Issue 4 Editorial: Why new California ‘Fair Pay to Play Act’ negatively blurs line between college and professional sports

The newly signed “Fair Pay to Play Act” blurs the lines between amateur college sports and the professionals – in a negative way.  

(*vote shows members of Editorial Board for the above perspective and against the above perspective).

The deceptively named “Fair Pay to Play Act” was signed by California Governor Gavin Newsom last Monday, allowing college athletes to receive compensation for the use of their name and image. Come 2023, California will no longer abide by the NCAA’s bylaws surrounding their brand and image — a seismic shift in the traditional understanding of amateurism in college athletics.

This compensation for student athletes will fundamentally change the world of college sports we know and love — and not for the best.

Blatantly disregarding the almost 109-year-old NCAA regulations in an attempt to “do right” by their athletes erases the line between collegiate and professional sports. The doors to bigger problems are also opened — gender inequality among athletes, scheduling limitations as punishment, eligibility guidelines and unethical sponsorship deals are among this laundry list.

Shockingly, there are no objections from the Californian student athletes — in addition to their free education, they’ll probably never have to work again after graduation day. But to the NCAA, paying athletes is a whole other — uncompensated — ball game. 

California’s law breaks regulations, allowing students to book sponsorships, with some even going as far as hiring agents. Colleges would potentially be risking tens of millions of dollars, ultimately making them lose money rather than gain, in NCAA fines towards those California schools whose athletes decide to monetize their renown — even risking their teams’ eligibility to compete within their conference. 

Major brands like Nike would pay top dollar football and basketball talent at the biggest schools, while student-athletes in other sports or in smaller programs would be ignored — if they kept it how it is now this wouldn’t be nearly as big of an issue. Currently, corporate funds go to athletic departments and are generally distributed among all sports; with third-party payments. Those funds could instead mostly go directly to a few student-athletes, starving the rest.

NOTE FROM 1 MEMBER AGAINST

I, unfortunately in the minority, believe this editorial to be incorrect, and fully support regulated payment of NCAA players due to the NCAA’s lack of respect, gratuity and regard for their players. Newsom’s action represents the beginning, not the full extent, to which the NCAA should be regulated with respect to the payment of players, and not just payment to itself.

This new regulation would inevitably eat away at the distinction between professional and college sports. Celebrated college athletes could make money not only by endorsing sneakers and sports drinks, but also by autographing jerseys, pitching workout videos and putting their name on baseball bats and hockey sticks. 

In simpler terms, they could profit from the fame that their work as an athlete brings, seemingly taking away the power professional athletes have worked so hard to earn. There’s a reason we draw a fine line between amateur college teams and professional teams.

California’s changes aren’t scheduled to take effect until 2023, leaving the NCAA ample time to make their case in court in violation of the interstate commerce clause of the Constitution. If the law is upheld, the NCAA will have to decide whether to penalize the schools with fines, which may or may not be legally enforceable, or even expel them from competing within the organization — which seems like the most reasonable solution.

The athletes getting paid at the college level would stir inequality and entitlement with pre-Madonna attitudes following them onto the court — when really they’re supposed to be promoting youth leadership and determination. 

   *cartoon by River Hennick

It’s no secret that men’s sports have a more “committed” fanbase than those of women’s sports and it remains that way as they climb the professional ladder *cough* the women’s national soccer team (which performs better than the men’s) *cough.*  By adding the compensation to California’s law, the gap between the pay rates for men’s compared to women’s sports could potentially only widen — as if only earning 79 cents to the man’s dollar wasn’t enough. Yikes.

In addition to the gender gap, the viewership and television ratings of football and men’s basketball players drive the value of the player thus drive their popularity up — an unfair advantage to the vast majority of other sports, no matter male or female.

Student-athletes should be able to get what they deserve for bringing a valuable proposition that generates revenue. That applies to all athletes, from a Heisman Trophy winner to an equestrian rider, but disregarding NCAA rules is not the solution — leave the cereal boxes and gatorade sponsorships to the pros.

*video by UNINTERRUPTED