Amateurism is good for business.

The bulk of the attention of the plaintiffs’ amended filing in the O’Bannon case will focus on the six current players who agreed to participate in the litigation, but it’s the additional allegations in it that caught my eye.  Particularly this beauty:

In August 2007, when licensing of video games was being negotiated, EA allegedly “offered to establish a ‘players’ fund’ for the use of the (student-athletes’) names, images, and likenesses. CLC, negotiating on the NCAA’s behalf, instead suggested that the money should go to the NCAA. EA agreed to pay a kicker to the NCAA in order ‘to align interests and incentivize all parties to help build the category with new rights.’ EA made this offer contingent on ‘no royalties . . . to a player fund.’ “

Has greed ever served a cause so nobly?  The NCAA probably uses that money to fund those TV ads trumpeting how much it supports student-athletes.

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UPDATE:  Not to say that some of these players aren’t compelling.

“Honestly, I stepped forward for the future well-being, safety and health of student-athletes,” Fischer told ESPN. “We have both met a ton of people since we’ve been here who have lingering effects from injuries, not getting a great education, not having all the capabilities or the opportunities that a regular student would have, and honestly, we would just like to try to fix that.”