ACCESS DENIED!!!

Less than four weeks away marks the official start of football Sunday. Many sports fans will be gathered around the television with friends and wonderful food as if it was a Super Bowl party. Especially after the threat of possibly not having a football season, fans are going to be pulling out all of the stops to make it a memorable season. Although fans are excited about the upcoming season, there are still some concerns that could put a damper on these parties.

Breach of Duty-Referees Betting?

A referee is defined as an official who watches a game or match closely to ensure that the rules are adhered to and (in some sports) to arbitrate on matters arising from the play. Their ruling or “calling” plays such a vital role in the sports industry to the point of determining whether a team wins or lose a game and more importantly, a championship. Therefore, the million-dollar question is: while the officials are watching the players, who are watching the officials? Apparently no one, of course there is the National Basketball Referees Association. However, there have been some issues that even the NBRA have missed over the years. One of the main concerns that have been slightly swept under the rug is referee participating in betting or being paid to throw games. It is well known that this type of behavior is going on. However, it wasn’t until the Tim Donaghy incident in 2007 that the dusk hidden under the rug was revealed.

NCAA Athletes Have No Publicity Rights

It’s a feeling that some of us can relate to, whether you currently play a sport or played while in high school or college. The feeling of wearing a jersey with your name and number printed across the back brings a sense of pride and joy to an athlete. However, picture an athlete such as Tim Tebow, whose name and football jersey which were one of the top selling jersey in college history. A jersey so popular that according to Dave Curtis, a writer for the Orlando Sentinel, he helped make the University of Florida the number 3 school for merchandising in the U.S. So how much money did Tebow receive from the selling or licensing of his name and jersey? Well, he received nothing, not even a penny.