Ohara to run at Penns

[Gamma]

its possible that state restrictions could be more stringent than the ncaa but not the other way around as it would jeopardise athletes moving fromstste to stae and so if it passes PIA muster, it would/should pass ncaa muster

[Islandman]

Could be...or it could also be some technicality in PIA rules because unless something changed recently NCAA athletes cannot endorse commercial products. Maybe no contract was signed yet and no money changed hands?

Ohara will be good either way, but it would be useful to know where the line is for future reference. Surely this situation could arise again.

[Gamma]

contract signed, effective end of april, no money changed hands. contract has since been voided....

[Islandman]

Yep that is it. All is well that ends well.

Now we all know, those contracts make you a professional. He/she who have ears....

Calabar High star sprinter Michael O'Hara was declared eligible to participate at Penn Relays by the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association (PIAA), but only after he opted out of his contract with telecoms firm Digicel.

http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/sport...ible-_18811061

[Gamma]

the real issue was the fact that it was voided. the future date thing would not work IMHO as he had already signed it.

1-5 form no contracts but I am thinking in my head that 6th formers the equivalent of junior college should be able to get scholarship money. they could not then compete in the high school section ...

[Islandman]

I am ok with that. I wonder what differentiates a scholarship from a professional sponsorship in this context? The organization offering it? For example Digicel Foundation can give scholarships but Digicel the corporation cannot? Thats what lawyers are for I guess.

I am sure bigging up your sponsors jersey on national TV after you win an event goes beyond scholarship limitations though.

[Mosiah]

I am ok with that. I wonder what differentiates a scholarship from a professional sponsorship in this context? The organization offering it? For example Digicel Foundation can give scholarships but Digicel the corporation cannot? Thats what lawyers are for I guess.

I am sure bigging up your sponsors jersey on national TV after you win an event goes beyond scholarship limitations though.

As far as I'm concerned, that one endorsement of Digicel after the race is enough to brand him as a pro. And it should be irreversible.

Argument done!

[Gamma]

hope you realise a couple of things ... PIAA, not mosiah, is the final arbiter of this issue and second and most important ... PIAA says he can run ... at this point, not before...ARGUMENT DONE!!

[Time]

the real issue was the fact that it was voided. the future date thing would not work IMHO as he had already signed it.

1-5 form no contracts but I am thinking in my head that 6th formers the equivalent of junior college should be able to get scholarship money. they could not then compete in the high school section ...

Here are the legal papers. I am not sure what page 1 means, it says 'ORDER' but there is no date. http://go-jamaica.com/pages/O'Hara/

[Mosiah]

Doesn't change what I feel about Ohara and whether or not he should run. Dem coulda final arbiter likkle more!

[Gamma]

Fortunately, he cares what you think