Now Chris Wells can be your Fantasy team tailback
July 31, 2008
According to a story by USA Today’s Jack Carey, you fantasy college football team can have “real” virtual OSU Buckeyes on it — for now.
Here is what Carey wrote:
————————————————————————————————————–
The burgeoning world of fantasy sports is about to cross a new line. CBSSports.com has announced plans to introduce a fantasy college football game for the upcoming season, a game that will use the names and statistics of current college players.
The NCAA, citing amateurism issues, has historically warned against such practices as a violation of the association’s bylaws. Although such a notice has been sent by the association to CBS, a recent court case has been interpreted by some parties as allowing the use of college players, and the NCAA appears wary of pushing the issue with CBS — at least at this time.
We are in discussions with CBS to try to work (out) a solution that we would be comfortable with,” NCAA spokesman Bob Williams said Wednesday.
Previous attempts at college fantasy games have used inexact terms such as “Florida QB” or “Ohio State RB,” but now the names of Gators quarterback Tim Tebow and Buckeyes running back Chris Wells can be utilized.
The U.S. Supreme Court last month refused to hear a case brought by Major League Baseball against a fantasy sports corporation over the use of baseball players’ names and statistics. The court’s move in effect said that statistics and names already in the public domain are not owned by a league or athletic association.
“There’s some debate as to whether the court decision applies to amateur athletes,” Williams said. “The court didn’t specifically say it did; some are interpreting it as it does. It remains to be seen.”
CBS is in the midst of a $6 billion contract with the association for the broadcast rights to the NCAA Division I men’s basketball tournament.
That relationship has not been lost on some.
“This (fantasy game) seems to be in direct violation of current NCAA rules,” said Amy Perko, executive director of the Knight Commission on Intercollegiate Athletics, which urges reform in college sports. “The NCAA has an obligation to ask its partner to cease and desist so its rules are not violated.
”At this point, what’s unsettling is that they wouldn’t clearly and actually say that it needs to be stopped, and you hope it’s not a different stance because their partner has unveiled this as opposed to someone else. The NCAA’s first responsibility is to their student-athletes, not their business partners.“
Williams acknowledged that such criticism is likely but said CBS is not being treated any differently.
”The fact remains that there was a court case that, some are interpreting, allows the use,“ he said. ”We (took) action like we normally would with anyone else and sent a notice to CBS indicating it’s a violation of our bylaw — that’s done to protect the amateur status of our student-athletes — just like we would anyone else. We’ve followed the same procedures that we would follow with anyone else.
“All things considered, our bylaws are what they are and, if we had our druthers, they wouldn’t (use the names). But the fact remains they’re making a decision, and it’s their right to make the decision.”
Williams said the issue will be addressed next week by the NCAA Division I board of directors “in terms of whether or not the bylaws need to be examined or whether we need to stay the course. What we’re doing is looking at all the factors and also looking at the realities of the new media environment.”
Other media are already looking at the issue.
“We think it’s a great opportunity,” said Jeffrey Gerttula, vice president and general manager online of The Sporting News. “The concern has always been that the NCAA would do something (in terms of legal action), but I think this is interesting.”
Gerttula said The Sporting News cannot get a fantasy “league” up and running for this season because of logistics. But he believes more sites will inevitably jump on board because players’ names can be used.
“Without a doubt,” he said. “It’s a lot more interesting.”
More: continued here
Related Stories
Comments
Got something to say?