Syracuse Sun

Mar 28 2024

Falk College Associate Teaching Professor David Meluni expressed concerns about the impact of the Major League Baseball (MLB) gambling controversy, suggesting that the damage may already be significant. Meluni, an expert in sports marketing and a teacher of classes on name, image, and likeness (NIL), shared his insights on the case involving Los Angeles Dodgers player Shohei Ohtani in a video statement.

"If there’s a perception that something was going on specifically to gambling, from a marketing standpoint that could be huge," Meluni commented on the potential consequences of the controversy on MLB and Ohtani, particularly in his role as the new "face" of New Balance products.

Furthermore, Meluni highlighted the potential implications for Ohtani's sponsorship deals, stating, “If there is any sort of tie, New Balance may immediately say, ‘That’s it, we’ve severed our relationship because of a morality clause that we have in our contract.’”

The concerns raised by Meluni underscore the intricate relationship between morals clauses, marketing strategies, and the reputation of athletes and brands involved in controversial situations within the realm of professional sports.