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New York Times
20 hours ago
- Business
- New York Times
Tennessee's Zakai Zeigler denied preliminary injunction seeking fifth year of eligibility
Guard Zakai Zeigler will remain a former Tennessee and men's college basketball player after a judge denied his quest for a fifth season of eligibility. On Thursday, a U.S. District Court Judge Katherine Crytzer denied Zeigler a preliminary injunction that would have granted him another season, writing that Zeigler and his lawyers failed to present sufficient evidence that the rule of four seasons of eligibility 'produces substantial anticompetitive effects in the market.' Advertisement So his career as one of the best players in program history is over, and a possible flood of four-year players seeking a fifth year of eligibility is potentially avoided. Mit Winter, a college athletics attorney, told The Athletic when the lawsuit against the NCAA was filed that he thought Zeigler had a '50-50' chance. In response to Thursday's ruling, Winter said this should dissuade athletes in Zeigler's situation from suing, but added that he doesn't think the ruling is 'all that great for the NCAA,' as some may conclude. 'The court did hold that NCAA eligibility rules like the four seasons of competition rule are commercial and subject to antitrust law,' Minter said. 'The NCAA argued the rule isn't commercial and so not subject to antitrust law at all. Some (judges) have agreed, some haven't. So this is another court decision holding NCAA eligibility rules are subject to antitrust law. As a result, attacks on those rules will likely still continue.' Zeigler's representation, Litson PLLC and Garza Law Firm, said when the suit was filed in May that 'the NCAA's rule permitting only four seasons of competition within the five-year eligibility window is an unlawful restraint of trade under federal and state antitrust laws.' The lawsuit claimed that the fifth year of eligibility is the most lucrative for 'the vast majority of athletes' and that Zeigler would suffer irreparable harm without an immediate injunction allowing him to compete in the 2025-26 season. His lawyers claimed he could have earned up to $4 million in a fifth season of college basketball after making $500,000 in his fourth season. Zeigler intended to pursue a graduate degree after graduating in May with a degree in retail and merchandising management. The lawsuit pointed out that Zeigler's class is the first in the era of name, image and likeness compensation for athletes who have not been granted an extra year. Classes that entered school between 2016 and 2020 received the extra year because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Advertisement This was different from recent lawsuits challenging eligibility rules in that there are no special circumstances for Zeigler, such as Vanderbilt quarterback Diego Pavia's successful suit to gain another year to play because a court ruled his time in junior college should not count against eligibility. Absent those circumstances, Zeigler's case was not compelling enough. The 5-foot-9 Zeigler, a last-minute addition to Rick Barnes' 2021 recruiting, blew past expectations immediately and had a legendary four-year career. He led the Vols to two of the three Elite Eights in program history, finishing as Tennessee's all-time leader in assists (747), which ranks third in SEC history. He's the only player in SEC history to be named to the All-Defensive team four times and to win SEC Defensive Player of the Year twice. He was All-SEC first team as a junior and senior, averaging 13.6 points and 7.4 assists as a senior. He was also a fan favorite, and when his family's home in New York burned down during his sophomore year, UT fans raised more than $360,000 via GoFundMe.
Associated Press
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Associated Press
BESLA Closes Out 2025 Mid-Year Conference in Atlanta with Honors for Matt Barnes and Lil Jon
Atlanta, GA June 09, 2025 --( )-- The Black Entertainment and Sports Lawyers Association (BESLA) successfully hosted its 2025 Mid-Year Conference in Atlanta from May 29-31, bringing together top legal minds, entertainment executives, creatives, and athletes for three days of transformative dialogue, dynamic programming, and industry connection. Under the theme 'Bridging the Gap: Advocacy, Artistry & Access,' the conference drew hundreds of attendees from across the country, all eager to explore the critical intersections of law, creativity, and equity in entertainment and sports. This year's gathering featured interactive panel discussions, fireside chats, networking opportunities, and new actor and television writing workshops, providing an enriching, cross-disciplinary experience for both legal and creative professionals. May 29, the first day of the conference, was officially declared BESLA Day in Fulton County by Fulton County Commissioners Moraima 'Mo' Ivory and Marvin Arrington Jr., who were in attendance to present the proclamation and recognize BESLA's contributions to the legal and creative communities. BESLA proudly honored two cultural trailblazers whose work embodies leadership and influence: • Grammy Award-winning artist, producer, and philanthropist Lil Jon received the Beacon of Industry Award and joined a fireside chat discussing his expansive career, business ventures, and his advocacy for mental health and community development. • NBA Champion, entrepreneur, and media personality Matt Barnes was presented with the Power Player Award during a special program at Georgia State University College of Law. He participated in an engaging conversation highlighting his transition from athlete to business leader and advocate. 'This year's conference was a true celebration of what happens when advocacy meets artistry and access,' said Allison Hobbs, BESLA Board Member and Chair of the 2025 Mid-Year Conference. 'We are proud to provide a space where legal professionals, creatives, and changemakers can come together to learn, grow, and empower one another.' A key highlight of the conference was a timely panel examining the evolving landscape of collegiate athletics in light of the pending House v. NCAA settlement. Experts Donald Woodard, Traci Bransford, Darrell Thompson, and Mason Ashe led an in-depth discussion on what the $2.8 billion proposed settlement could mean for student-athletes, institutions, and legal practitioners. Prominent entertainment attorneys Janine Morris-Meggets, Aziza Bowser, and Roy Turner led a panel about protecting child performers and shared legal perspectives and best practices for safeguarding young talent, while decorated actor and musician Tristan 'Mack' Wilds lent his insights and experience as a successful former child performer who is still in the business today. To view photos from the 2025 Mid-Year Conference, visit: Photo Gallery. For more information about BESLA and upcoming events, visit About BESLA The Black Entertainment and Sports Lawyers Association (BESLA) is a nationally recognized leader in legal education and professional development for lawyers and professionals in the entertainment, sports, and related industries. Through premier programming, scholarships, and mentorship, BESLA remains committed to advancing diversity, access, and excellence in entertainment law. BESLA is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Contact Information: DT Communications Deven Trowers 510-220-7860 Contact via Email Read the full story here: BESLA Closes Out 2025 Mid-Year Conference in Atlanta with Honors for Matt Barnes and Lil Jon Press Release Distributed by
