Title/Author:
“Court Justice: The Inside Story of My Battle
Against the NCAA and My Life in Basketball” by Ed O’Bannon and Michael McCann
Tags:
Basketball, college,
UCLA, legal, memoir, race
Publish date:
February 6, 2018
Length:
304 pages
Rating:
5 of 5 stars
(outstanding)
Review:
Starting with the
images from a video game, Ed O’Bannon decided to take on the National
Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) in court, arguing that current and
former college athletes should be compensated for the use of their
likenesses. The course that this lawsuit takes, as well as O’Bannon’s
life and career as it relates to the case, is captured in this book that is a
must-read for fans of college sports and readers interested in this case.
The book takes the
reader through the case, starting with the motivation of the lawsuit, through
the discovery and testimony of several NCAA officials, the verdict rendered by
the judge and the aftermath. Through it all, O’Bannon shares stories from
his college life as well as basketball, his frustration through his NBA career
and the successful career he has had since leaving basketball.
The overwhelming point
made throughout the book was that the NCAA has been exploiting college athletes
by generating billions of dollars through their activity and their images and
likenesses. Not just during the actual games, but O’Bannon uses examples
like jerseys, promotional material and press releases to add to his
point. He also refutes those who believe that athletes are compensated
because they receive scholarships and therefore have no grievance. He
believes that these athletes, especially those who came from poverty, can’t
afford a “normal” college life (something the NCAA continuously tries to
illustrate), athletes are not guaranteed sufficient medical care should they
suffer injuries and that because many athletes have to spend up to 50 hours a
week on athletic-related activities they don’t get to obtain the true
educational experience.
There is also one
other inconsistency with the NCAA that O’Bannon mentions with athletes being
able to speak to “advisors”, usually meaning agents and the professional
drafts. If a college hockey or baseball player speaks to an “advisor”, he
is not subjected to his NCAA eligibility being revoked. Nor is it in danger
if he is drafted by a professional baseball or hockey team – as long as he
doesn’t sign a contract, he can still play at the college level in his
sport. These are not afforded to football or basketball players (both men
and women in the latter) because in order to retain eligibility, a player who
is considering being eligible for the draft must withdraw before the day of the
draft and cannot have contact with any outside “advisor.” While stopping
short of calling the NCAA a racist organization, he does make the reader think
because college hockey and baseball players are mostly white whereas college
football and basketball players are mostly black.
Inconsistencies like
this are at the crux of O’Bannon’s case and the reader will be captivated with
his account of the trial, his life and how the NCAA needs to undergo serious
changes. O’Bannon ends the book with twelve suggestions he has for this
last point and the reader will be left hoping that something can be done for
these athletes to be fairly compensated for the hard work they do for the
schools and NCAA.
I wish to thank Diversion Publishing for providing a copy of the book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I wish to thank Diversion Publishing for providing a copy of the book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Book Format Read:
E-book (Kindle)
Buying Links:
Great review
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