mark it hopes will ensure it avoids the drop. Gran

A $40 million settlement has been completed that will pay college football and basketball players dating to 2003 for the use of their likenesses in NCAA-branded videogames. The payouts could go to more than 100,000 athletes, including some current players, who were either on college rosters or had their images used in videogames made by Electronic Arts featuring college teams. Lawyers for the plaintiffs say it would be the first time college athletes will be paid for the commercial use of their images. Depending on how many athletes apply for the settlement, the payments could range from as little as $48 for each year an athlete was on a roster to $951 for each year the image of an athlete was used in a videogame. "Were incredibly pleased with the results of this settlement and the opportunity to right a huge wrong enacted by the NCAA and EA against these players and their rights of publicity," said Steve Berman, one of the lead attorneys in the case. "Weve fought against intense legal hurdles since filing this case in 2009 and to see this case come to fruition is a certain victory." The settlement is with Electronic Arts and Collegiate Licensing Co., which licenses and markets college sports, and does not include the NCAA. The case against the NCAA is scheduled for trial early next year. Plaintiffs in the case, which dates to 2009, contend the NCAA conspired with Electronic Arts and Collegiate Licensing Co. to illegally use their images in videogames. U.S. District Judge Claudia Wilken still must approve the proposed settlement, which comes on the eve of a major antitrust trial against the NCAA that could reshape the way college sports operate. That case, featuring former UCLA basketball star Ed OBannon and others as lead plaintiffs, goes to trial June 9 in Oakland, California. According to documents filed with the court late Friday, attorneys for OBannon and 20 other plaintiffs say they have already run up legal fees exceeding $30 million and expenses of more than $4 million in pressing their case. They are seeking an injunction that would stop the NCAA from enforcing rules that prohibit athletes from profiting from their play in college. OBannon, who led UCLA to a national title in 1995, is also part of the group settling with EA Sports and Collegiate Licensing Co. Also covered by the settlement are suits brought by former Arizona State quarterback Sam Keller, former West Virginia football player Shawne Alston and former Rutgers player Ryan Hart. According to the filing, a pool of money will be available to players after attorneys take 33 per cent of the proposed settlement and up to $2.5 million in expenses. Named plaintiffs like OBannon and Keller will receive $15,000, while others who joined the suit later would get $2,500 or $5,000. The majority of the money, however, will go to athletes who file for claims, a group that attorneys say could contain between 140,000 and 200,000 players who were on football and basketball rosters from 2003 on. The final payouts will depend on how many of those athletes file claims in the class-action case. EA Sports announced last year it would stop making the long-running NCAA football videogame series because of the litigation and other issues in securing licensing rights. Oakland Athletics Gear . -- Quarterback Josh Johnson has returned to the San Francisco 49ers and his former college coach, Jim Harbaugh. Athletics Jerseys 2020 . The Indians scored twice in the top of the ninth, getting the go-ahead run on a wild pitch by closer Matt Lindstrom. Axford (0-1) came in seeking his fifth save in as many chances. https://www.cheapathleticsonline.com/ . -- Zach Johnson is like most players at the World Challenge, not sure whether hes still playing in 2013 or if hes in the middle of the new wraparound season that officially started in October. Chris Bassitt Athletics Jersey .com) - Robert Martin and Josh Hicks combined for more than 300 yards rushing and three touchdowns, as Rutgers rolled past North Carolina, 40-21, in the Quick Lane Bowl. Chris Bassitt Jersey . New York then missed its next six shots and scored only two points the rest of the night. The Los Angeles Clippers defence and the Knicks general ineptitude both played a role in the unsurprising finish to a meeting of two teams headed in opposite directions.BARCELONA, Spain -- Karim Benzema and Jese Rodriguez scored early to help Real Madrid ease to a 3-0 win at Getafe and restore a three-way tie for first place in the Spanish league on Sunday. Madrids win matched Barcelona and Atletico Madrids victories on Saturday to keep the trio level after 24 rounds, and 16 points clear of the nearest chaser Athletic Bilbao after it lost 2-1 to visiting Espanyol. With leading scorer Cristiano Ronaldo serving the second of a three-game suspension, the 20-year-old Jese scored for a third straight round to get Madrid going in the fifth minute at Alfonso Perez Stadium. Benzema made it 2-0 from Angel Di Marias pass in the 27th, and midfielder Luka Modric added another goal from long range in the 66th. "The team played well from the start and the first goal made things easier for us at a ground that has always been difficult," Madrid goalkeeper Diego Lopez said. "We played in an effective manner knowing we needed to win." Also, Espanyol earned an entertaining win to deal Bilbao its first loss in 12 league games at its new San Mames Stadium, while Granada edged Real Betis 1-0 to leave the leagues bottom dweller 10 points from safety. Valencia goalkeeper Diego Alves saved Ivan Rakitics 63rd-minute penalty kick in a 0-0 draw at Sevilla with his team playing with 10 men. Both teams were left level on points with Espanyol and Levante at 12 points from fourth place and the last Champions League spot. Getafe, which never threatened Madrid, remained winless in nine straight rounds and four points from the relegation zone. While Getafe hasnt won in the league since November, Madrid hasnt lost in 14 rounds going back to October. Madrid again proved that even without the reigning Ballon dOr winner in Ronaldo it has more than enough talent in its star-studded squad to keep winning against the Ligas middling teams. Behind Ronaldos league-leading tally of 22 goals, Benzema has scored 14 times in the league for Madrid this season, while Jese has managed five goals in what is becoming a breakthrough season for the young forward.dddddddddddd. Jese took Ronaldos spot on the left side of the attack and used his pace to take Gareth Bales pass, move the ball to his right foot, and flick a shot just inside the far post. Benzema doubled the lead when he chested down Di Marias lobbed pass on the break before driving it under goalkeeper Miguel Moya. Modric finished Getafe off by sending a long shot off the turf and past the diving Moya. Espanyol forward Sergio Garcia scored his 10th league goal of the season with a solo effort in the sixth. After Carlos Gurpegui levelled for Bilbao in the 56th, Espanyol defender Diego Colotto used his knee to deflect in Simao Sabrosas corner kick in the 65th for the winning goal. Bilbao striker Aritz Aduriz was sent off with his second booking with three minutes left. "Athletic had more of the ball and pressed us, but we have our own playing style and are comfortable without the ball," Espanyol coach Javier Aguirre said. Aguirre said that with 34 points Espanyol was close to its goal of 42 points for the season, the mark it hopes will ensure it avoids the drop. Granada forward Francisco "Piti" Medina scored what proved to be the winner at Los Carmenes Stadium in the 31st when he controlled a long pass and slotted inside the post. Granada ended a three-game losing streak to move six points clear of the relegation zone. Both teams finished with 10 men after Granada substitute Dani Benitez got a straight red card for a bad foul on Jose "Nono" Delgado in the 79th, and Betis Antonio Amaya received his second booking in injury time. Betis is winless in 12 away league matches this season. It has one win and three losses under coach Gabriel Calderon, its third manager of the season. There were red cards too in the days goalless draw. Valencia defender Ricardo Costa sent off after two yellows in the 50th and Sevillas Denis Cheryshev was shown two yellow cards in injury time. Former Barcelona and Sevilla midfielder Seydou Keita debuted for Valencia when he came on as substitute. ' ' '