Ed O'Bannon: hero, flameout ... Face of a Movement

Ed O’Bannon entered the public eye as a basketball player, but his foremost legacy might be as a plaintiff. Years after his playing career, O’Bannon saw his own collegiate likeness in a branded video game. Having received zero compensation for the game, or the college basketball career depicted therein, O’Bannon took a historic stand, becoming the face of a class action lawsuit against the NCAA.
But why him? Out of countless college athletes, what made Ed O’Bannon the right face for this cause? If you understand Ed’s other, preexisting legacies, you’ll see why. Let’s meet these versions of Ed O’Bannon in the Prism.
Written and produced by Seth Rosenthal
Directed by Jiazhen Zhang
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[@andrewsaul2497]

Can we acknowledge how great of a series this prism is turning out to be? Great content every episode

[@jordanflores5687]

It's exactly the same thing as the beef and rewind videos

[@alexchavez2550]

@@jordanflores5687 kinda now that you think about it but allows for more coverage on a single person rather than a whole team

[@myaheadhurts2]

@@jordanflores5687 not really

[@jordanflores5687]

@@myaheadhurts2 same s***

[@David-iv6je]

@@jordanflores5687 Not really. Beef is about bad blood despite stature and rewinds are for critical moments. O'Bannon is neither: a relatively inconsequential player, a one-hit wonder, who nonetheless changed the course of the spot. So it's a good product and deserves separate branding. As usual, SB is on target.

[@PpP-dr1od]

I think this was a good episode, but the way it ended kind of felt like a part 1- like it wasn't complete. Ed is best known as 'old flameout that sued NCAA and made video game go away', and I feel like the most important part of that story and the part that built O'Bannon's legacy kinda got glossed over. It wasn't just dude filed a lawsuit and the NCAA games went away, he was harshly condemned by certain fans, and his work to build the foundation of the movement is alluded to but not delved into in the video. I think going into detail about the lawsuit, its immediate effects, and it's long term effects on NCAA, Ed, and the game itself would've made a more complete video.

[@GreenBayPayton]

100% agree. Video felt unfinished without talking about the lawsuit in depth

[@le0npina]

I agree on this for sure. All the talk from the video game and the lawsuit stuff I was expecting to be at the end, but feels like it ended so quick. Hope they notice this.

[@BurritoKingdom]

Should have talked about how his lawsuit led to NIL.

[@churdle92]

Yeah, it was almost like the viewers are expected to know all he did post-career to get to the point of NIL, so why bother going into detail?

[@haricowvert]

I agree, I'm not from the US so I never heard and never heard of Ed O'Bannon before. It would have been nice for people not familiar to the story to hear about it.

[@ZamirStills]

Despite everything, Tark still did something great by letting O’Bannon and others have an out when everything happened with the NCAA. That was really cool.

[@David-iv6je]

Unusual integerity from an NCAA coach. You think Calipari does this? No way.

[@kodybargo5622]

@@David-iv6je no he just covers for them when they’re not gonna play (Sharpe, Wheeler)

[@dubdagod26]

The Shark was a real one

[@pathutchison7688]

Totally agree. He was actually thinking of what was best for his kids, not what was best for him. Rare.

[@mrmacross]

Also the author of the greatest quote regarding the NCAA: "The NCAA was so mad at Kentucky they gave Cleveland State two more years of probation."

[@JG-bp6sn]

There HAS to be a Part 2 of this....

[@baande86]

Agreed this felt very incomplete. I was expecting an explanation on what he did for amateurism in college sports.

[@LuckyBeerCamper]

Ed O'Bannon quite literally changed the world, even if it's "only" through the lense of college athletics. There's no telling how things will change in the NIL age of college athletics, but they have Ed to thank for it, forever.

[@ourpersonalthoughts]

From the perspective of a college football fanatic, Ed was public enemy number 1 after the NCAA game’s cancellation. But now, he’s a hero of student athletics and the game is coming back because of the movement he started.

