Latest news with #WyattHendrickson
Yahoo
26-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Funding of Olympic sports a bargaining chip as NCAA seeks antitrust help, AP sources say
FILE - Oklahoma State's Wyatt Hendrickson, right, takes on Minnesota's Gable Steveson during a 285-pound match in the finals at the NCAA wrestling championship, March 22, 2025, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke, file) FILE - A San Jose State Spartans player prepares to serve against the Air Force Falcons during the fifth set of an NCAA college volleyball match Thursday, Oct. 31, 2024, in San Jose, Calif. (AP Photo/Eakin Howard, File) FILE - A San Jose State Spartans player prepares to serve against the Air Force Falcons during the fifth set of an NCAA college volleyball match Thursday, Oct. 31, 2024, in San Jose, Calif. (AP Photo/Eakin Howard, File) FILE - Oklahoma State's Wyatt Hendrickson, right, takes on Minnesota's Gable Steveson during a 285-pound match in the finals at the NCAA wrestling championship, March 22, 2025, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke, file) FILE - A San Jose State Spartans player prepares to serve against the Air Force Falcons during the fifth set of an NCAA college volleyball match Thursday, Oct. 31, 2024, in San Jose, Calif. (AP Photo/Eakin Howard, File) College sports leaders seeking antitrust and other protections from Congress have a potential bargaining chip: School assurances that they will provide funding for their increasingly imperiled Olympic programs, by far the biggest pipeline of talent for Team USA. Four people familiar with the talks told The Associated Press that lawmakers, mostly from the Democratic side that will need to provide votes to help any legislation pass the Senate, have been approached by college sports experts and policy shapers to explore options in exchange for support of a bill that some Democrats oppose. Advertisement One of the clearest tradeoffs would be for an idea that enjoys bipartisan support: helping collegiate Olympic sports programs. Those programs produce around three-quarters of U.S. Olympians at a typical Summer Games, but some are on uncertain footing in the wake of the $2.8 billion House settlement that clears the way for schools to begin sharing revenue directly with their athletes as early as next week. Most of that money will go to football and basketball — the moneymakers — in this new era of name, image and likeness payments to players. The people who spoke to AP did so on condition of anonymity because of the still-evolving and uncertain nature of the talks. But it's no secret that the NCAA and its biggest conferences are not convinced that the House settlement will end all their problems. In the halls of Congress Advertisement The NCAA is lobbying for a bill that would supersede state laws that set different rules for NIL; ensure athletes do not get employment status; and provide limited antitrust protection. One key issue is the handful of lawsuits challenging the NCAA's longstanding rule of giving athletes five years to complete four seasons of eligibility. 'I get why limited liability is a big ask,' NCAA President Charlie Baker said. 'But when it comes to limited liability around basic rulemaking, the consequences of this for the next generation of young people if you play this thing out are enormous.' In a sign of the difficulty the NCAA might have in getting legislation passed, Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., who has played a large role in shaping policy for college sports, told AP that athletes 'deserve real reform and independent oversight of college sports.' 'Congressional legislation must provide strong and enforceable protections for their health, safety, and economic rights and transparency to protect non-revenue-generating sports, rather than merely offering a blank check to the NCAA to return to the status quo,' Blumenthal said. Advertisement While the U.S. government is forbidden by law from funding Olympic teams, there is no such prohibition on government funding for universities and their sports programs. One idea would be for the bill to include promises of certain levels of funding for college Olympic sports programs — some of which could be raised through federal grants to help the schools offset the cost. 'It would depend upon what they have in mind,' Baker said when asked about the idea. 