The latest shot across the NCAA’s bow

The words I never thought I’d see uttered:  “Right now the NCAA is like a dictatorship. No one represents us in negotiations. The only way things are going to change is if players have a union.”

The wheels have been set in motion.

For the first time in the history of college sports, athletes are asking to be represented by a labor union, taking formal steps on Tuesday to begin the process of being recognized as employees, ESPN’s “Outside The Lines” has learned.

Ramogi Huma, president of the National College Players Association, filed a petition in Chicago on behalf of football players at Northwestern University, submitting the form at the regional office of the National Labor Relations Board.

Backed by the United Steelworkers union, Huma also filed union cards signed by an undisclosed number of  Northwestern players with the NLRB — the federal statutory body that recognizes groups that seek collective bargaining rights.

On a certain level, I can’t blame them.  But the minute there’s a strike that cancels something, the college game will never be the same.

Just something else to thank Mark Emmert for.

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UPDATE:  Union fever in Athens.  Catch it!

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UPDATE #2:  The NCAA’s “la, la, la, can’t hear you” response is exactly what you’d expect from it.

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UPDATE #3:  Perhaps it isn’t all about the money.

… what a current Wildcats football player had to say on the matter in a Tuesday Reddit comment on the story.

“This isn’t about getting paid. What it is about is protection. Many of us will have numerous injuries throughout our playing careers. A group of those players will continue to feel the effects of those injuries long after their playing days are over. The goal is to have some sort of medical protection if we need surgeries stemming from injuries sustained while playing for our university.

“Another goal is graduate school for those who were fortunate enough to play as a true freshman. Most student-athletes get redshirted in their first year, and receive one year of grad school payed for in their fifth year of eligibility. We feel as though it is fair to ask for the same investment from the university all around. It isn’t about getting an extra $200 a month for spending. We have our stipend, and if we budget correctly we are able to make it stretch for the month. Would it be nice to have some part of jersey sales or memorabilia sales? Absolutely. But that is not the goal as of right now.

“Just wanted to add in that I am extremely thankful for the opportunity I have been given to not only play football, but to attend a world class university such as Northwestern. It is an opportunity millions dream of having. We are treated well at Northwestern, but unfortunately that is not the case at many other schools. Hopefully we can create a voice for the players and clean up these issues.”

Thoughtful?  Damned ingrate.