[@LuckyBeerCamper]

@alex schwalb True, and ultimately better for everyone everywhere. You're right though, definitely controversial at first.

[@elliemyers6435]

Could not agree more. The NIL stuff is so fascinating to me, and all of that started with Ed. What's interesting to think about, is, had he been an NBA star who made tons and tons of money (he did make a lot of $$ playing hoops, but I mean had he made like, superstar dough), would he still have noticed this and taken it to court? Who knows. But, it's so good that he did. I was never a big gamer, so I don't care much about not having college video games, but I get why some are upset about it.

[@elnino80100]

@@elliemyers6435 I doubt it. Ed O’Bannon did something that was intended to be for himself since he couldn’t fathom being a failure where it matters(NBA) and having to sell cars by then. It just happened to benefit others and that’s why he got support for it. Not saying it’s a bad thing, but it’s very obvious why he did this.

[@elliemyers6435]

@@elnino80100 that makes a lot of sense. You're right that what Ed did ended up being very beneficial to so many, but it initially was done for selfish reasons....had he been an NBA star, you're right, he probably wouldn't have cared much about this stuff

[@grzesm]

20 years later and I still cannot believe that this guy played in my hometown team in Włocławek in Poland. He was completely different level. Mind-blowing.

[@jpmnky]

Watch his 1995 UCLA run in the tournament. They beat four heavy weights to win it all. His brother and Tyus Edney were amazing as well.

[@MrKwillis87]

Is there going to be a part 2? I feel like there’s going to be more!😮

[@NJDDSNS]

We need a part 2!

[@tastyneck]

I was a sophomore at UCLA for 1995's championship. Being from San Diego, that was the first one I ever got to experience. It's still one of my favorite college memories.

[@SchmidtyProductions27]

My college has been building up its basketball program recently. I know it’s a long shot but I would love to see Texas A&M win the tournament one day while I’m still here

[@tastyneck]

@@SchmidtyProductions27 I hope that for you. It's a pretty special thing, honestly.

[@user-jw5qj8kv2y]

It's such a shame that Ed O'Bannon didn't become a star player in the NBA. Still, it is amazing that he led the UCLA Bruins, who had not won the NCAA since 1975, to the NCAA championship in 1995.

[@thomassharer8453]

My dad used to tell stories about playing pick-up w/ the O’Bannon brothers around the Cerritos/Long Beach/Artesia area. It’s always great to hear about these local legends (being from SoCal). I never knew about the NCAA investigation, though. Great episode

[@blakelip3]

He’s the sole reason why athletes are getting paid for their likeness and now no more NCAA video games 😢😢

[@hibiki8473]

Wasn't EA making a new one?

[@chrisbeach423]

@@hibiki8473 yea In 2024 NCAA football is coming back

[@mh3594]

@@chrisbeach423 fr? Pray EA makes a new engine cuz Madden is staaaale af

[@nathanmeagher7869]

EA was apparently willing to pay for their likeness but the NCAA refused to allow that

[@Ramboost007]

Blame EA and the NCAA for not wanting to pay college athletes, not him

[@elliemyers6435]

Also, in watching this again, I'm a little bummed that Seth didn't mention that Tyus Edney couldn't play in the 1995 title game after he hurt his wrist late in the Oklahoma State game....Cameron Dollar came in and played well, despite Arkansas really putting it on UCLA early on. Also, Toby Bailey dropped 26, and played probably the best game he played in his 4 years at UCLA. But, winning that game against Arkansas, the team that won the title the year before, who returned its entire team, without Edney really does make what Ed did in that game even more special.

[@dollartwentychickentendies]

I had no idea who this guy was until today, nor why he was so important in the fight for college athletes to get paid for usage of and profiting off their likeness. What an amazing story from an amazing channel.

[@MetalGod999]

There’s no question that Ed O’Bannon is a true hero of college sports. I think if he hadn’t injured his knee, and if he had been given an opportunity to truly showcase his skills in the NBA, he would’ve definitely been an All-Star…and maybe even a Hall of Famer.

