SPORTS SATURDAY, MARCH 29, 2014 Long battle looms between US college, athletes seeking to unionize WASHINGTON: A day after football players at There has been a growing national debate about “So proud of my teammates, Ramogi, lawyers and Northwestern University tentatively won the right to whether to pay U.S. college athletes, particularly at big- supporters around the nation! This is a HUGE win for unionize, they and the Illinois school dug in for a time football programs such as Northwestern. Teams ALL college athletes!” Colter posted on his Twitter lengthy legal and political battle that could reshape the typically earn millions of dollars each season through account Wednesday. multimillion-dollar sports business that US colleges television contracts, ticket sales and merchandising. have built around unpaid amateur players. For years, athletes have complained about receiving Court battle possible As politicians and college sports officials warned that no compensation beyond their scholarships at a time The NLRB’s deliberations over Northwestern’s appeal athletes’ push to be paid as university employees - when the business of major college sports has boomed, could take months, including hearings and a vote by the rather than be compensated only through scholarships with hundreds of millions of dollars in television con- board. If Northwestern loses before the full NLRB, it - could lead to calamity at many schools, the issue tracts leading the way. The National Collegiate Athletic could take its case to federal court. began to shift to Washington. Association (NCAA) oversees sports programs for about If the school refused to recognize any union That is where the five-member National Labor 420,000 college athletes and reported $872 million in approved by a vote of the players, the NLRB, which does Relations Board (NLRB) will consider Northwestern’s bid revenue in 2012. It is not a party to the NLRB proceed- not have enforcement powers, likewise could turn to a to reverse a regional NLRB director’s ruling on ings, which pits Northwestern against its football play- federal court under U.S. labor law. Wednesday in favor of the players. The regional direc- ers, but the NCAA has made clear that it stands with the Such obstacles virtually ensure that college sports tor, Peter Sung Ohr, rejected Northwestern’s contention university in opposing efforts to unionize and pay col- will not be upended overnight by Ohr’s decision. But in that its football players are amateur athletes and grant- lege athletes. the near term, analysts say, the decision is likely to put ed the players the right to unionize as school employ- “Over the last three years, our member colleges and more pressure on the NCAA to change some of its poli- ees. universities have worked to re-evaluate the current cies, including whether to offer athletes some compen- A date for the Washington appeals hearing has not rules,” NCAA Chief Legal Officer Donald Remy said in a sation beyond their scholarships. been set. Northwestern has vowed to explore “all of its statement. “While improvements need to be made, we The Ohr decision “will put additional pressure on the legal options” to reverse Ohr’s ruling. “Our student-ath- do not need to completely throw away a system that NCAA to change its rules with regard to what compen- letes are not employees, but students,” said Alan has helped literally millions of students over the past sation and monies can be paid to student athletes,” said Cubbage, spokesman for the private university that is decade alone attend college.” Joseph Farelli, a New York-based labor and employment just north of Chicago on Lake Michigan. Northwestern football players say they plan to help attorney at Pitta & Giblin. In Washington, Republican Senator Lamar build a nationwide union of college athletes. The NCAA, based in Indianapolis, already is facing Alexander, a former president of the University of Kain Colter, a quarterback for Northwestern, teamed questions about the adequacy of its safety protections Tennessee, expressed a similar sentiment. “This is an up with Ramogi Huma, a former University of California- for athletes, and discontent with rules that allow the absurd decision that will destroy intercollegiate athlet- Los Angeles player, to form a union they call the College association and its member schools to make huge prof- ics as we know it,” Alexander said. Athletes Players Association. its while barring players from doing the same. —Reuters Woodward points record as Rebels stun Brumbies MELBOURNE: Fullback Jason Woodward injury, ignited the Rebels’ comeback Fainga’a was awarded a penalty in a scored a club record 27 points as the with a powerful try as he beat a couple ruck for Woodward to kick his sixth Melbourne Rebels upset Australian Super of tackles to score and convert from the penalty and seal victory. 15 conference leaders ACT Brumbies 32- sideline to put Melbourne in front for Woodward didn’t miss a kick from 24 yesterday. the first time 19-17 on the hour. his eight attempts as the Rebels got Woodward could do little wrong, Winger Tom English lost the ball stronger against the flat Brumbies in amassing a try, two conversions and six over the try-line minutes later before the second half. “It’s what we have been talking about doing all week, you’ve got to be physical against these blokes and it was good to see it come KRASNAYA POLYANA: A file picture taken on February off,” Rebels skipper Scott 14, 2012 shows International Olympic Committee (IOC) Higginbotham said. coordination commission Chairman Jean-Claude Killy “Credit to the boys, we hung in and speaking during a press conference in Krasnaya kept playing our own game the whole Polyana. Killy resigned yesterday from the International time.” It was only the Rebels’ second Olympic Committee (IOC), as he announced in an inter- win in seven encounters against the view with French Magazine L’Equipe. —AFP Brumbies and their second home win over the Canberra-based team. “They gave us a good lesson in ener- Korean body fined over gy, particularly in the last 35 minutes and in this competition you can’t missed doping tests assume things are going to happen, KUALA LUMPUR: Badminton’s world governing body said yes- you’ve got to make them, and I terday it has fined the Badminton Korea Association $40,000 for thought the Rebels did that tonight,” negligence after two players were banned for missing doping Brumbies captain Ben Mowen said. tests. The Badminton World Federation (BWF) said the South “I think there were some flat spots in Korean association “failed in its duty of care” to Lee Yong-Dae our game and the Rebels exposed that and Kim Ki-Jung, who were banned for one year in January. well and truly. It’s a difficult place to Lee won mixed doubles gold at the 2008 Olympic Games in come down here and play and they Beijing and took a bronze in the men’s doubles in London in always play well at home.” The 2012. He had been expected to compete in the Asian Games in Brumbies began strongly with fullback the South Korean city of Incheon in September-October this Jesse Mogg scoring in the third minute year. off the back of a dominant scrum. HONG KONG: Spain’s Javier de Juan, blue shirt, is tackled by Australia’s The Kuala Lumpur-based BWF said its disciplinary committee The Brumbies got their second try had found that the Korean association was negligent in failing to Tom Lucas, during the first day match of the Hong Kong Sevens rugby off their powerful scrum when the give the players necessary information about anti-doping regu- tournament in Hong Kong, yesterday. Australia won 28-14. —AP back-pedalling Rebels conceded a lations. penalty try in the 48th minute. It urged it to make more effort to educate players, coaches penalties as the Rebels fought back centre Mitch Inman powered over 10 But the visitors made too many mis- and others about the rules. from 10-3 down at halftime. minutes from time with Woodward takes. They conceded 26 turnovers and The Badminton Korea Association said in January that the The Brumbies, last season’s Super again converting for a 29-17 lead. made 12 handling errors and missed 22 absence of both players during visits by anti-doping inspectors Rugby finalists, could not handle the The Brumbies hit back with minutes tackles. had been due to international competitions. inspired Rebels in the second half as left after winger Robbie Coleman gath- The NSW Waratahs get the chance “Lee and Kim did not take any banned drugs, refuse doping the home side surged to victory after ered Matt Toomua’s chip kick to score to take over at the top of the Australian tests or intentionally shun them,” the Korean body said in a trailing 17-6 in the 48th minute. and trail by five points. But the contest conference if they can defeat the statement at the time, describing the ban as “extreme and Woodward, coming back from was over when blindside flanker Colby Coastal Sharks in Durban today. —AFP unfair”. —AFP.