LaMarca Slams NCAA for "Protecting Their Pockets"

The National Collegiate Athletica Association (NCAA) made the announcement today that they would continue inaction due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

In a statement, Florida State Representative Chip LaMarca (R) slammed the NCAA, arguing that the announcement is solely about them “protecting their pockets, not about student athletes.”

LaMarca detailed that “all we continue to hear are excuses from this multi-billion dollar, not-for-profit.”

He expressed that “they are shifting the blame for their deliberate inaction to the states that have passed meaningful legislation to protect students’ right to earn a living.” In addition, LaMarca feels “it is absurd and shows they care more about protecting TV and apparel deals than they do about these young women and men who have worked their entire lives for this opportunity.”

Slamming the NCAA because they have “blocked students from earning a living like their peers for far too long,” the Florida lawmaker informed that “when Florida Governor Ron DeSantis signs SB 646, Florida’s collegiate athletes will be liberated from these restrictions.”

LaMarca concluded that “every student athlete across the 50 states should be able to earn from their talent,” noting that “if the third largest state can do it, then so can this collegiate organization.”

The NCAA recommended potentially regulating sneaker and apparel companies from entering third-party advertising agreements with any collegiate athletes.

To this, LaMarca commented that “the ability for individuals to group their commercial value together is a fundamental right of personal image rights.”

Because of this, “their proposals reek of protectionism.”