Last Wednesday the California state legislature unanimously passed bill SB 206, Fair Pay to Play Act, that would allow college athletes to make money from the use of their names, images, and likeness while simultaneously prohibiting colleges in California from rescinding scholarships (as this scenario would break current rules). This would be a monumental win for college athletes, who as it stands have no power in regards to NCAA matters even though they are heavily affected by them.

In 2017 the NCAA reported a revenue of $1.1 billion to Sports Illustrated, as a non-profit, with March Madness television rights bringing in $820 million alone. This doesn’t cover all of the money that the NCAA comes across, where operating costs and university booster programs are examples. But as the world found out in 2011 with the scandal at the University of Miami, money is being distributed to some athletes regardless of NCAA rules.

The U had a serious (by NCAA standards) situation in which one of their boosters as well as coaches helped acquire money from the system to pay players with cash and favors.  

Tim Tebow shared his thoughts in on First Take with Stephen A. Smith and Max Kellerman saying, “I feel like I have a little credibility and knowledge about this because when I was at the University of Florida, I think my jersey was one of the top-selling jerseys around the world, I didn’t make a dollar from it, but nor did I want to because I knew going into college what it was all about. I knew going to Florida, my dream school where I wanted to go… the passion for it, and if I could support my team support my college support my university, that’s what it’s all about.”

These comments led to a lot of backlash from current and former players who came from low socioeconomic households and were expected to support their families. Herein lies a classic example of exploitation in a capitalist system that is accepted and upheld because dominant discourse tells us it’s good for the global economy.

A Division 1 female athlete who competes in the ACC commented on the issue, “If athletes directly bring in money to the school through jersey sales or NCAA video games then they should receive some compensation.” Correspondingly, a Division 1 swimmer from the Pac-12 agreed saying, “I think that any athlete should get paid, not necessarily by the school but by endorsements that each athlete could find.”

The NCAA Board of Governors responded in a letter to the California state legislature, “The NCAA continues to focus on the best interests of all student-athletes nationwide…It isn’t possible to resolve the challenges of today’s college sports environment in this way…” The sole NCAA representative on the board, Mark Emmert, makes a reported $4 million and is clearly comfortable in his job. But this is just the beginning as world superstar LeBron James has already taken to Twitter in support of SB 206.