the BigAmateurism monologues

A series of seemingly random events have played out over the last six weeks that may signal the NCAA’s and Power 5’s short-term strategies to protect and pursue their quest for the Iron Throne of college sports regulation. After the Alston case was formally submitted to the Supreme Court for decision after the March 31st oral argument, the NCAA, Power 5, and their allies made some intriguing moves. From the reintroduction of the Gonzalez-Cleaver name, image, and likeness bill on April 26th to significant departures from the NCAA national office to the NCAA Board of Governors’ unanimous extension of NCAA president Mark Emmert’s contract, to the introduction of a bill in the Senate that would make revenue-producing athletes employees of their universities under federal labor laws, and much more, the last six weeks have been full of surprises. This episode analyzes these events and what they may mean for the future of college sports.