'We'd be open to a conversation about that because those sports are important and they matter.' The issue is complicated and funding sources are going to be under pressure: Over the next year alone, each D-I school is allowed to share up to $20.5 million in revenue with its athletes and there are extra millions being committed to additional scholarships – for instance, in the case of Michigan, $6.2 million. All those figures are increasing under terms of the settlement and the money has to come from somewhere. Olympic sports in peril Advertisement As of late May, the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee had tallied about 40 Olympic sports programs cut in Division I since the beginning of 2024 (but also 18 programs added) as schools prepare for the new financial realities. Only three – the Virginia men's and women's diving programs and the Utah beach volleyball program – came from schools among the Power Four conferences that were co-defendants in the House case. Still, countless other teams have been reconfiguring their lineups with roster caps in place alongside unlimited scholarships, a combination that is forcing hard decisions. Leaders inside the USOPC are optimistic that schools that generate the most talent – for instance, the 39 medals won by Stanford athletes at last year's Paris Games would have placed the school 11th on the overall medal table – will retain robust Olympic sports programs and that Congress is on board with helping. 'We have no reason to believe that there's not real alignment from all the parties, including members of Congress, who have indicated to us a very real concern for Olympic and Paralympic sport,' USOPC CEO Sarah Hirshland said. Advertisement Though a strictly partisan bill could pass the narrowly divided House, for it to become law it would need at least seven Democratic votes in the Senate to break a filibuster. In 2023, Blumenthal and Sen. Cory Booker, D-N.J., teamed with Sen. Jerry Moran, R-Kan., to draft a bill that would have provided some antitrust protection in exchange for a number of guarantees, including the establishment of a health and safety trust fund for athletes who deal with long-term injuries from college sports. Among the NCAA's 'core guarantees' put in place last year, schools are now required to cover medical costs for athletic-related injuries for at least two years after players leave school. 'One of the messages was 'clean up your own house first, then come talk to us,'' Baker said of his conversations with lawmakers. 'So we did some of the things that were aligned with some of the previous legislation.' Advertisement The big question is whether those moves, added to any guarantees for Olympic sports, would be enough to overcome Democratic reluctance to strip or limit legal rights of college athletes. ___ AP college sports:
San Francisco Chronicle
04-06-2025
- Entertainment
- San Francisco Chronicle
Wyatt Hendrickson, who stunned Olympic champ Gable Steveson, signs with Real American Freestyle
Wyatt Hendrickson, who stunned Olympic gold medalist Gable Steveson to win the 285-pound national title at the NCAA Division I wrestling championships in March, has signed with Real American Freestyle. Hendrickson joins the company after claiming the Hodge Trophy for Oklahoma State as the nation's top men's college wrestler. Hendrickson's victory over Minnesota's Steveson, an Olympic gold medalist in Tokyo, drew national attention beyond the sport. His dramatic late takedown in the final gave him the 5-4 win and closed out a 27-0 season. It was the only time Steveson was taken down all season, and it ended his win streak at 70 matches. Real American Freestyle commissioner Hulk Hogan told The Associated Press when the company launched in April that Hendrickson, an Air Force second lieutenant, was 'on the radar.' The company announced the signing on Wednesday. 'Wyatt Hendrickson right now is the sport of wrestling, and we couldn't be more excited to welcome him to the Real American Freestyle team after what was truly a historic win and unbelievable season,' Hogan said in a statement. Kennedy Blades, an American who earned a silver medal at the 2024 Paris Olympics, will be the face of the company's women's division. American Olympic medalists Kyle Snyder, Kyle Dake and Aaron Brooks are the biggest names to have signed on the men's side. Snyder earned gold at the 2016 Rio Olympics and silver in Tokyo. Dake is a two-time Olympic bronze medalist. Brooks, a four-time national champion at Penn State, was a bronze medalist in Paris. ___
Hamilton Spectator
04-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Hamilton Spectator
Wyatt Hendrickson, who stunned Olympic champ Gable Steveson, signs with Real American Freestyle
Wyatt Hendrickson, who stunned Olympic gold medalist Gable Steveson to win the 285-pound national title at the NCAA Division I wrestling championships in March, has signed with Real American Freestyle. Hendrickson joins the company after claiming the Hodge Trophy for Oklahoma State as the nation's top men's college wrestler. Hendrickson's victory over Minnesota's Steveson, an Olympic gold medalist in Tokyo , drew national attention beyond the sport. His dramatic late takedown in the final gave him the 5-4 win and closed out a 27-0 season. It was the only time Steveson was taken down all season, and it ended his win streak at 70 matches. Real American Freestyle commissioner Hulk Hogan told The Associated Press when the company launched in April that Hendrickson, an Air Force second lieutenant, was 'on the radar.' The company announced the signing on Wednesday. 