Associated Press
6 days ago
- Business
- Associated Press
Direct pay to college athletes starts July 1. Some key dates tied to implementation of settlement
It took five years for the $2.8 billion antitrust lawsuit against the NCAA and five major conferences to reach a settlement. Now comes the process for implementing it. Following are significant dates: June 6, 2025 Settlement approved; settlement-related NCAA rules are effective, as adopted by the NCAA Division I Board on April 21, 2025. June 11, 2025 NIL Go portal launches. June 15, 2025 Opt-in deadline for non-defendant schools to fully commit to revenue sharing. July 1, 2025 First date for direct institutional revenue-sharing payments to student-athletes. July 6, 2025 Opt-in schools must 'designate' student-athletes permitted by the settlement to remain above roster limits. Start of 2025-26 academic year With the exception of the 'designated' student-athletes, fall sports must be at or below roster limits by their first day of competition. December 1, 2025 With the exception of 'designated' student-athletes, winter and spring sports must be at or below roster limits by their first day of competition or Dec. 1, whichever is earlier. ___ AP college sports:
New York Times
08-05-2025
- Business
- New York Times
Revisions to roster limits in House vs. NCAA settlement propose ‘grandfathering' in response to judge's ultimatum
Attorneys filed revisions to the House vs. NCAA settlement Wednesday that would allow college athletic departments to exceed the settlement's proposed roster limits through voluntary 'grandfathering' of any athletes who were previously assured a roster spot. According to the revised proposal, any athlete who has been or would have been cut as a result of the settlement can be 'grandfathered in,' meaning those athletes will not count against the settlement's roster limits for the duration of their college eligibility. That includes incoming freshmen for the 2025-26 academic year who had a previously offered spot revoked due to settlement preparations. Any decisions to retain these impacted athletes would be made at the discretion of individual schools, but the revision allows for 'grandfathered' athletes to maintain that status if they transfer to different schools. The latest revised filing has been made in the House v. NCAA settlement, regarding roster limits. Any athlete who has been or would have been cut as a result of the settlement can be "grandfathered in," meaning they will not count against the new roster limits for the duration… — Justin Williams (@Williams_Justin) May 7, 2025 This latest filing is a response to federal judge Claudia Wilken's recent order, which stated that if the agreement could not be amended in a way that prevents college athletes from losing roster spots due to the implementation of new roster limits, she would deny the entire deal. Wilken will now review the proposed changes and determine whether they are sufficient to grant approval. The House settlement, a $2.8 billion agreement that resolves a trio of antitrust lawsuits against the NCAA and power conferences, stands to reshape college sports by allowing for direct payments from schools to athletes. The settlement has been in the works for a year, with Division I athletic departments planning accordingly, including preparations for roster limits put forth by the NCAA and power conference defendants. The limits would increase the number of available scholarship opportunities across sports but have also led to non-scholarship athletes (walk-ons) and some on partial scholarships to lose their roster spot as a result. In Wednesday's filing, defendant lawyers representing the NCAA and power conferences wrote that although retention would be voluntary for schools, the revised proposal ensures all athletes will be 'getting what they had before the settlement was announced — the opportunity to be on a roster without being subject to roster limits.' Though schools would not be required to retain athletes who have been or will be cut due to roster limits, they will be required to create a list of the 'grandfathered' athletes. The discretionary nature of the revisions should also allow schools to navigate any Title IX requirements that might arise. These last-minute adjustments come in the wake of a final approval hearing on April 7, during which Wilken heard objections, including from athletes who had already lost or were at risk of losing their spot on a team due to the proposed roster limits. Wilken — who expressed support for the broader settlement, including the billions in backpay damages and annual revenue sharing of more than $20 million per school — suggested during the hearing that changes be made to the roster limits. Instead, settlement lawyers initially responded with an explanation for why the roster limits should remain as proposed, which led to Wilken's ultimatum. Though the plaintiff and defendant lawyers believe Wednesday's revisions will satisfy Wilken's requests, the objectors whom Wilken ordered to be included in the most recent discussions do not endorse these revisions, and they could file another round of objection responses as a result. The settlement falling apart at this stage would be catastrophic for the NCAA and college sports, which have been operating under the assumption of approval for months. The five power conference defendants — the ACC, Big Ten, Big 12, SEC and Pac-12 — have been working on a new enforcement body to operate outside the NCAA that will oversee the revenue-sharing system. It's why several athletic directors and administrators remain adamant that this eleventh-hour hold-up will be resolved, while also voicing frustration that it took this long to address the judge's concerns. If approved, schools that opt into the settlement could begin making direct payments to athletes July 1. But that will depend on the ruling from Wilken, who previously ruled against the NCAA in the O'Bannon and Alston cases and is overseeing the settlement in the Northern District of California. If approval is not granted, the cases will move toward trial and the NCAA and power conferences will have to reckon with the immediate impact on name, image and likeness (NIL) and revenue sharing with the start of a new academic year fast approaching. (Photo: C. Morgan Engel / NCAA Photos via Getty Images)