[@mandu6665]

People need to start talking more about coaching and front office busts. So many promising young players forced into shitty systems led by awful coaching.

[@joscot9081]

Every Name, Image, and Likeness deal that has ever been signed should thank Ed O'Bannon.

[@commandert5]

When I had reached the endpoint of the episode, I thought it was only halfway over

[@rdthaprariedawg]

Eddie O was the first local college “star” I got to see growing up. I remember being mad that he fell to 9th in the draft - the only 3 players I saw being on his level were Stack, Rasheed, & Big Country. KG was picked over him, but Ed was a college-tested version of what KG was at the time. We thought Ed was gonna be what Kevin Durant is - and in real time, that’s why Oden vs. Durant was such a debate: people were afraid Durant would be too frail like Ed because he was a “tweener” on top of being too skinny.

[@lostnemesis]

When you consider the fact that the person who made the whole NCAA amateur League view denounced it and the only reason he did it in the first place was because he was trying to avoid a lawsuit this man did a great service too many people with his rallying support.

[@lostnemesis]

Just because I kind of forgot to put it in the lawsuit he was trying to avoid was a death if I remember correctly a man died playing football and he needed a way out.

[@GalacticCoast]

This brings back memories as the first column of my sports writing career was a column on Ed O'Bannon I wrote for my college newspaper back in 1993-ish. Having had an ACL injury end my football career, I was very aware of and rooting for O'Bannon.

[@Stanlayy-em4fk]

I remember being so hyped to see the coverage Ed O'Bannon, and the UCLA Championship team, were going to get on Channel One News during Home Room class.

[@mgrsdgfsdafsdgrsdgfsdg6980]

This reminds me of me back in the day. I was a star B-ball player until one day I was playing with my friend on the roof (where we had a hoop set up) and he accidentally fell off it when we were seeing who could jump the highest. I was never the same after that and became a school security guard later in life. Subsequently, I took another young man under my wing (I was seeing his mom) and had to participate in a local three on three tournament to save him from a local dealer. Those were the days.

[@justing6292]

RIP your brother Birdie.

[@LouieiuoL1223]

I never played for boonks again after hearing about that on the news

[@DoobieKeebler]

Great video! But there's a problem, Seth, as this Prism is missing a piece of glass or two. It didn't go in depth about how he won the lawsuit against E.A. & some people HATED O'Bannon for years. For close to a decade, O'Bannon was hated with a passion. Except O'Bannon's fight with the NCAA is what eventually helped bring about the NIL deals for college athletes, so he went from pariah to trailblazer. If O'Bannon had not filed that lawsuit about his likeness, there's a good chance the NIL deal never happens & the NCAA never needs to change.

[@aricohen283]

Would love to see a Prism episode on Oscar Robertson, Spencer Haywood, or Jim Brown

[@D.mo7]

The Obannon Bros, Tyus Edny, Toby Bailey, UCLA 1995.

[@wacluv718]

Like others have mentioned the series is wonderful but this felt rather incomplete without a deep dive into his lawsuit and what came afterwards. I really expected you to mention that this was just part 1 so hopefully there will be a part 2 in the near future.

[@georgesanchez8051]

Part 2!! I was shocked when the video ended. I thought there was gonna be more!

[@ShynyMagikarp]

Incredible video, one pf this channel’s very best. Would kill for part 2!! Maybe premature tho unfortunately :(

[@stonecoldku4161]

That stat about Ed O'Bannon and Clyde Lovellette being the only two players to log over 30 points and 17 rebounds in the title game had me confused for a second, because Danny Manning had a great stat line in the 1988 game. But then I realized that Manning didn't play for the entire game. He actually spent some time on the bench. Manning's stat line in the 1988 game: 31 points, 18 rebounds, 5 steals and two blocked shots in less than 40 minutes.

