 |
| (TSUTigers.com photo) |
The backlash against the business of college sports by former college players continues, with a new lawsuit involving a former HBCU player. Former Tenneessee State hoops star Patrick Miller is one of ten former student-athletes who have filed a federal class action suit against several entities, including the NCAA, according to The Tennessean.
“The lawsuit, filed in federal court Friday in Nashville, targets ESPN, CBS, NBC, ABC, Fox and eight NCAA athletic conferences, including the SEC. The former players also are suing licensing companies and television networks with ties to the athletic conferences.
The players argue that the television networks, athletic conferences and licensing agencies conspired with one another to exploit rules forbidding student athletes from “competing in the marketplace for the value of their rights of publicity,” according to the suit.
In particular, the players say the form they signed giving the NCAA permission to use their name or picture to “generally promote” sporting events has been exploited. They argue the term isn’t defined and therefore does not give the NCAA or any third party the authority to sell or license their names or images, according to the court filing.”
Miller played at TSU from 2010 to 2013, averaging over 23 points per game in 2013-14. TSU is not named in the lawsuit.