5,500 Players, One Union: Inside the Fight to Unionize Minor League Baseball

Is Congress About to Lock In the NCAA’s Power?

In this episode of Sports Solidarity, host Harry Marino is joined by Brandon Copeland, co-founder and CEO of Athletes.org and former NFL linebacker, and Casey Floyd, co-founder of DYK Media, for a timely conversation on Washington’s continued push to reshape college athletics. The NCAA-backed SCORE Act was pulled from this week’s House agenda, but the broader effort toward federal intervention in college sports remains active. Casey and Brandon break down what’s still in motion in Congress and what it could mean for athlete rights, compensation, and the ability to organize and challenge NCAA rules. The discussion focuses on how proposed federal frameworks could shift power further toward institutions while limiting athlete leverage, legal recourse, and representation in policymaking. They also dig into ongoing debates around antitrust protections, transfer restrictions, health and safety, and labor rights. Casey and Brandon highlight the continued absence of athlete voices in key policy conversations and warn that the possibility of federal involvement raises major questions about the future structure of college sports. Timestamps: 00:00 – Introduction 01:29 – Big 12 commissioner’s position on SCORE Act 04:02 – Guest introductions 04:35 – SCORE Act deep dive with Casey Floyd 08:38 – How likely is the SCORE Act to pass? 13:18 – Health and safety concerns 16:54 – NFL vs. NCAA safety protocols 18:03 – Professional sports comparison 20:09 – NCAA’s strategic approach 23:56 – House settlement 29:22 – Collective bargaining benefits 30:39 – Athletes.org 36:44 – Historical context and current reality 39:42 – Conclusion Resources mentioned in this episode:  Athletes.org  [https://www.athletes.org/] Read AO's SCORE Act Open Letter [https://www.athletes.org/news/the-score-act-only-hurts-athletes-and-cannot-pass-an-open-letter-to-congress-from-the-members-of-athletes-org/] DYK Media [https://www.dykmedia.io/]  Fort Lewis’ first student-athlete, Ray Dennison, killed playing football, echoes through NCAA history  [https://www.durangoherald.com/articles/fort-lewis-first-student-athlete/]

5,500 Players, One Union: Inside the Fight to Unionize Minor League Baseball

The first episode of Sports Solidarity with Harry Marino goes inside the historic effort to unionize Minor League Baseball. Harry Marino is joined by Joe Hudson, Jose Brizuela, and Brandon Withers, three player leaders who helped drive the campaign to organize thousands of minor leaguers. They share what life was like before the union, how organizing took shape across clubhouses, and how players turned difficult conditions into a successful nationwide movement. This is the story of how it happened, what it took to win, and what changed afterward. Resources mentioned in this episode: sportssolidarity.org [https://www.sportssolidarity.org/] Listen, rate, and subscribe! Stories of players fighting for fair pay and rights in sports. Timestamps: * [00:03:42] - The Shocking Reality of Minor League Life * [00:04:27] - The Fyre Festival Sandwich Moment * [00:17:26] - The Housing Victory That Changed Everything * [00:22:34] - The Chaotic Union Card Drive * [00:25:41] - Overcoming Fear and Building Momentum * [00:29:33] - The Courage of Latino Players * [00:36:16] - Life After the Union: Dramatic Improvements

Welcome to Sports Solidarity with Harry Marino

Sports is a trillion-dollar industry. But sports aren’t just games – they’re workplaces. Sports Solidarity with Harry Marino goes behind the scenes of one of the most visible and powerful industries in the world. The show is hosted by Harry, an attorney and former professional baseball player who led the unionization of Minor League Baseball and has since led landmark collective bargaining negotiations across the sports industry. Each episode takes you inside locker rooms, union halls, and boardrooms to hear real stories from the people who have lived them. From athletes to organizers to industry insiders, Sports Solidarity examines how labor, power, and money collide in professional sports. If you care about sports, labor, or the future of work, listen in to hear the conversations happening behind the scenes. The first episode drops on Tuesday, May 5th. Follow and subscribe so you never miss an episode. SportsSolidarity.com [http://sportssolidarity.com]