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 sports gambling, fantasy sports, and a host of NFL issues.

NFL

• ESPN claims Deflategate was a make-up call for Spygate. Tom Brady’s attorney, Jeffrey Kessler, spoke to several media outlets about his thoughts on Deflategate.  He said the NFL had a “one-note defense” and urged Roger Goodell to appoint neutral arbitrators.  The NFL has requested a meeting with the two suspended Patriots employees involved in Deflategate.  I went on the Sports Law Biz podcast to discuss Deflategate.
• Judge Davis denied the NFLPA’s attempt to reopen its collusion case against the NFL.
• Lawmakers ask the NFL to pay cheerleaders minimum wage. NFL cheerleaders’ wage fight gains momentum.
• NFL owners think Goodell makes them richer, but he doesn’t. Are Goodell’s days as disciplinarian numbered?  Goodell shows some willingness to change discipline procedures.
• Washington, D.C.’s congressional delegate introduced a bill to strip the NFL of antitrust protection as long as the Redskins keep their name. The California legislature approved a ban on Redskins nicknames and mascots in state schools.
• The NFLPA announced Greg Hardy will not appeal his suspension.
• The NFL continues to play defense in class action suits concerning NFL Sunday Ticket.
• Domestic violence hotline relies on NFL help as traffic increases.

Sports Gambling and Fantasy Sports

• The petitioners in the New Jersey sports betting case filed their requests for en banc rehearing. The legislators’ petition.  The horseman association’s petition.  The State of New Jersey’s (Christie) petition.  John Brennan recaps the New Jersey sports betting case filings.
• Dan Wallach examines the legality of fantasy sports in Florida.
• Gambling or not, daily fantasy sports industry faces scrutiny.
• California introduces new bill to legalize sports betting if federal and state law are changed to allow it. The bill text is here.
• Why betting on fantasy sports is legal but regular sports betting is not.
• Inevitable: sports gambling, state regulation, and the pursuit of revenue.
• Is daily fantasy golf legal?

NCAA

• The Pac-12 submitted a proposal that would allow college athletes to profit from the use of their names and likenesses.
• Are college social media bans infringing on athletes’ First Amendment rights?
• The SEC creates a working group to review college athletes’ behavior.
• Former men’s basketball coach files motion to dismiss the University of Hawaii’s fraud and negligence suit against him.
• USC linebacker says school misled him on disability insurance.

FIFA

• Attorney General Lynch’s remarks on the FIFA investigation.
• FIFA adviser says presidential term limits are needed to change the organization.
• Swiss legislators pass anti-corruption law targeting FIFA.

Best of the Rest

• Thomas Hauser: Can boxing trust USADA? USADA responded with a statement.  Tim Starks looks at some of the issues in Hauser’s piece.
• Douglas Robson and Ryan Rodenberg look at the tennis antitrust suit that saved doubles.
• What’s the legal impact of settlement talks suspending Patrick Kane’s grand jury proceedings?
• Larry Coon answers questions about the NBA CBA and salary cap.