[@melvinhhcp3615]

"I'll leave you missing like the fkn O'Bannons" - Lil Wayne

[@joshlyerla6991]

It’s genuinely dope to see the prism sponsored by such a big company man,, I wanna cry tears of joy for y’all man

[@prazcuray1388]

He definitely got a raw deal, the Nets were atrocious back in the 90’s and he has a honest legal fight with the NCAA and how that organization has stifled and robbed value from these athletes. Every athlete should be given the same access of healthcare all their lives and should be financially compensated as state employees.

[@elliemyers6435]

Wow!!! So awesome. I also did not know all of that stuff about UNLV!! So interesting...As good as that Duke team in 1991 was, it's hard to see it beating UNLV if it has Ed and Shawn Tarver. And if those two go there, then UCLA doesn't have a title in 1995. It's amazing how these things change history. I wonder how Ed would do in today's game, with more of an emphasis on space and pacing. The Nets were a really terrible fit for him. There also HAS to be a part 2 to this!

[@jab1289]

Not only did Ed want to go to UNLV, but I think that Jason Kidd wanted to go there as well at one point. Imagine the 1993 Rebels with Kidd, O'Bannon, Tarver, and J.R. Rider. That is a bonafide title contender, if not National Champion.

[@mongoslade277]

​@@jab1289Jason Kidd committed to Kansas. He stayed home at the last minute to sign with Cal

[@mongoslade277]

​@@jab1289O'Bannon & Shon Tarver & JR Rider & Evric Gray would've been a great team at UNLV but the postseason ban was implemented the next season in 1991-92. That was the last season at UNLV for Tark

[@jab1289]

@@mongoslade277 I know. I am talking about 1993. Also, I didn't know Kidd was looking at Kansas. I heard somewhere that UNLV was a possibility as well.

[@mongoslade277]

@@jab1289 Your lineup was a great lineup on paper. Rollie Massimino (probably sic) replaced Tark at UNLV. He would've had Kidd walking the ball up on offense

[@eddieG667]

Ed O put Artesia High on the map. I could’ve sent you some photos for this video if you asked :) I had him in Geometry and Spanish class

[@elliemyers6435]

Didn't Harden also go there?

[@eddieG667]

@@elliemyers6435 yes and Jason Capono, Tom Tolbert, and a few others. I believe Capono would have the longest career if i’m not mistaken

[@henrywood1304]

You should do one of these on Curt Flood

[@CutterHistorical]

And to think Raptor fans were pissed off when we drafted Stoudamire instead of him in 95 and look at what we got... a rookie of the year

[@DARC-87]

So dope bro. So, so good. I love hearing about players I've never heard of or that didn't necessarily have the greatest NBA career. Some of these dudes were legit hoopers

[@Personal_Chizo]

This is the best Prism so far, no contest.

[@NickPR87]

Quality content as usual! Oddly enough, I remember having both Ed's NJ Nets basketball card and his brother Charles's card from the Pistons.

[@JayDee_24]

We need a part 2 !!!

[@dafttassia1960]

This feels like the first half of a video

[@nickcalmes8987]

I anticipate that in the near future, NCAA games will come back out and when players sign letters of intent, they will agree to a certain cut of the overall money the games bring in, that money is pooled together, and then divided amongst the players in equal shares. That's the only way it can possibly work. The thing is, you are using everyone's likeness and image in those games and with that, how can you determine whose NIL is worth more?

[@teen_laqueefa]

Starters and bench tiers And bonus for tourney rounds

[@Sleepingfishie]

Truly one of the best videos y’all have ever done

[@drphot6050]

This is a really good episdoe and much needed story... I really enjoyed NCAA Basketball game, thought the Bruins and the O'Bannon Bros were better than the Griffin and Morris Bros. Much respect to Ed and te others who fought for collegiate players to be compensated. Side note: Having college sports in Las Vegas always seemed wild to me lol

[@mackielunkey2205]

Can you do the Downfall of the Canucks, please?

[@tomconneely1361]

Really good series. Looking forward to more Prism in future.

[@louisjgroup1973]

I've gained even more respect and admiration for Coach Tarkanian after watching this. He truly was a very misunderstood man! Rest in paradise Coach Tark!

