As reported by CBS News, there is yet another suit against the NCAA arguing that anti-trust is being violated by not paying college athletes. We have been following these suits, and folks, this one may be different. Plaintiff’s attorney is with a very white shoe, respected, and establishment firm.
Why does this make a difference? It may be a tipping point. I have been struck by how gay marriage went mainstreamt, with states such as Iowa finding in favor of marriage equality and a judge in Utah finding likewise. National public opinon has turned around on this issue as well. Recently, the ESPN series, Thirty on Thirty, did a special on the Big East, highlighting its rise and fall, driven by the big money in other football conferences’ television contracts. The inimitable Jim Boeheim of Syracuse was asked about Syracuse leaving the league and answered that it had nothing to do with basketball and everything to do with football and television.
Is it time to ask again why the players do not have a seat at the table? At least one big-time firm in the U.S. is asking that question.