In the News: A quick update of what's been happening in the world of sports and the law.



The FDA has ordered drug companies to quit selling androstenedione unless they can prove it's not dangerous. The supplement, made famous by Mark McGwire's use during his record-setting homerun year, has affects often similar in nature to steroids.



The arbitrator in the Vin Baker case has ruled that Baker can sign with another NBA team while his union grievance is being resolved. This could present quite a conflict, though, if Baker wins his union grievance, which would reinstate his contract with the Celtics. Under this scenario, Baker would then be under contract to two teams. Maybe this is the arbitrator's way of saying Baker has no chance to win his grievance.



Hamilton County has joined the lawsuit against the Cincinnati Bengals and the NFL. The county claims that it voted to approve the construction of Paul Brown Stadium, but that it did so only because the NFL and the Bengals broke federal antitrust laws during negotiations. A similar suit was filed last week in Pittsburgh.



The Sports Business Daily (subscription required) has an excellent summary of the appearance of MLB and the NFL before Congress on Wednesday.



Two trustees at Auburn University have threatened to sue ESPN for statements made on-air by John Saunders last month. The trustees claim defamation for an allegation by Saunders that they were involved in burning down the office of a Tuskegee publisher and civil-rights attorney. In his 'Parting Shot,' Saunders told the audience to "draw your own conclusions" about the February 10th burning of the Tuskegee News, which is published by columnist Paul Davis, an outspoken opponent of the trustees and their power at Auburn.



In trademark news, ESPN's Darren Rovell has a piece on "The Making of a Name and Logo" of the new Charlotte Bobcats.



In tax law news, it turns out that estate taxes are a big part of the reason Jerry Colangelo has decided to sell the Phoenix Suns. The family simply does not have enough money to afford the hefty taxes that would be placed on the inheritance of the hundred-million dollar franchise.

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