[@jpmnky]

The 1995 Bruins beat everybody on their way to the title. Probably the toughest run I’ve seen in over 30 years of watching the tournament.

[@GetRocStar]

I used to hear about this guy all the time… & then I never heard of him again.

[@NeverwascooL]

Man if only Ed could have waiting 1 more year I could have a NCAA Football game with a post season playoff

[@mr_leavell]

There has to be a part two….

[@em843]

As a life long Razorbacks fan... I wish he would have went in that redshirt jr season. 🤣🤣

[@AtlLateNight]

Excellent work!!

[@TheSamps0n]

all i could focus on this entire documentary was that bright green H&R Block ad ,,,

[@moseschannel90]

When he first sued the NCAA initial reaction was to stop making NCAA basketball with EA but continued to still make football. The incompetency of that organization is baffling.

[@iamabirdnow6918]

phenomenal story thank you

[@alifrombenhill3374]

He is kinda the sole reason for not just the video game case but you can almost say he is reason college athletes have NIL today.

[@kapowjam3462]

Really interesting to learn more backstory about Ed

[@jax1492]

enjoyed this very much

[@WaldenWynn]

You got to give the ball to Ed OBannon. He is the source. At the end of his career and NCAA, he quote “I really don’t care.” When you are out at Henderson, Nevada come to Toyota and look for him to purchase your vehicle. I will dunk on you. UCLA degree in customer service. 31 OBannon

[@andygreeley5196]

off topic but that tyus edney buzzer beater deserves a rewinder

[@kingdavid5525]

Nice video. What program did you use to edit it ?

[@MenverMan]

I hate that he killed college sports games for a long time.

[@kenw2225]

Someone else would have . Better sooner than later. Get to fixing it earlier

[@OrionOodama]

I got to know Ed O'Bannon during my NBA card collection, then to that massive trade that February of 1997. His example only goes to show there's life outside basketball. Or way much better, life is always bigger than basketball. Glad to see Ed O'Bannon doing fine after NBA. USD 7M from a projected 50M ain't a bad thing. Rather disappointed, make the most of what is given by being frugal. There's something missing in this video. That is, unless it is still ongoing, the aftermath of Ed's lawsuit. Hopefully, it has been resolved accordingly nine (9) months after this was featured.

[@DuckyWP]

Is there another one coming or is this it? Felt like there was a lot more to talk about regarding Ed as a plaintiff

[@caseykiesling4348]

Is this a part 1? Have they already done a piece on the lawsuit?

[@joshuamathisen5526]

As a UNLV student hearing about how the title gave a resurgence to ucla hurts. Without satiations I think UNLV would to this day be a NCAA powerhouse. But satiations doomed us to the basement.

[@ajsports4450]

Also the university wanted to move on from Tarkanian anyways

[@jessewheinrichs]

Ed O'Bannon sounds Irish

[@teen_laqueefa]

Eddo Bannon doesn't lol

[@ransom6892]

It’s an Irish surname

[@devinfrench6340]

Didn’t know Martin Luther king hooped like that Fr 😂😂 1:47

[@naswiipp]

He was my favorite college player as a kid

[@AfricanH3ro]

I agree with the others...this needs a part 2 for sure

[@thisguy8106]

What he did to the 40 Mins of Hell defense of that Hogs team in the championship is so impressive.

[@thomashester2]

He’s a legend, s.o. Sonny Vacarro for supporting this mission

[@teen_laqueefa]

College sports video games were fun but I don't mind them being gone. People suck at realizing exploitative endeavors for profit are inherently evil and surprisingly American

[@iAintSayDat]

Now this is why Secret Base is the truth

[@ricardomantovanello11]

I love this channel and I love Seth, too. Both are absolutely brilliant. But this is one of the most frustrating videos I have ever seen. You guys opened with the biggest, most consequential part of Ed’s story, and arguably most interesting too, but then never mentioned it again. I’m talking about the lawsuit against the NCAA. How can you open the episode with that and never talk about it? How was it? How long did it take for a final verdict? What was that verdict? What impact has that lawsuit and verdict had since? What impact might it have in the future? You guys really dropped the ball on this, in my opinion.

