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Headline Sports Law

U.S. Rep Bobby L. Rush Compares NCAA To The Mafia

Yesterday, a group of individuals who are tied to college sports in a variety of ways converged in Washington D.C. to participate in a roundtable discussion titled, Hypocrisy or Hype?  The Impacts of Back-Room Deals, Payoffs, and Scandals in American Collegiate Student Athletics.  The list of participants may be found here.

U.S. Representative Bobby L. Rush (D-Ill) put together the event and also took the prize for best quote of the day.  According to Nicole Auerbach, USA TODAY, Rush said the following:

“(The NCAA) is one of the most vicious, most ruthless organizations ever created by mankind.  I think you would compare the NCAA to Al Capone and to the mafia.  It’s a systemic, ongoing, prolonged abuse of thousands and thousands of innocent young men and women who are only trying to make a life for themselves and live the American dream.”

In my discussion with Warren Zola (Assistant Dean for Graduate Programs at Boston College) following the event, he mentioned that he is pleased that we are having serious discussions about reform in college athletics.  He said, “The only way to improve the current situation is to engage in dialogue, share ideas, and take action.”

The next best line after Representative Rush’s was unsurprisingly from former NFLPA Contract Advisor Josh Luchs, who stated,

“(Adding $2,000) is just like throwing a guy on a 10-story burning building a three-story ladder.  It makes absolutely no sense.”

I also spoke to Luchs following the event, and he relayed that he was impressed with the discussion and honored to be invited as a speaker.  He mentioned that Memphis Grizzlies Forward Shane Battier and Philadelphia 76ers Forward Thaddeus Young conducted themselves as true professionals and truly stood out as highly intelligent members of the NBA community.  But what mattered most to Luchs was that his daughters were able to watch their father provide insight on Capitol Hill regarding the state of college athletics.

Luchs also mentioned that there was some discussion of Title IX outliving its purpose and a need to modify it based on its consistent use to block meaningful reform in college sports.  Keep an eye on U.S. Representative Bobby L. Rush, who could use his position to be a catalyst for change.

By Darren Heitner

Darren Adam Heitner, Esq., is a preeminent sports attorney and the founder of Heitner Legal, P.L.L.C., a Fort Lauderdale-based law firm specializing in sports law, contract negotiations, intellectual property, and arbitration. He earned his Juris Doctor from the University of Florida Levin College of Law in 2010 and a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science, magna cum laude, from the University of Florida in 2007, where he was named Valedictorian of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. Admitted to practice in the state bars of Florida, New York, and the District of Columbia, as well as multiple federal courts, Darren also serves as a certified arbitrator with the American Arbitration Association.

As an adjunct professor, Darren imparts his expertise through teaching Sports Law at the University of Florida Levin College of Law and Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) at the University of Miami School of Law in the Entertainment, Arts, and Sports Law LL.M. program. His scholarly contributions include authoring several books published by the American Bar Association, such as How to Play the Game: What Every Sports Attorney Needs to Know, and numerous articles in prominent publications like Forbes, Inc. Magazine, and Above the Law. His thought leadership in NIL has earned him recognition as one of the foremost experts by The Wall Street Journal, USA TODAY, and On3, and he has been lauded as a “power player in NIL deals” by Action Network and a “top sports trademark attorney” by Sportico.

Darren’s passion for sports law led him to establish Sports Agent Blog on December 31, 2005, initially titled “I Want To Be A Sports Agent.” The platform, created as a New Year’s resolution, has grown into a cornerstone of the sports agency community, offering in-depth analysis of industry trends, legal disputes, and agent-player dynamics. His commitment to the field is further evidenced by his representation of numerous athletes and sports agents, as well as his prior role as an Adjunct Professor at Indiana University Bloomington, where he developed and taught a course on Sport Agency Management from 2011 to 2014.

Darren’s contributions have been recognized with prestigious honors, including the University of Florida’s 40 Under 40 Award, the University of Florida Levin College of Law’s Outstanding Young Alumnus Award, and designation as the best lawyer in Fort Lauderdale by Fort Lauderdale Magazine. He remains an active voice in the sports law community, sharing insights through his weekly NIL newsletter and his X posts, engaging a broad audience on legal developments in sports.