NCAA May Ban Calif. Schools From Championships If Bill Passes

In a letter to the chairs of two California State Assembly committees, NCAA President Mark Emmert implied that if a bill allowing college athletes to earn compensation for the use of their own name, image or likeness becomes law, schools in the state "could face the prospect of being prohibited from participating in NCAA championships." Tomorrow, the bill is scheduled to be the "subject of a hearing and a vote by the Assembly’s Arts, Entertainment, Sports, Tourism and Internet Media Committee." If it advances, it would go to the Higher Education Committee, which "would have to approve it by July 11 for it to remain alive this year." In his letter, Emmert asks the committees to "postpone consideration of the bill while the NCAA reviews its rules concerning athletes’ ability to make money from their names, images and likenesses" (USATODAY.com, 6/24).