re: Caleb Downs

quote:

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Non competes are generally illegal in many states, and many non competes can only extend to book of business (client relationships)

You can’t blackball someone out of a job

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The only way to contractually lock-in players to a program will involve classifying them as employees, striking out some kind of anti-trust agreement like the NFL with the federal government (will probably involve unionizing revenue-generating sport athletes), working out something with the DoJ/DoEd to shell game things around so this all doesn't cause Title IX issues, and getting a sport built on petty fiefdoms to all agree to come together and create a unified front to standardize contracts with the player's union.

To amend my post from earlier...not an "easy fix" in practice, just conceptually. Once they're employees instead of amateurs, a whole slew of things become possible that simply are not in the current half-measure, worst-of-all options arrangement.