The parameters of college sports have been shifting for years now with the change on name, image and likeness rights of college athletes.
Since the NCAA changed its rules and allowed athletes to finally capitalize on themselves with brand deals, there’s been a lot of debate on what should and should not be allowed. It’s been a discussion for college sports’ most prominent executives on the sports’ most prominent platforms.
So it makes perfect sense that the White House would be hosting a panel on the rights of college athletes in sports considering the changes. The meeting reportedly happening on Wednesday will concern college athletes, their safety standards and their organizing efforts.
It wasn’t surprising that this was a thing at all. What was surprising, though, was just how wrong they got this thing. The panel included just about everyone who doesn’t have a vested stake in the current landscape for college athletes.
As Extra Points’ Matt Brown points out here, the panel didn’t include current athletes, labor organizations or even legal experts. Just former athletes and talking heads.
A pro-labor White House will hold a roundtable to discuss college athlete organization and athlete rights…that will include no current college athletes, no labor organizations, no labor lawyers…but multiple talking heads. Unserious effort. https://t.co/aP9n2b77jx
— Matt Brown (@MattBrownEP) November 8, 2023
On top of that — and maybe more seriously — there’s not a single woman included on the panel. Not one, folks. Here’s the list via Front Office Sports.
Today, the White House will host a roundtable on college athlete rights — with plans to discuss revenue sharing, athlete organizing and more.
Among the attendees:
• Andrew Luck
• Ryan Clark
• Kevin Negandhi
• Desmond Howard
• Rod Gilmore
• Jordan Meachum
• Keith Marshall pic.twitter.com/5PSq95VRh8— Front Office Sports (@FOS) November 8, 2023
That is a travesty considering that folks like Angel Reese, Caitlin Clark, Livvy Dunne, Flau’Jae Johnson, Paige Bueckers and more are some of the biggest, most recognizable faces in college sports today. Not to mention their NIL valuations are worth millions collectively.
I won’t call this panel a sham — in the end, it’s good that the White House is thinking about labor when it comes to college athletics. This is ultimately we should’ve collectively gotten to a long time ago.
But it is safe to say the White House got this one wrong. This panel misses the mark. It feels superficial even if the thought is there.
College sports fans and advocates weren’t rocking with this at all.