NCAA lawsuit over role of baseball “advisor”

Under N.C.A.A. rules, amateur players are permitted to select “advisers” who can guide them through the negotiation process, but the advisers may not communicate directly with professional teams.

Now, Oliver is suing the N.C.A.A. in an Ohio court, arguing that the restriction on agents is illegal. In August, a judge granted Oliver a temporary restraining order restoring his college eligibility, and a trial is scheduled for December.

Fighting punishment for a rule that is routinely broken. But how did this arise? Did anyone see the cold hand of a Boras around?

The violation probably never would have become public had Andy Oliver not angered the Barattas by replacing them with the prominent baseball agent Scott Boras this spring, a year before he would become eligible, as a junior, for the draft. The Barattas then mailed the Olivers a bill for their services, totaling more than $100,000.