Messi score brace as Barcelona won 4-2, Real Madrid won 2-1 and survived Levante scare: La Liga Video highlights

Messi score twice as Barcelona won 4-2 Mallorca vs Barcelona match to maintain 8 points difference with Real Madrid. Barcelona maintained strong league start and collected 31 of the possible 33 points which left Real Madrid far in just first 11 games.



Lionel Messi records making and breaking continues

The Barcelona Star keep cementing his name as a greatest players on earth as he is making

The Sports Law Hall of Fame

The business of sports has grown exponentially over the past several decades and, not coincidentally, so too has the field of sports law.  For better or worse, collective bargaining, professional league labor stoppages, age eligibility for drafts, Title IX, PEDs, fantasy sports, and the NCAA are all part of the fabric of athletics. Rather than ask ourselves how did we get here, perhaps it’s time to credit those individuals and events that have defined what we now refer to as “Sports Law."

As such, I am proposing we—sports lawyers everywhere and the Sports Law Blog in particular—begin talk of a “Sports Law Hall of Fame.” The SLHOF is an idea, and will need to be defined collectively by industry experts and historians. However, as a start, I propose three categories for inclusion into the SLHOF:

1. Practitioners

This category would include individuals who, through their efforts, have advanced the field of sports law. Potential candidates could include Marvin Miller, Bob Woolf, Don Fehr, David Stern, etc.

2. Athletes

It is sports after all and athletes have played a pivotal role in shaping our industry. Curt Flood, Reggie White, Andy Messersmith, Spencer Haywood, Oscar Robertson, Maurice Clarett, etc.

3. Educators

As a faculty member I’m biased, but I’d argue it takes teachers to advance the concept of sports law. To be considered, one needs to be retired.  Paul Weiler and Bob Berry seem like fine first inductees.

4. Memorabilia

While plaques of contributing individuals would be interesting, what I really want to see would be historic memorabilia such as:

• The letter Curt Flood wrote MLB Commissioner Bowie Kuhn on December 24, 1969.

• The check, un-cashed, from the NFL to the USFL for $ 3.76 representing the trebled damages ($1) and interest for their antitrust infringement?

• Spencer Haywood's contract with the NBA's Seattle Supersonics triggering the draft eligibility debate in professional athletics.

• The letter from Bart Giamatti that was faxed to all MLB teams on March 6, 1989 outlining baseball’s agreement with Pete Rose?

• Any correspondence between Al Davis and the NFL related to franchise relocation.

• The letter from Brown University's athletic director to the gymnastics and women's volleyball coaches letting them know that their sports had been cut.

The Sports Law Blog is now taking nominees and recommendations on memorabilia to include in our Hall of Fame.

Sports Law Links

A others have stated, there is no offseason in the sports law realm.  A few sports law updates are below.

1. Kathleen Sharp, the author of a new book entitled "Blood Medicine," wrote a short article about the clinical and litigious history of EPO, a drug prominently featured in USADA's "reasoned decision" pertaining to Lance Armstrong.  It is a fascinating account of the drug's history.

2. Claire Zovko penned a follow-up essay about basketball arbitration procedures within FIBA and the NBA.

3. Sean Patrick Griffin, a professor of criminal justice at Penn State Abington, wrote a comprehensive update to the recent sports gambling-related arrests in New York, Nevada, and elsewhere.

4. The Southern Economic Association ("SEA") annual conference is next week in New Orleans.  Of the 200+ sessions at the SEA conference this year, six sessions are devoted to sports economics.  The complete program can be found here.  Three or four papers will be presented during each sports-related session.  As was the case in previous years, a fair amount of research at the intersection of sports law and economics will be presented.  There is an entire session on sports gambling.  In addition, there is a session entitled "Sports Economics and the Law."    

UEFA Champions League Manchester City await miracles after escape defeat by Ajax: Video highlights of all goals

Manchester City was 2-0 just after 17 minutes; two defensive mistakes gave Siem de Jong chance to score two quick goals. In a must win match City fought had but at the end may be they did not fought hard or they should have let the two goals in the first place. 



Playing in a group of death, City had difficult winning games and still searching for first win in this season Champions league.

UEFA Champions League Real Madrid made to fight for A draw vs Borussia Dortmund: Video highlights of all goals

Real Madrid FC were made to fight for a draw against Borussia Dortmund in group match. Reus put Borussia Dortmund ahead in 23 minute and took Madrid 6 minute to equalize. Just before the break Borrussia Dortmund score second goal and switched to defense and occasional counter attacks. Jose Mourinho made substitution which saw Real Madrid start dominating and have more chance to equalize. But

The history of computerized replay

I still am not a fan of replay in sports, in part because it does not so remove the human element of observation and inference. I am, however, more accepting of the Hawk-Eye system in tennis, which uses a computer model to predict flight-path. On that note, here is a short profile of the man who invented Hawk-Eye.

Sports and politics

This is interesting--no necessary rhyme or reason for the split. This, on the other hand, is obnoxious; the notion that any citizen should stick to his profession--and implicitly that he is not qualified or entitled to engage in the democratic process--reflects the height of arrogance.

And one more: Slate's Hang Up and Listen podcast this week includes an interview with David Meggyesy, an NFL player in the 1960s who was active in opposing the Vietnam War, attracted the wrath of the league, and wrote about the experience of being an activist athlete. He discusses his experiences, as well as commenting on the many current NFL players who have spoken out on marriage equality. The podcast was recorded on Monday, before the election happened. As you all probably know, the Minnesota initiative that Vikings punter Chris Kluwe wrote about (which would have defined marriage as between one man and one woman) failed. The Maryland initiative establishing marriage equality, which the Ravens'Brendan Ayanbadejo vocally supported (drawing to him the ire of an insane state representative) passed.