Well- known sports law professor Gary Roberts gave his annual talk on the year in Sports Law, focusing on, of course, the current NFL labor situation.  This was followed by a segment called Media, Publicity, Fantasy Sports & Privacy Rights for Athletes.  It was a look at fantasy sports, and how the first amendment is balanced against the rights of publicity.

 

But the segment of the day dealt with the Legal Impact of Agent Interference in Intercollegiate Athletics. This segment was highlighted when agent-attorney Ralph Cindrich stepped up to question panelist Rachel Newman Baker from the NCAA.  Agent Cindrich turned up the heat in a freezing room by quoting author Michael Lewis with respect to the hypocrisy of college sports. Needless to say, Mr. Cindrich's take on the matter was different from the NCAA view.

 

The day finished off with a lively debate on the now very tired topic of the BCS and antitrust. Give lawyers Alan Fishel and Robert Wierenga much credit for making this topic, that's debated endlessly on ESPN, very interesting. Tulane Law Professor Gabe Feldman moderated this final segment of the day.