Amateurs' Hour

About 12,000 athletes who have played college football or basketball from February '02 through the present are entitled to be reimbursed from a $10M fund made available via a settlement of a federal class-action antitrust suit against the NCAA filed by four athletes in February '06. The plaintiffs argued that restricting scholarships to the cost of tuition, housing, books and meals constituted an "unlawful restraint of trade" because of the billions of dollars the NCAA earns through broadcast and licensing deals. Going forward, students with financial or academic needs will have easier access to $218M through the 2012-13 school year that is available to D-I schools from CBS' $6B contract for the NCAA men's hoops tourney.

They Might Be Giants 
Fox sells last Super Bowl XLII spot in record time; Obama, Clinton buy local ad time in Boston.

Making A Pitch
State set to approve $45M for construction of Philly MLS stadium; DC United hopes to reap more benefits as RFK's only tenant.

Photo Shop
Sports Illustrated reportedly plans cover photo shoot depicting Tiger Woods as Jesus Christ in recreation of da Vinci's "The Last Supper."

Traveling Violation?
Sonics-Seattle trial set for June 16, but NBA could rule beforehand on OKC relocation effort.

Caught In The Net
Univ. of Wisconsin freezing ticket prices primarily due to money received from BTN.

Knight Lite
Rutgers BOG approves football stadium renovation despite being $30M short on funding.

Price Is Right 
Leo Kirch's Sirius SportsMedia secures US$4.4B loan to obtain Bundesliga TV rights.