AUTOGRAPHS, MERCHANDISE, ETC.
A.J. Green: I sold jersey for ‘extra cash’ during spring break; results in 4-game suspension
Having served his four-game NCAA suspension for selling a jersey for $1,000, Georgia wide receiver A.J. Green on Tuesday told why he did it and how he got caught.
Green said he sold his Independence Bowl jersey to have “extra cash” during spring break and that the NCAA found out about it after asking him to turn over his bank records. He said he complied with the request.
“They had every bank statement going back to February ‘09,” Green said. “They looked and saw that [$1,000 deposit] and they were, like, ‘Hey, where did you get the money from?’ I told them. I’m not going to lie to them . . . and jeopardize my whole season.”
“I broke the rule,” Green said, “and I paid the price.
Teachable Moment: Did T-Town Menswear Cause an NCAA Violation For Alabama?
Given the current environment where schools like Ohio State can lose their coach because of tattoo hook-ups, should a Tuscaloosa establishment really be advertising its store with autographed jerseys of Julio Jones, Mark Ingram, and Trent Richardson during the 2010 season? (The date stamp on the T-Town Menswear Facebook album, which you can view for the moment right here -- before it is inevitably pulled early this morning -- is November 1,2010 but the date on the camera is October 19, 2010). Julio Jones and Mark Ingram have since gone pro, although they weren't pros at the time that their autographed helmets and jerseys were inside the store windows. But two of the jerseys in the window Nico Johnson, a rising junior, and Trent Richardson, one of the top Heisman candidates in the country, are back for 2011.
And no matter what Trent Richardson surely shouldn't be posing for photos as he signs helmets in the store.
It's possible that Richardson is merely signing one helmet and one jersey and he had no idea that the store was then going to put his signed jersey and helmet in the display case. After all, thanks to NCAA rules the only person not able to capitalize off the value of his signature is the athlete. But remember that Terrelle Pryor was ultimately forced out at Ohio State over allegations about payment for autographs while he was at Ohio State. So allowing a business to put up pictures of you and your teammates signing memorabilia on the Internet is just plain stupid. You gain nothing and everyone's eyebrows are raised. So a guy in a wife-beater walks into a suit store, signs a helmet and jersey, and walks out with nothing at all? What's the incentive for Bama players to provide autographs to T-Town Menswear? And how in the world did a suit store owner end up with what looks like national championship rings?
Those are interesting questions that it's probably better not to ask if you're a Bama fan.
But when T-Town Menswear placed the jerseys and helmets of current players in its window, they committed an NCAA violation. Since using a student's likeness to profit is an NCAA violation. But so long as that student doesn't actually receive anything in return then there is no significant punishment. A school must, however, monitor situations such as these and send a cease and desist letter to attempt to keep that business from profiting off the student athlete's likeness.
The relevant NCAA bylaw that governs this situation is found here:
"12.5.2.1 Advertisements and Promotions After Becoming a Student-Athlete. After becoming a student-athlete, an individual shall not be eligible for participation in intercollegiate athletics if the individual: (a) Accepts any remuneration for or permits the use of his or her name or picture to advertise, recommend or promote directly the sale or use of a commercial product or service of any kind."
Teachable Moment: Oregon Ducks among teams increasing efforts to track sales of autographs and game-worn gear
"WOW!" read a listing on eBay a few weeks after the Oregon football team played in January's national championship game. "Up for auction is a pair of Nike Oregon Ducks BCS game worn socks."
