Casino CEO Offers to Pay $100,000 for QB Matthew Sluka
A Las Vegas casino mogul, Derek Stevens, has made headlines by offering to pay the $100,000 asking price for quarterback Matthew Sluka of the UNLV Rebels college team. Sluka had decided to use his redshirt year and leave the team after claiming that they had failed to fulfill their promise of paying him the agreed amount.
Stevens, along with Vice President Mike Palm, reached out to UNLV in an attempt to keep Sluka on the team by offering to cover the $100,000. However, their offer was declined as the relationship between Sluka and the team had deteriorated, and he had already left the program, making any deal impossible.
Sluka’s departure from the team came as a shock to Rebels fans, with him announcing on social media that he would not be playing any more games this season. He cited broken promises and unfulfilled commitments as the reasons for his decision, expressing his disappointment but wishing his former teammates the best of luck.
In response to Sluka’s departure, UNLV issued a statement claiming that his representative had made financial demands that were seen as a violation of NCAA rules and Nevada state law. The university clarified that they do not engage in such activities and have upheld all previously agreed-upon scholarships for Sluka.
The situation with Sluka highlights the power shift in college sports due to NIL (name, image, and likeness) deals, which allow athletes to earn money from endorsements. Players like Sluka now have the leverage to demand endorsements or refuse to play, signaling a potential change in dynamics within college sports.
Despite Sluka’s departure, the Rebels have named Hajj-Malik Williams as the new starting quarterback for the remainder of the season. Williams is set to lead the team in their upcoming game against Fresno State, with Palm suggesting that perhaps Williams should have been the focus all along.
Overall, the saga involving Sluka, UNLV, and the $100,000 offer from Derek Stevens sheds light on the complexities and power dynamics at play in college sports, particularly in the realm of NIL deals and athlete endorsements.