Nov

18

The Tierneys and the Law

Posted by: Joseph D. Kearney | November 18, 2009 | Leave a Comment

I had the opportunity last month to be involved in the presentation by our National Sports Law Institute of its Master of the Game Award. The NSLI has given out this award, over the years, to such distinguished individuals as Hank Aaron, Donna de Varona, Bob Harlan, Al McGuire, Bud Selig, and Bart Starr. This [...]

Nov

16

Redskins Prevail in Offensive Trademark Case

Posted by: J. Gordon Hylton | November 16, 2009 | Leave a Comment

Earlier today (Nov. 16) the United States Supreme Court denied cert. in the case of Harjo v. Pro-Football, Inc., bringing to a close, at least for the moment, litigation concerning the legality of the Washington NFL team’s registration of its “Redskins” trademark. The decision not to hear the case was announced without comment.
In 1992, Native-American [...]

Nov

9

Lavvie Dilweg (’27): MU Law’s Contribution to the NFL (and to Congress)

Posted by: J. Gordon Hylton | November 9, 2009 | 2 Comments

Marquette University eliminated its varsity football team in 1960, and the heroics of the Golden Avalanche, Hilltoppers, and Warriors (as the team was variously known) are now dimly remembered, if at all.  There was a time, however, when Marquette produced a steady supply of players for the National Football League.   Beginning in 1920, a total [...]

Nov

8

Who Was the First Black Redskin?

Posted by: J. Gordon Hylton | November 8, 2009 | Leave a Comment

Historians of civil rights and sports are well aware of the reluctance of the NFL’s Washington Redskins to integrate their roster in the late 1950’s.  After the Detroit Lions became the eleventh (of twelve) NFL teams to add an African-American player to their ranks in 1955, Washington held out for another seven years as the League’s [...]

Oct

23

First Sports Law Treatise?

Posted by: J. Gordon Hylton | October 23, 2009 | Leave a Comment

It is difficult to say what was the first law-related book devoted to sports law, but if the title is any indication, it could be W. M. Thompson and J. D. A. Johnson, The Law of Sports (1896), which was published by W. B. Hearnden of New Inn Chambers, London.  Its authors appear to have [...]

Oct

16

Does Larry Jansen Belong in the Right of Publicity Hall of Fame?

Posted by: J. Gordon Hylton | October 16, 2009 | Leave a Comment

Former major league pitcher Larry Jansen died this week at age 89.  Although he was one of the leading pitchers in the National League in the 1950’s, he has been all but forgotten by the American public.
Students of sports history primarily remember him as the winning pitcher in one of the most famous games in [...]

Oct

8

The “Who Owns the Baseball” Issue Just Will Not Go Away

Posted by: J. Gordon Hylton | October 8, 2009 | 11 Comments

Earlier this week, the Philadelphia Phillies decided to return the baseball that Phillie Ryan Howard hit for his 200th career home run to the fan that caught the ball.  This particular baseball is significant because Howard reached the 200 home run mark in fewer games than any player in baseball history.   The “historic” home run [...]

Oct

6

President Obama Behind in the Count in the Sports Arena

Posted by: J. Gordon Hylton | October 6, 2009 | 1 Comment

Whatever success he may have in regard to health care reform, economic recovery, or the war in Afghanistan, President Barack Obama has already demonstrated that his ability to influence the world of sport is quite limited.  His unsuccessful efforts to convince the International Olympic Committee to award the 2016 Summer Olympics to his adopted hometown [...]

Oct

2

Why Did Chicago Lose Out in its Olympic Bid?

Posted by: J. Gordon Hylton | October 2, 2009 | 6 Comments

By now everyone has heard that Chicago has lost out in its bid to host the 2016 Summer Olympic Games.  Not only was Rio de Janeiro chosen over the Windy City, but the American city was the first of the four finalists (Rio, Chicago, Tokyo, and Madrid) to be eliminated at the Copenhagen meeting of [...]

Oct

1

University of North Dakota Indian Mascot Receives a Reprieve

Posted by: J. Gordon Hylton | October 1, 2009 | 3 Comments

Defenders of the University of North Dakota’s use of the “Fighting Sioux” as the nickname for its athletic teams (in use since 1930) received a reprieve this week when the North Dakota State Board of Higher Education, responding to events on the Standing Rock Sioux Reservation, granted the University a month-long extension for the use [...]

Sep

18

Myles Brand and the Illusion of Reform

Posted by: J. Gordon Hylton | September 18, 2009 | 4 Comments

Although NCAA president Myles Brand has just passed away, it is not too early to comment on his legacy in the world of big-time college sports.  When he was appointed to his position in 2002, those who believed that the NCAA was in need of serious reform were delighted.  Brand was then president of the [...]

Sep

7

Learning About Law . . . by Watching Football?

Posted by: Michael M. O'Hear | September 7, 2009 | Leave a Comment

Who knew you could learn so much about jurisprudence from the NFL rulebook?  In a new paper on SSRN, Chad Oldfather (Vikings fan) and 3L Matthew Fernholz (Bears fan) demonstrate that it is surprisingly illuminating to compare and contrast the rules of instant replay with the rules of appellate review.  Their title says it all: “Comparative Procedure on [...]

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