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Governor Newsom has signed the bill allowing athletes at California schools to commercially exploit their names, images, and likenesses (such as by signing endorsement deals) without losing their eligibility for college athletics. The bill passed the Legislature unanimously. It takes effect in 2023. I'm delighted to see it. I hope more states follow suit. --Bob

I've never liked it that college athletes make millions for their schools, and the biggest thing they get out of it is a chance for the pros. OK, that's huge, but I still think the balance has been way out of whack.

One positive, now they can stay in school and still make money. One negative, with endorsements rolling in, why waste time with school. Another negative, is the NCAA going to step in and drop all California schools? Another negative, are student athletes all headed for California?

I don't know the answers. My sense is, that if it takes effect, it will be right at the top of the biggest sports stories of the century.

It will be a hell of a recruitment incentive. PAC-12 schools will definitely be more competitive. They'll get all the 5 stars.

SportsFan68 wrote:I've never liked it that college athletes make millions for their schools, and the biggest thing they get out of it is a chance for the pros. OK, that's huge, but I still think the balance has been way out of whack.

One positive, now they can stay in school and still make money. One negative, with endorsements rolling in, why waste time with school. Another negative, is the NCAA going to step in and drop all California schools? Another negative, are student athletes all headed for California?

I don't know the answers. My sense is, that if it takes effect, it will be right at the top of the biggest sports stories of the century.

The NCAA is not going to drop every school in the nation's second biggest media market. They may threaten to but they won't do it. And if they do, we've got enough schools here to make our own attractive television package, and with the NCAA out of the way, we'll be free to actually pay the best athletes what they're worth in enhanced revenue to the school. --Bob

Looks like the Pac-12 is going to become the Pac-8 again.

After I posted the above, I read an AP article. It says that the NCAA is working on something, no hints what that might be.

But I'll bet money (maybe $5, maybe even $4!) that the NCAA will have something in place very similar which will negate this bill, and long before 2023

2023 is a long time from now, but I'm glad to see it.