Univ. of KS (KU) senior basketball player and recording
artist Luke Axtell "had the plug pulled on his music career
this week by the NCAA," according to Mark Rosner of the
AUSTIN AMERICAN-STATESMAN, who noted the NCAA "prohibits
student-athletes from promoting any products, including ones
they create." Axtell was told that he can "neither promote
nor sell" his CD, "The River Runs Dry," until his
eligibility expires next spring after his senior season.
Axtell was told "to stop selling the CD by Thursday," and
"failure to comply could cost" Axtell his final season of
eligibility. Axtell had "received clearance for the
project" from KU Compliance Dir Janelle Martin in June,
"providing no 'basketball image' was used on the CD cover,"
but Axtell's mother, Mollie, said that Martin had
"misinterpreted the rule." Martin: "Even with a nonathletic
venture, the NCAA can argue part of the success of the
venture is based on the notoriety of the student-athlete."
Rosner cited Mollie Axtell as saying that about 2,000 CDs
have been distributed to Austin-area stores, but the Axtells
will now "probably have to ask the stores' management to
stop selling them" (AUSTIN AMERICAN-STATESMAN, 8/23).
