NCAA President Mark Emmert said that the NCAA BOG will meet in coming days to determine whether the governing body will "return championship events to North Carolina after state lawmakers repealed and replaced a controversial law restricting which public bathrooms transgender people can use," according to Adam Kilgore of the WASHINGTON POST. In a news conference ahead of the Final Four, Emmert "praised the North Carolina legislature" for repealing HB2, the "so-called 'bathroom bill.'" But he said that the NCAA BOG "still must decide whether the changes were 'sufficient' for the NCAA to return events." The controversial law caused many businesses and leagues, including the NBA and ACC, to "flee the state" (WASHINGTON POST, 3/31). ACC Commissioner John Swofford in a statement said the HB2 repeal could "reopen the discussion with the ACC Council of Presidents regarding neutral site conference championships" being held in North Carolina. Swofford said those discussions would take place "in the near future." In N.Y., Marc Tracy notes the HB2 repeal "drew criticism from the left and right, and it remained unclear whether its eventual passage into law would satisfy sports officials who have withdrawn events" (N.Y. TIMES, 3/31).
A LOT RIDING HERE: The AP's Drew & Dalesio wrote the stakes are "high for North Carolina," as the state made $71.4M from 28 neutral-site NCAA events in the five academic years ending last spring. A more lucrative slate of events "may be in jeopardy in this latest round of decisions." Cities including Raleigh and Greensboro have submitted 133 bids to host NCAA championship events in such sports as golf, swimming and basketball through the '21-22 academic year, with a potential economic impact of about $250M (AP, 3/30). In Charlotte, Katherine Peralta notes NBA Commissioner Adam Silver "repeatedly" has said that the league will reserve the '19 All-Star Game for Charlotte if "sufficient changes are made to HB2" (CHARLOTTE OBSERVER, 3/31).
DEEP IN THE HEART OF TEXAS: USA TODAY's Dan Wolken writes the "problem for the NCAA is that other states are discussing similar or even more extreme laws, including Texas’ Senate Bill 651, which has been criticized by LGBT advocacy groups as a sweeping attack on civil rights." San Antonio will host the Final Four in '18, and Emmert acknowledged that "moving such an event on short notice would be far more complicated logistically than a regional or first weekend site" (USA TODAY, 3/31). However, Emmert noted Texas House Speaker Joe Straus "doesn't think" Senate Bill 651 is a "very good bill and he's very powerful there" (ESPN.com, 3/30). CBSSPORTS.com's Dennis Dodd wrote moving the Final Four is "difficult, but not impossible." Emmert was "asked about a drop-dead date for staging the tournament next year in those states." He "wisely said there isn’t one," as there is "too much at stake" (CBSSPORTS.com, 3/30).
WAS HB2 REPEAL ENOUGH? In Raleigh, Luke DeCock writes the repeal of HB2 "may have done just enough to satisfy the NCAA and save basketball, but that’s about all." N.C. Gov. Roy Cooper said, "I believe sports are coming back." DeCock writes the stakes are "not small" for North Carolina, as the next five years include NCAA events, the '19 and '20 ACC basketball tournaments and other ACC events, the viability of MLS expansion bids in Raleigh and Charlotte and the NBA ASG all that "rest on how this partial repeal is perceived" (Raleigh NEWS & OBSERVER, 3/31). ABC's Ryan Smith said, "If you're trying to please the NCAA by saying, 'We repealed this law,' with the NCAA saying any discrimination against LGBT citizens won't be tolerated, you've got a funny way of showing." Smith noted the LGBT community feels the new bill is a "sham" ("OTL," ESPN, 3/30). ESPN's Rachel Nichols said the repeal is a reminder that sports leagues "taking a stand" on social issues is an "effective motivator." However, the new bill "drops the rule on transgender bathroom use," but it still "leaves in place so much of what has already sent both the NCAA and the NBA scurrying" ("The Jump," ESPN, 3/30). CBS' Mark Strassmann: "What pressured state lawmakers to act was the state's love affair with basketball" ("CBS Evening News," CBS, 3/30).
SHOULD NCAA STAND FIRM? In Charlotte, Scott Fowler writes under the header, "NCAA's Message To North Carolina On HB2 'Repeal' Should Be Clear, Too: Pound Sand." Fowler: "I can’t see how the NCAA will do anything but tell North Carolina lawmakers that Thursday’s shot just rimmed out. No, worse than that. This compromise that pleases hardly anyone is an airball" (CHARLOTTE OBSERVER, 3/31). ESPNW's Katie Barnes wrote if the NCAA "accepts North Carolina's measure and moves forward with reinstating its events, it would send a clear message to LGBTQ people broadly -- and trans people more specifically -- that the previous decision to pull post-season games was based upon political expediency, rather than on the conviction that all LGBTQ athletes, fans, coaches and administrators are worthy of human dignity." The NCAA, ACC and NBA "would be turning their backs on the LGBTQ community should they cave now" (ESPNW.com, 3/30). In Chicago, Shannon Ryan writes under the header, "NCAA Needs To Stand Firm, Stay Out Of North Carolina" (CHICAGO TRIBUNE, 3/31). In Greensboro, Ed Hardin writes the "best thing" now for the ACC to do "just might be to say, 'No, thank you.'" Hardin: "Of course, they probably won't." Hardin: "We've let sports get in the way of common sense again" (Greensboro NEWS & RECORD, 3/31).
