Kansas Crimson

The region’s governing body, Section 6 of the New York State Public High School Athletic Association (NYSPHSAA), ruled her ineligible because, while COVID-19 indefinitely paused winter sports here, she played at a Florida school for two months. When she returned to Holland in February, Section 6 executive director Mark DiFilippo determined her transfer was an eligibility violation, banning her from basketball and also soccer in the fall.

Given information DiFilippo had at the time and applying it to the rule as written, the assessment was fair. But then, before ruling on a hardship appeal of his original decision, DiFilippo was told in a conference call with Holland athletics director Matt Adams and Kierra’s father, Jason Kline, that she had moved to Florida because, about one year earlier, in January 2020, she had been sexually assaulted by a male student on a school bus. There were witnesses. The case was adjudicated. The boy was found guilty of multiple charges and suspended from school for 40 days. Jason Kline said a disbelieving DiFilippo responded by repeatedly asking why Kierra was returning to Holland if she truly had been traumatized. DiFilippo also received a letter from Holland High superintendent Cathy Fabiatos, who wrote that she believed Kierra’s “health and safety would be put at risk” if she couldn’t play.

NYSPHSAA bylaws allow hardship waivers for “safety, mental health, personal relationships and other circumstances.” But even with the knowledge of what had happened to Kierra, DiFilippo denied an appeal of his earlier decision. Then, the eight-member Section 6 executive committee (of which DiFilippo is a member) also denied a hardship appeal despite being briefed about what happened to Kierra.

Two U.S. Senators proposed new legislation Thursday that would legally designate college athletes at public schools as employees of their schools and provide them the right to collectively bargain.

NewtonHawk11 wrote: ↑Thu May 27, 2021 1:55 pm Except his great state.

That tried to kidnap their governor, that has had some of the worst progress with Covid and that their weather sucks 10 months out of the year.

…a unanimous court ruled that the NCAA rules are not reasonably necessary to distinguish between college and professional sports.

The NCAA "seeks immunity from the normal operation of the antitrust laws," Justice Neil Gorsuch wrote for the court. But added that the court declines this request because "this suit involves admitted horizontal price fixing in a market where the defendants exercise monopoly control."

twocoach wrote: ↑Mon Jun 21, 2021 12:00 pm Makes me happy that our ncaa case has not been ruled on. I don't know how they can throw the book at use when their book is being called a legal joke by the Supreme Court.

jfish26 wrote: ↑Mon Jun 21, 2021 12:00 pm

twocoach wrote: ↑Mon Jun 21, 2021 12:00 pm Makes me happy that our ncaa case has not been ruled on. I don't know how they can throw the book at use when their book is being called a legal joke by the Supreme Court.

I agree with you, and it’s precisely why KU has taken the strategy it has.

nu_bronco wrote: ↑Mon Jun 21, 2021 12:12 pm

jfish26 wrote: ↑Mon Jun 21, 2021 12:00 pm

twocoach wrote: ↑Mon Jun 21, 2021 12:00 pm Makes me happy that our ncaa case has not been ruled on. I don't know how they can throw the book at use when their book is being called a legal joke by the Supreme Court.

I agree with you, and it’s precisely why KU has taken the strategy it has.

I wonder if they would have used this strategy 5 or 10 years ago. I am guessing they saw the cracks in the foundation getting bigger. Not sure any college would have used this strategy 5 or 10 years ago. I hope it works out with no real punishment for KU.