The initiative from Missouri state Reps. Rick Brattin and Kurt Bahr to strip scholarships from athletes who do not play a scheduled game as part of an organized strike "was withdrawn early Wednesday ... without comment" by Brattin, according to Kurt Erickson of the ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH. Brattin’s decision was a surprise to Bahr, who said, "Unfortunately, it’s going to be seen as a coup by those who opposed the bill.” Bahr did acknowledge that the proposal "had drawn national attention." Bahr: "I did get quite a few questions about it" (STLTODAY.com, 12/16). USA TODAY's A.J. Perez reports Brattin yesterday indicated that his "constituents were supportive" of the bill and "gave no indication he and Bahr would yank the bill" (USATODAY.com, 12/16). In Chicago, Shannon Ryan wrote the bill was another attempt to "control athletes, silence them and pigeonhole them as solely money-makers for the university." The proposal came on the heels of the Univ. of Missouri football team's protest, and Ryan wrote they are players "who took up a cause, busting the notions of apathetic young people and money-driven athletes." However, Brattin and Bahr were proposing they get "punishment" in return. Ryan: "There's a reason legislators are attempting to put student-athletes in check and not paying much mind to non-athlete students. ... From boxers Jack Johnson and Muhammad Ali to sprinters Tommie Smith and John Carlos at the 1968 Mexico City Olympics, outspoken black athletes face backlash" (CHICAGO TRIBUNE, 12/16).
GOING AGAINST COMMON SENTIMENT: ESPN's Rod Gilmore called the bill “idiotic” and said, "We want our young people to go to college, to grow, mature and to eventually become upstanding members of society.” Gilmore: "What this bill says, to African-American athletes in particular and athletes in general, is shut up and entertain us and don't participate in activities like other students. I thought it was absolutely ridiculous and wrong on so many levels.” He added, “You don't have to be a Constitutional expert to recognize you’ve [got] some serious issues here violating some Constitutional rights and you can start with freedom of speech and then from there jump to freedom of association, not to mention the equal protection clause. You’re talking about a bill here that singles out athletes.” ESPN's Andy Katz asked, "How can this proposed bill co-exist with the fact that they are not employees?” ESPN the Magazine's Mina Kimes said even if the bill passed, it is "very unlikely that Missouri would want to act upon it." Schools are "competing for these athletes,” and would someone "choose to go to a school knowing his rights would be under attack?” ("OTL," ESPN, 12/15). Denver Post columnist Woody Paige said Brattin “should be stripped of his scholarship in the state legislature." Paige: "That is such a wrong move” (“Around The Horn,” ESPN, 12/15).
