gibson, a professor at ASU’s Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law, wouldn’t be surprised.

“I can’t predict that but I can certainly anticipate that,” he said. “There will be other states that would look to this law and create some version of it.”

California senators Nancy Skinner and Steve Bradford were the original creators of the bill, which passed through the assembly and the Senate earlier in September, unopposed.

“The NCAA agrees changes are needed to continue to support student-athletes, but improvement needs to happen on a national level through the NCAA’s rules-making process,” The NCAA said in a statement. “Unfortunately, this new law already is creating confusion for current and future student-athletes, coaches, administrators and campuses, and not just in California.”

It presents a challenging situation, Gibson said.

“That creates a real conflict because all schools that are members of the NCAA subscribe to an agreement as to how they would operate and they agree to adhere to NCAA rules and regulation,” he said.

After the bill was passed by the Senate and sent to Newsom for approval, the NCAA sent a letter to Newsom which was signed by NCAA President Mark Emmert and 21 other members of the organization’s board of governors. The letter warned Newsom of the ramifications across the college landscape, saying that the bill, which allows college athletes to benefit monetarily off their names, images and likenesses, is “unconstitutional” and “harmful.”

“You’re challenging a system that has been entrenched with money and power and a certain way of thinking for a long time, which I think can resonate with a lot of people in this room, so the minute you challenge that you’re going to get a lot of blowback,” Taurasi said.

The NCAA also warned Newsom that enacting this bill and ratifying it to be a law in the state of California may cause the organization to disallow California colleges from participating in intercollegiate athletics because of the unfair advantage they would have over schools in other states.

However, the bill states that it bars colleges from penalizing athletes from benefiting off of their names, images and likenesses.

“They (members of the NCAA) are a little panicked because they recognize that they are vulnerable,” Newsom said on “The Shop.”

“People are hitting this, not just in California but all across the country because the gig’s up. Billions and billions of dollars, 14-plus billion dollars goes to these universities, a billion-plus revenue goes to the NCAA themselves and the actual product, the folks putting their lives on the line are getting nothing.”

This legislation also gives college athletes the ability to hire agents to help them with endorsement deals and contracts.

When told Monday of the California decision, Arizona Cardinals coach Kliff Kingsbury had a simple reaction.

“I’m glad I’m in the NFL,” he said.

Comments

Comment guidelines: No name-calling, personal attacks, profanity, or insults. Please keep the conversation civil and help us moderate comments by reporting abuse.
comments powered by Disqus

Cronkite Sports

Cronkite Sports

Sports gambling in Arizona moves closer to reality

In the near future, the Arizona sports fan’s experience could include the ability to place bets inside sports venues while the action unfolds.

3 years ago

Higley quarterback Kai Millner committed to Cal this spring, despite visiting the campus just once ...

Cronkite Sports

Arizona high school football recruits still committing amid coronavirus

Despite visiting campuses few times if at all in some cases, class of 2021 high school football prospects from Arizona are committing at record rates.

4 years ago

(Photo via Cronkite News courtesy Mesa Community College Facebook)...

Arizona Sports

COVID-19 prompts junior colleges to push for cancellation of sports

The 2020-21 school year for Maricopa County community colleges may not include sports, schools await a decision by the district chancellor.

4 years ago

New Coyotes President and CEO Xavier Gutierrez believes outreach in the Arizona Hispanic market is ...

Cronkite Sports

New Coyotes CEO Xavier A. Gutierrez looks to reach Latino community

New Coyotes CEO Xavier A. Gutierrez is the first Latino president and CEO in NHL history and hopes to reach new fans in the Valley.

4 years ago

Shatori Walker-Kimbrough, who joined the Phoenix Mercury in the offseason, is ready to get the WNBA...

Cronkite Sports

Full pay, 22-game season in Florida on tap for Phoenix Mercury

Another league has agreed on a return-to-play plan in the month of July. This time it’s the WNBA, whose members include the Phoenix Mercury.

4 years ago

Phoenix Rising FC assistant coaches Peter Ramage (left) and Blair Gavin are awaiting details about ...

Cronkite Sports

Phoenix Rising players await news on resumption of USL Championship

Phoenix Rising FC and the USL Championship are set to resume play July 11 while players wait on more details for the return.

4 years ago

California’s Fair Pay to Play Act has Arizona sports figures divided