NFL Player Retirement Plan, abusing discretion
“A Texas federal judge on Thursday lambasted the NFL player retirement plan for a history of selectively reviewing former players' applications for disability benefits and abusing its discretion, finding that the plan violated federal benefits law when it denied a retired Super Bowl-winning running back placement in a higher benefits class.”
Part 1: NWSL CBA sports law breakdown
What does the CBA entail? This is a the first part of a series of articles not only providing an overview of the CBA, but will also contain my commentary both as a sports attorney and sports business professional.
MLB Lockout 2021: It’s a Monopsony
When the league locked out the players on December 2nd, 2021, they yet again showed they had the power and they wanted to wield it. Under the National Labor Relations Act, the league (employer) has to bargain in “good faith with employees' union representative.” It does not seem the MLB is bargaining in good faith and could be in violated of the NLRA. Section 8(a)(5) of the Act makes it an unfair labor practice for an employer "to refuse to bargain collectively with the representatives of its employees.”
Day 2 of the MLB Lockout 2021
The current @MLB Collective Bargaining Agreement ended on Dec. 1, 2021 at 11.59 pm ET. This is the 9th labor stoppage in modern MLB history. A labor stoppage takes two forms - a strike and a lockout.
How to get a job in the sports industry: 3 Tips
People come to me often and want to know the “secret” to getting a job in sport. They always ask what path is the “right” path to follow. Spoiler alert: there is no right way. Don’t get me wrong, there are ways that make it easier, but you can’t follow a simple mold to get into the industry. These three tips will set you on the right path so you have a strong foundation from the start.
𝐓𝐨𝐩 𝟑 𝐦𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐤𝐞𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐬𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐬 𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬
While I read the Art of War, I couldn’t help but glean principles relevant to the sports industry. In this article, I will emphasize the characteristics he points out in the book that lead to being both a good and bad leader. This can apply to anyone in a leadership position and those aspiring to be leaders, from General Managers to Point Guards to General Counsels.
Name, Image, & Likeness - NCAA & Amateurism
Amateurism has been an oft used battle cry for the NCAA when rules and regulations are questioned. The association consistently points to amateurism as their guiding principle. But if you break down the amateurism rules and what the schools are providing the athletes versus what they are potentially giving up, it seems lopsided in the NCAA’s favor.