Sports Law Links

Each week The Sports Esquires keep track of the sports law headlines so you don’t have to.  This week’s edition features the Redskins trademark decision, the NBA’s free agency craziness, and more FIFA bans.

NFL

• Andrew Sensi thoroughly explains the Redskins trademark registration cancellations. Here’s the full opinion.  How an Asian American band name could affect the Redskins trademark.
• Greg Hardy’s suspension was reduced to four games. Our own John Sigety predicted the suspension would be reduced back in May.  For more player discipline information, check out our NFL Player Discipline Library.
• After a HIPAA violation, hospital launches “aggressive” probe to investigate the Jason Pierre-Paul records leak.
• Eighth Circuit urged not to rehear the NFL player intellectual property case which recently settled for $42 million.
• Former Charger Richard Goodman is suing the NFLPA for failing to ensure his agent was certified.
• The Tottenham Hotspurs announced a new ten-year agreement with the NFL.
• Judge denies motion to move the civil lawsuit against Jameis Winston to Tallahassee.
• Defensive end Ray McDonald charged with felony false imprisonment in a domestic violence dispute.
• Bills coach arrested for battery against a boy.

NBA

• Larry Coon: when is an agreement not an agreement? A lawyer looks at the unlikely-to-succeed but fun-to-think-about options for the Mavs to challenge DeAndre Jordan’s switch.  Why Jordan is catching heat.
• Why NBA agents are upset about the Sixers taking advantage of the CBA to tank. Don’t like tanking?  I wrote about how to fix it here.
• NBPA proposes using television revenue to fund health insurance for former players.
• Warren Zola connects NBA free agency and Independence Day.

MLB

• Nathaniel Grow looks at the latest minimum wage lawsuit against MLB, this one from scouts.
• The Legal Battle of the Beltways between the Nationals and the Orioles.
• Baseball’s history of misguided and poorly managed punishments goes back a long way – 96 years in this case.
• GIFs, Twitter suspensions, and social media: an open letter to MLB.
• Woman sues Marlins after mascot’s shark “attack.”

Soccer

• FIFA has banned the 2018 and 2022 World Cup bids inspector.
• FIFA bans Chuck Blazer for life.
• A new challenge to FIFA’s third party ownership ban.
• CONCACAF announced a new reform framework to strengthen governance and management.

NHL

• NHL concussion protocol puts players at risk.
• NHL expansion fee will cost you a cool $10 million, Seattle.
• The NHL settlement with Tennessee is the latest setback for jock taxes.

Sports Gambling and Fantasy Sports

• How Nevada gaming regulators could change the course of daily fantasy sports.
• Dustin Gouker looks at a Massachusetts bill that would use lottery funds for daily fantasy sports.
• Yahoo bets on fantasy sports.
• Is gambling a game of skill or chance?

NCAA

• Athletes allege abuse and racism at the University of Illinois.
• More bad news for Florida State: their running back is suspended for allegedly punching a woman.

Best of the Rest

• Judge rules that the trust lawsuit involving Tom Benson’s shares of the Saints and Pelicans should be heard in New Orleans.
• Floyd Mayweather stripped of his welterweight title for failing to follow WBO rules.
• Phil Mickelson issues bizarre “no comment” on his alleged gambling ties.
• How lawyers for the rape accusers of Kobe Bryant and Jameis Winston have altered campus culture.
• When professional athletes are violent off the field.