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NLRB Ruling Reactions: Historic Decision Could Alter College Sports As They Are Known

The decision by NLRB Regional Dir Peter Sung Ohr to regard Northwestern Univ. football players school employees is a "potentially historic decision," as it "reclassifies what college athletes are," according to the Wall Street Journal's Jason Gay. He said, "For years we’ve seen them described as 'student-athletes.' If you go back and look at the history of the NCAA, 'student-athlete' is the creation they wanted to have because it got athletes out of the status of having workman’s compensation. Universities didn't want to have a scenario in which they would have to pay fees and medical bills for college players who are injured." Reclassifying athletes as employees entitles them "to that kind of protection." Gay: "That's exactly what the Northwestern players were after. Does it lead to other things like being paid? Potentially” (“Crowd Goes Wild,” FS1, 3/26). ESPN's Jason Whitlock said, "We keep moving the ball forward in terms of tearing down this corrupt, immoral system of amateur athletics. It's 30 years past its expiration date." Whitlock: "Let's now write 'student-employee' from here on out rather than 'student-athlete.'" ESPN's Tony Kornheiser said the decision "could open up a Pandora's Box that would be very, very hard to shut in the future" ("PTI," ESPN, 3/26).

COULD REVOLUTIONIZE COLLEGE SPORTS: CBS' Scott Pelley said the ruling was "just a first step," but it could "revolutionize college sports." CBS' Dean Reynolds said, "Critics point out that classifying players as employees could lead to huge salary demands, to strikes or lockouts" ("Evening News," CBS, 3/26). FS1's Jay Onrait called it a "landmark ruling." FS1 legal analyst Rob Becker said it is a "very convincing opinion" by the NLRB and is the "first step in the end of the NCAA's amateurism charade" ("Fox Sports Live," FS1, 3/26). FS1’s Brendon Ayanbadejo said, “Today is a watershed moment for NCAA sports overall. ... It is an amateur sport. This is potentially turning it into professional sports or maybe even a minor league” ("Fox Football Daily," FS1, 3/26).

JUST ONE ISSUE FACING NCAA: ESPN's Jay Bilas said there is "significant concern among the decision-makers -- athletic directors, presidents -- because this battle is being fought on multiple fronts." He noted it is "not just the Northwestern players," but also lawsuits filed by Ed O'Bannon and Jeffery Kessler. Bilas: "There are a lot of irons in the fire in favor of change and everybody feels it" ("Olbermann," ESPN2, 3/26).

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