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 focuses on a number of NFL and MLB legal issues.

NFL

• Glen Hines: on concussions, the NFL keeps shooting itself in the foot. Dan Werly runs down the whole back and forth between the NFL and the New York Times.  Michael McCann explains why the league won’t sue the Times over the story.
• Patriots fans sued the NFL for the return of the team’s Deflategate draft pick. The judge denied the fans’ request for a temporary restraining order and preliminary injunction.  Here’s a copy of the order.
• LeSean McCoy won’t face criminal charges for his role in a nightclub incident, but NFL discipline still possible.
• Packers cornerback Demetri Goodson suspended four games for violating PED policy.
• ESPN argues Jason Pierre-Paul’s finger is a matter of public interest. Here’s a copy of ESPN’s motion to dismiss.
• Civil jury finds woman did not prove that Brandon Marshall punched her.
• Vikings player sues Minneapolis police for excessive use of force.

MLB

• Domestic abuse charges against Jose Reyes dropped. Dan Werly says the case will define MLB’s domestic violence policy.
• Al Jazeera has filed a motion to dismiss Ryan Howard’s and Ryan Zimmerman’s defamation suits.
• Collective bargaining agreement fireworks have begun.
• Video: Tony Iliakostas discusses U.S.-Cuban baseball diplomacy.
• Violators of smokeless tobacco rules face penalties.
• What are the legal obstacles facing Rob Manfred in year two?
• Fifty years ago, Don Drysdale and Sandy Koufax engaged in a salary holdout that would change baseball forever.

NCAA

• Judge Wilken orders the NCAA to pay more than $42 million in attorney’s fees in O’Bannon case.
• Judge denies NCAA’s motion for summary judgment in a case over the death of a former Frostburg State football player.
• NCAA finds former Southern Miss men’s basketball coach acted unethically, directing staff to engage in academic misconduct.
• Q and A on the UNC academic fraud scandal.

Soccer

• Top female U.S. national team players accuse U.S. Soccer of wage discrimination. Michael McCann analyzes the case.  Ron Katz says it may be an uphill battle.
• Abby Wambach pleads not guilty to DUI.

NBA

• Former Atlanta Hawk Pero Antic sues the NYPD over nightclub incident. Thabo Sefolosha filed suit against the NYPD as well.  Michael McCann analyzes the case.
• Alan Wilmot: Will Thon Maker get to the NBA?

Best of the Rest

• Jaime Miettinen provides an update on Michigan’s approach to DFS.
• In emails, NHL officials conceded concussion risks from fights.
• Courts wrestle with tax valuations of golf courses.
• Here’s an overview of the legal issues surrounding the eSports explosion.
• “Small businesses of fantasy sports” launch lobbying effort separate from DraftKings and FanDuel.