[@SK-mw8vd]

100% my feelings when the video ended.

[@edenhazardfan1232]

Day 2 : Can you pls do The 2005 CL final deserves a deep rewind and you should also do one on Troy Deeney's last minute goal against Leicester in the semi-finals of the Championship Play-offs in 2013

[@peezuspitiya41]

Man keep going

[@michaelfujii2765]

What about the lawsuit? Do they even cover why Ed is a household name in this video?

[@CYMotorsport]

I feel like this didn’t handle the objection that the Wooden Award winner who got a free elite university experience with his brother no less as well as a book deal about the very trial to profit from got dealt a pretty good hand all things considered out of his ncaa experience given it afforded him more millions with his albeit shorter career. Not that I believe those things but it’s how many people view him. I almost feel like I missed another part

[@arturjosefreitas8260]

Make a part II, there's a lot to be told about this issue still

[@lvsneakerhead250]

I met him when I was a lil one, he came to coral academy and gave us signed cards and he gave me a signed ball

[@someguyik]

Thumbs up for the Lloyd Daniels reference!

[@marquesterry3585]

So what happened in 2009 NBA NCAA video game? How was he similar to the game?

[@marcvanosch6358]

So how did the lawsuit end?

[@David-iv6je]

100% support the ruling and have 100% quit on big-time college sports. Here's the key word: it's college. Higher education. Not sports. Not entertainment. Guess what? We don't have American Idol or some such in college either. Big time NCAA sports have an incredibly corrupting influence on universities. You know which sport does not? Baseball. Why? Because it is not big time. It's got a minor league, so not corrupting. I like it how it is with small time sports. Scholarships are ok, but pro leagues should be fronting the bill for their minor leagues, not giving it to colleges. (And before anybody says it, only a sliver of programs MAKE money on these sports. The economists keep finding this over the decades, the media keep hardly covering it, and the public keep missing it and instead swallow the mythology. Most universities hemorrhage money like crazy and hide it through creative bookkeeping. So eventually the rest of the students and taxpayers are paying a sports tax. And then also it is a minority of students who watch the sport, so it is a tax on students who go to college to study rather than sports and partying. Bad all around.)

[@mackbush8167]

Hey Base Bro. What about the 1983 major sports champions not repeating?😬. Scary. Raiders, Islanders, Sixers and Orioles enjoy your 40th anniversary. Peace.

[@forrestrt]

College players are workers and workers deserve everything. Thank you Ed.

[@XUndergroundRap]

What about track and field??? Swimmers? Wrestlers???? You guys are absolutely vapid

[@stevengrvp]

As a net I remember ed

[@BrokeMillionaire1]

Much respect to this guy. An absolute pioneer.

[@yeti4269]

4 months without a weird rules episode???

[@hunny___]

You better pay Ed for this video

[@skiprockjr.6881]

I hope Olivia Dunne has an Ed O'Bannon poster on her wall.

[@dereklee8309]

I swear, Seth’s videos are the only thing that gets me interested in college basketball stories. The beef history between Pitino and Calipari, I’ve watched that one probably 10 times 🤌🏻

[@eric-is2ix]

The irony of being homesick at the thought of playing in Jersey then two years later he begins an 8 year career overseas

[@mandu6665]

Italy is a hell of a lot nicer than Jersey.

[@vl4581]

It's a worthwhile movement he started. NIL is directly because of O'Bannon taking a stand but I'll always remember him as the guy who ruined video game college football and college basketball.

[@brad6630]

This one needs a part 2, not living in the States I had no idea about the NCAA games ending because of a (justified) lawsuit.

[@ozamatazbuckshank7467]

Is it too early to request for ohtani vs trout world classic match up deserve a deep rewind?

[@MrManCave]

👍🏿

[@Mrwilliamblast]

toby bailey had a tremendous impact on that team, toby was dunking every game ferociously