A group of 16 former college basketball players, including notable names such as Mario Chalmers, Sherron Collins, Ryan Boatright, and Jason Terry, have taken legal action against the NCAA and multiple conferences for allegedly utilizing their name, image, and likeness in March Madness highlights without consent. The lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District Court in New York, targets prominent conferences such as the Big East, Pac-12, Big Ten, Big 12, SEC, and ACC, as well as Turner Sports Interactive.
In the 2008 national championship game, Mario Chalmers hit a crucial 3-pointer with 2.1 seconds left to force overtime and played a pivotal role in Kansas’ victory over Memphis. The lawsuit alleges that the NCAA and conferences profited from these historic moments, as well as similar highlights involving the other plaintiffs, without proper authorization, collecting what the lawsuit claims to be “millions of dollars” in the process.
This legal action has surfaced amidst ongoing disputes within the NCAA, following the announcement of a settlement in the House vs. NCAA case, which was supposed to resolve certain issues. The organization continues to grapple with various antitrust lawsuits, with the most recent one seeking ongoing NIL (Name, Image, and Likeness) rights for men’s basketball players from selected national champions.
The complaint also accuses the NCAA and conferences of violating the Sherman Antitrust Act, reinforcing the broader legal challenges that the organization presently faces. This development underscores the growing tension surrounding the use of athletes’ likeness and the complex legal landscape that the NCAA must navigate as it addresses these contentious issues.
As the legal battle unfolds, it serves as a stark reminder of the ongoing complexities surrounding the NCAA’s governance and the evolving landscape of collegiate athletics. It further emphasizes the broader challenges associated with the commercial use of athletes’ identities and the intricate interplay between sports, media, and legal frameworks.
