Eriq Gardner discusses the complications facing NCAA while Ben Landy and Teddy Schleifer explore RFK's fundraising mafia. Topics include college athletes unionizing, potential suspension of college seasons, pay for play challenges, RFK Junior's finances, his fundraising operation, and implications of open AI crawling the web.
The potential unionization of college athletes could lead to a suspension of college football and basketball seasons, but also presents an opportunity for the NCAA to negotiate new rules and settle ongoing litigation.
The transfer portal and potential unionization of college athletes have created complications in the college sports landscape, raising questions about the freedom of player transfers and leading to debates about establishing more stable and legally acceptable rules through collective bargaining.
Deep dives
Possible Suspension of College Football and Basketball Seasons
Recent changes to paying players, the transfer portal, and the potential unionization of college athletes have created mayhem in college sports. The NCAA's staunch defense of amateurism has been challenged, leading to loosening rules and endorsement deals for athletes. With petitions for union recognition before the National Labor Relations Board, there is a possibility that the NLRB will grant these petitions, which could lead to a suspension of college football and basketball seasons. The NCAA may see this as an opportunity to negotiate with the unions to establish new rules and settle ongoing litigation.
The Impact of the Transfer Portal and Antitrust Issues
The transfer portal, which allows college athletes to switch teams without waiting a year, has complicated the college sports landscape. The NCAA has tried to enforce rules for the portal, but their legality is being questioned. The potential unionization and collective bargaining could also influence the rules surrounding transfers. There are debates about whether players should be allowed to transfer freely or if there should be restrictions. While there are complications and potential antitrust and tax implications, many believe that collective bargaining and defining transfer rules through negotiation could create a more stable and legally acceptable system.
Union Petitions and Legal Complications
Petitions for union recognition by college athletes, such as the ones from USC and Dartmouth, highlight the argument that athletes are employees and should have certain rights and fair compensation. However, complications arise due to varying state laws on public employees' unionization and the tax implications of designating athletes as employees. The foreign-born status of some athletes might also be impacted by immigration laws. These legal complexities present challenges that need to be addressed in the ongoing discussions about college athlete unionization and the future of NCAA regulations.
Eriq Gardner joins Peter to discuss the latest complications bearing down on the increasingly professionalizing NCAA. Then Ben Landy and Teddy Schleifer weigh into the provenance of RFK’s fundraising mafia.