NCAA:

Title: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; or

(b) Receives remuneration for endorsing a commercial product or service through the individual’s use of such product or service.

(h/t Cabbage).



In our reporting of Jameis Winston’s memorabilia signing binge I neglected to mention that Winston should be profiting from his signature.

NCAA is one of the richest organizations in the world, disallowing an athlete to profit from his own signature is an excellent example of their profit siphoning overreach. The NCAA cartel is the embodiment of what Marx called Surplus Labour, Surplus Labour is the capital created by a worker beyond earning their keep. Marx argued that unpaid (surplus) labour was the greatest source of capital’s profits, serfdom and slavery are each evidence of that.

NCAA athletes are not Zola’s coal miners but they are being monetarily exploited. It is the moral responsibility of the athlete to fight against this exploitation. Everyone from the beer vendor to the cross country running coaches to the eBay seller can profit off the athlete but the athlete cannot earn for himself. NCAA argument that scholarships are appropriate compensation is laughable, mini FSU helmet retails at $29.99 with a markup, Jameis Winston’s autographed helmets sell online starting at $89.89. Winston could easily cover the cost of his books for the year by signing 20 mini helmets. Imagine how quickly Winston would cover the cost of his tuition if he was compensated for his jersey sales? Of if he was allowed to endorse a Large Alaskan Snow Crab wholesaler?



Until the NCAA allows athletes to be compensated for their actual value the black market will have to suffice. Winston, Manziel and Todd Gurley were demanding to be caught with hundreds of items authenticated in order and for sale. Gurley, Manziel and Winston’s autograph ring was almost an entirely transparent process. This is unacceptable, we can do better, here’s how to get away with signing autographs for money:



1. Dealer should not list a readable certificate number.

If you need to include the certificate make sure it is too small to read, ideally no number at all. Athletes should demand that certificate numbers can only read by the buyer.

2. Sign less products at higher margins

Bo Wallace jersey bidding starts at $199.99, that’s a much more profitable sale than a mini-helmet. The certificate is readable online, this is a mistake.

11 signed Bo Wallace jerseys in a row, that’s not going to arise too much suspicion. As a high margin product athletes can sign less and make more, 11 jerseys are a low enough odd number that won’t make a sexy headline.



3. Find a dealer that uses a random certificate number system



Hundred Jameis Winston items in a row followed by a Barry Goldwater book with another 64 Winston items is not a good look. Logically everyone will deduce that:

1. This is one person with all these items

2. He went to his car to get more while one customer showed up with that book.



Without a sequence it cannot be determined that all these items were authenticated at the same time by the same people.

4. Do not sign items in the exact same location

5. Do not sign items for a punk ass snitch



This should have been obvious Todd Gurley.

6. Do not sign items with a teammate



Autographs need to have the appearance of being random to establish reasonable doubt. The athlete needs a credible case they were unaware the items would be sold. The randomness defense strains credulity when teammates are signing the exact same items multiple times with visible authentication numbers in sequence.

7. Use multiple Amazon, Ebay accounts



If all your items end up at the Planet Signature website, Ebay or Amazon store people are going to realize you are a source for the dealer.



8. The dealer should be a friend/relative/spouse

Someone you can trust, that won’t snitch and will provide fair market value for your goods. Anyone can create multiple Ebay and Amazon stores, don’t be lazy.

Recap:



You are morally required to circumvent NCAA cartel rule until the system is equitable for “student” athlete serfs. Make sure the verification system is random, sign for a friend, vary the signature’s location, use multiple accounts, vary the items, sign higher profit margin memorabilia and never, never list the product with a visible certificate number.



Not often in your life you will be monetarily rewarded for taking a moral stand, do the right thing here, get that money. Once you get that autograph money get to work with unionization, good luck comrades.