NBA Legend Bill Russell Files Lawsuit Against NCAA

Your Black World Reports:

Whether college athletes should be compensated for the millions of dollars they bring in to universities around the nation, or just be happy to receive a “free” education, has been a hot button topic for many years.

Nothing, though, has been said about the fairness of capitalizing off the professional fame of those athletes once they leave college — until now.

Celtic legend Bill Russell has plans to finally make the NCAA pay up.

Terrance Harris (BET.com) —It appears that the NCAA may be in violation this time.
Former Boston Celtics great Bill Russell has filed a lawsuit against the NCAA, alleging that the intercollegiate sports governing association has profited from featuring his likeness in commercially sold videos without seeking his permission or offering compensation, according to a Bloomberg report. Russell filed suit in a federal court in Oakland, Calif., on Wednesday.

As a University of San Francisco student, Russell led his team to back-to-back NCAA titles in 1955 and 1956. Videos of the team’s championship games are sold by the association for $150, the lawsuit claims.

Russell’s complaint may be combined with other athletes’ court cases charging that the NCAA and video-game giant Electronic Arts have improperly used their images in “Tournament of Legends,” a feature in the NCAA basketball video game.

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Anonymous

I am glad Mr Bill Russell is suing the pimp-like NCAA and the associated universities for keeping all the monies generated by the college athletes who play basketball and football at mostly D1 schools. I am offended that university presidents and boosters pay certain footbal and basketball coaches up to $6 million annually, while a majority of the athletes who perfom on the basketball courts and football fields exist in poverty. I can’t think of any other revenue producing venue where the producers and innovators fail to share in the wealth created by their efforts. I believe D1 college athletes in revenue producing sports need to unionize and secure legal representation. As things stand today – they are getting screwed by the powers that be. Of course if the athletes tried to protect their economic interests, the NCAA would accuse them of violating that bodies self-serving rules.

Bns603

If they want money so bad they should skip college and go pro to make their millions. They get paid over $200K for their 4 years. or does $50K tuition a year not count? Along with upwards of $1k a month living stipend, free food, and free housing and vehicles??? Oh yeah they are soo poor. GTFOH with that crybaby story and get the world’s smallest violin. If that is what poverty is sign me up!!!

Anonymous

Bones: It’s about equity – at the highest levels quid pro quo isn’t in effect for pro prospects at D1 universities. BTW: If you can pass the SAT test, score 25 points per game, grab 18 rebounds and block 10 shots – I might be able to find you a grant-in-aid. In order to qualify for a ride your HS hoops numbers would need to be off the chart. If you don’t have the game step off.

RestorationNow

Kudos to the ‘Master’ legendary Mr. Bill Russell…he’s just the one to turn those disrespectful, greedy, irrogant fat cats upside down. Go Mr. Russell, thank you for your tenacity and strength to make a difference.
Pecolalid

If black ballers don’t get a degree from the schools that on them. Most wouldn’t be hired to clean the toilets at the school’s they attend if they couldn’t play ball. The school make special arrangements for them to enter. If they want pay then they should be made to pass an entrance test and get a certain score or no scholarship and definitely no pay. If they are that broke than stay home and get a job. No athlete should get paid. They can just say no.

Anonymous

Pecolalid: You made a lot of noteworthy comments. Now show us your evidentairy proof to back up your comments.

Has the NCAA or D1-member schools furnished you with all the stats about test scores and germane scholarship information?
Can you kindly elucidate with factual data on the special arrangements that all D1 schools made for subject athletes to enter those schools in question?

Anonymous

lol. Peco will have a problem with probity. Your line of questions are slick.:-)

Anonymous

Thanks, You can win any type of arguments with facts. I have always been a proponent of D1 players being paid and unionizing.
We don’t have to call it a union but, The American Association of College Athletes.
I just don’t know what type of legal theory we can use to go after the NCAA to accomplish this mission.
Perhaps one of those law school students in one of those top tier-one Law Schools should pursue this project as part of their course work.
We would need feedback from the present member athletes in D1 schools to get a better or complete picture on whether or not this subject should be explored.
Personally I don’t see anyting wrong with giving certain D1 athletes a monthly stipend of $ 500.00 to $ 700.00 dollars a month. Perhaps this will lessen the opportunity of these young athletes trying to sell said school items, which may jeopardize their eligilbility and college careers.
The cost of living has increased considerably in the last three years and many Americans haven’t obtained a COLA. So trying to send a $ 100 dollars a month to a student athlete may not be a viable option for most working class families.
Quite frankly, I don’t see any the harm in selling something that is rightfully yours do to (your) hard work.
The NCAA has many antiquated and obsolete rules that they need to abolish ASAP, but it will probably take mucho litigation to bring the NCAA into the 21ist. Century.
Congratulations, Mr Russell for “Taking The Bull By The Horns.”

Bns603

Kudos to Russel once I leave all of that is done. Period
Drfayesq

Mr. Russell is an icon and a knowledgeable stand up Black man. It is a major plus he has weighed in on this is burning issue. The statistics show that the players not only are not getting fair compensation they are not even getting the promised degree. When they get in academic trouble there is no tutorial program to make sure they stay on course for their degree. Reality check: there are no tutorial programs to help those coming out of HS to prepare for the college courses they are accepted into. It is all about the body count – the brawn – and athletic skills of our boys – the NCAA and associated institutions only look out for their own interests. Some of the schools are bringing in foreign players and providing them tutorial support so they make the academic grade. Our inner city youth with poor grades are simply denied admission!