'Wyatt Hendrickson right now is the sport of wrestling, and we couldn't be more excited to welcome him to the Real American Freestyle team after what was truly a historic win and unbelievable season,' Hogan said in a statement. Kennedy Blades, an American who earned a silver medal at the 2024 Paris Olympics , will be the face of the company's women's division. American Olympic medalists Kyle Snyder, Kyle Dake and Aaron Brooks are the biggest names to have signed on the men's side. Snyder earned gold at the 2016 Rio Olympics and silver in Tokyo. Dake is a two-time Olympic bronze medalist. Brooks, a four-time national champion at Penn State, was a bronze medalist in Paris. Former UFC fighter Chael Sonnen will be a live event commentator and analyst. Real American Freestyle events will feature single matches at eight men's and four women's weight classes. The first event is scheduled for Aug. 30 in Cleveland, with other sites to be named in the coming months. ___ AP sports:
Washington Post
04-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Washington Post
Wyatt Hendrickson, who stunned Olympic champ Gable Steveson, signs with Real American Freestyle
Wyatt Hendrickson, who stunned Olympic gold medalist Gable Steveson to win the 285-pound national title at the NCAA Division I wrestling championships in March, has signed with Real American Freestyle. Hendrickson joins the company after claiming the Hodge Trophy for Oklahoma State as the nation's top men's college wrestler. Hendrickson's victory over Minnesota's Steveson, an Olympic gold medalist in Tokyo , drew national attention beyond the sport. His dramatic late takedown in the final gave him the 5-4 win and closed out a 27-0 season. It was the only time Steveson was taken down all season, and it ended his win streak at 70 matches. Real American Freestyle commissioner Hulk Hogan told The Associated Press when the company launched in April that Hendrickson, an Air Force second lieutenant, was 'on the radar.' The company announced the signing on Wednesday. 'Wyatt Hendrickson right now is the sport of wrestling, and we couldn't be more excited to welcome him to the Real American Freestyle team after what was truly a historic win and unbelievable season,' Hogan said in a statement. Kennedy Blades, an American who earned a silver medal at the 2024 Paris Olympics , will be the face of the company's women's division. American Olympic medalists Kyle Snyder, Kyle Dake and Aaron Brooks are the biggest names to have signed on the men's side. Snyder earned gold at the 2016 Rio Olympics and silver in Tokyo. Dake is a two-time Olympic bronze medalist. Brooks, a four-time national champion at Penn State, was a bronze medalist in Paris. Former UFC fighter Chael Sonnen will be a live event commentator and analyst. Real American Freestyle events will feature single matches at eight men's and four women's weight classes. The first event is scheduled for Aug. 30 in Cleveland, with other sites to be named in the coming months. ___ AP sports:
Fox Sports
04-06-2025
- Business
- Fox Sports
Wyatt Hendrickson, who stunned Olympic champ Gable Steveson, signs with Real American Freestyle
Associated Press Wyatt Hendrickson, who stunned Olympic gold medalist Gable Steveson to win the 285-pound national title at the NCAA Division I wrestling championships in March, has signed with Real American Freestyle. Hendrickson joins the company after claiming the Hodge Trophy for Oklahoma State as the nation's top men's college wrestler. Hendrickson's victory over Minnesota's Steveson, an Olympic gold medalist in Tokyo, drew national attention beyond the sport. His dramatic late takedown in the final gave him the 5-4 win and closed out a 27-0 season. It was the only time Steveson was taken down all season, and it ended his win streak at 70 matches. Real American Freestyle commissioner Hulk Hogan told The Associated Press when the company launched in April that Hendrickson, an Air Force second lieutenant, was 'on the radar.' The company announced the signing on Wednesday. 'Wyatt Hendrickson right now is the sport of wrestling, and we couldn't be more excited to welcome him to the Real American Freestyle team after what was truly a historic win and unbelievable season,' Hogan said in a statement. Kennedy Blades, an American who earned a silver medal at the 2024 Paris Olympics, will be the face of the company's women's division. American Olympic medalists Kyle Snyder, Kyle Dake and Aaron Brooks are the biggest names to have signed on the men's side. Snyder earned gold at the 2016 Rio Olympics and silver in Tokyo. Dake is a two-time Olympic bronze medalist. Brooks, a four-time national champion at Penn State, was a bronze medalist in Paris. Former UFC fighter Chael Sonnen will be a live event commentator and analyst. Real American Freestyle events will feature single matches at eight men's and four women's weight classes. The first event is scheduled for Aug. 30 in Cleveland, with other sites to be named in the coming months. ___ AP sports:
