The Sports Law year in review, part 3
December 28, 2011
We continue our look at the year in Sports Law 2011
July saw the end of the NFL lockout as players and owners finally resolved their differences. Throughout the lockout we continually heard that the key to a settlement was through negotiation and not litigation. However, the filing of lawsuits gave the NFLPA leverage to strengthen their position at the bargaining table. Something that the NBA players did not do soon enough in their labor battle with NBA owners.
The University of North Carolina football program had gone through a tumultuous year with many compliance issues, but Head Coach Butch Davis had survived the storm. At the end of July, Davis was ready to go to camp to prepare for the 2011 season. But nine days before heading to camp UNC Chancellor Holden Thorp announced the school's decision to terminate Davis.
Roger Clemens' trial for perjury finally got underway in July, but it was over before it started as Judge Reggie Walton declared a mistrial.
NFL great John Mackey passed away in July. Mackey was a huge influence in the growth and development of the NFLPA. Mackey, was a powerful force on field as one of the league's first great tight ends, off the field Mackey could easily be compared to Baseball's Curt Flood. It was Mackey who led the fight to eliminate the NFL's Rozelle Rule.
August started out with the Sports Law headlines coming from Coral Gables, Florida. As a rogue friend of the Miami Hurricanes program stole the headlines.
Los Angeles Angels' pitcher Jared Weaver declined to listen to the advice of agent Scott Boras and gave the Angels a hometown discount in order to keep pitching in Anaheim.
September saw conference realignment hit a fever pitch as Texas A&M's move to the SEC became a headline grabber.
Baseball Commissioner Bud Selig and Dodgers' owner Frank McCourt remained in the headlines in September.
Roger Clemens' trial for perjury finally got underway in July, but it was over before it started as Judge Reggie Walton declared a mistrial.
NFL great John Mackey passed away in July. Mackey was a huge influence in the growth and development of the NFLPA. Mackey, was a powerful force on field as one of the league's first great tight ends, off the field Mackey could easily be compared to Baseball's Curt Flood. It was Mackey who led the fight to eliminate the NFL's Rozelle Rule.
August started out with the Sports Law headlines coming from Coral Gables, Florida. As a rogue friend of the Miami Hurricanes program stole the headlines.
Los Angeles Angels' pitcher Jared Weaver declined to listen to the advice of agent Scott Boras and gave the Angels a hometown discount in order to keep pitching in Anaheim.
September saw conference realignment hit a fever pitch as Texas A&M's move to the SEC became a headline grabber.
Baseball Commissioner Bud Selig and Dodgers' owner Frank McCourt remained in the headlines in September.
September saw the regular season kick-off in the NFL. No longer were names such as Judge Susan Nelson, Jeff Pash, Arthur Boylan, DeMaurice Smith and Jeffrey Kessler in the news, but now it was back to Tom Brady, Eli Manning and the rest of the NFL players in the headlines.
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