From the ZOMGWTF files

This morning Libby had a hoof trim and was taken to her new paddock. What I forgot when popping her in there was that Portia lives in a paddock diagonally across from where Libby was going. Oh dear! We have major ZOMGWTF DONKEY!!! alert going on here, *chuckle*.It's just there, I can see it!It's going to eat me!!!I can still see it!!!Someone please, take it away!Darn it, can...

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Vermont Law School’s Sports and Entertainment Law Society to host two panels at annual Solutions Conference

Vermont Law School will host its annual Solutions Conference on April 3rd and 4th. The Vermont Law School Sports and Entertainment Law Society along with the National Sports and Entertainment Law Society will host two panels: Alternative Legal Careers: Sports and the Law Date & Time: Friday, April 3rd, 2009 from 10:30-12pmPanelist:Ed Mattes, Jim Munsey, Andrew...

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NBA Age Limit Discussion at New York Law School

Last week I joined Alan Milstein, Marc Edelman, Paul Haberman and others on a sports law panel at New York Law School. Zach Lowe of the American Lawyer was there to cover it. Here's an excerpt from his piece, which highlighted discussion of the NBA's age limit:* * *NBA officials have hinted they want to raise the age limit to 20 when the current collective bargaining agreement expires in 2011. Luckily for us, the age limit topic dominated the discussion during a panel talk Wednesday at New York Law School featuring several high-profile sports...

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Salary cap for soccer teams in Europe?

Nowadays the financial crisis also seems to be hitting the European sports sector. Sport clubs, associations and politicians come up with different proposals to solve the crisis or at least prevent clubs to fall into bankruptcy. One of the topics in the world of European soccer is the introduction of a salary cap which should improve the financial situation of the clubs. The...

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She's here!

At about 5.45pm this evening Libby (Glencree Liberty High) was delivered by Steve (Woodville Horse Floats - These guys are just THE BEST!). She's so cute! And a little tubby but, did I mention, SO CUTE! She and Hamish are just going to make THE most beautiful music together. I can't wait until Spring but it seems such a looooooong way away! So far so good, she walked nicely...

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Why Does Junior Suck?

http://timesfreepress.com/news/2009/mar/29/young-hendrick-gives-earnhardts-team-push/There's no way around it. Dale Earnhardt, Jr. sucks. He is a popular driver. He wants to win. But he loses, and everyone can see the frustration. That leaves one thing to change--the crew chief.Tony Eury, Jr. will not last this season with the number 88. He will get fired, and a new guy will come in to shake it up. (Ray Evernham needs a job.) But if Dale fails to deliver, he will be declared the next Kyle Petty, a moderately talented driver with a name he can't...

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Slimeworld

Just because you do not take an interest in politics doesn't mean politics won't take an interest in you.PERICLESI have become disheartened lately. Current events and watching episodes of The Wire have reinforced in me a belief that slimebags rule the world. Whether it is politics, corporate America, or even a local organization like a church or a club, Slimeworld prevails.Slimeworld is my name for the realm of politics that exists in any organization with a hierarchy. Slimeworld has a different economy. It does not operate by notions of merit...

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Nrl Versus Super 14 TV Ratings

Those that still watch TVNZ, would of notice they have been comparing the TV ratings to the NRL over the super 14. Basically countrywide, the super 14 is doing better, but in Auckland the NRL is doing better.Perhaps New Zealand sports journalist would like to compare the TV ratings in Australia.Well its no comparison, and in fact the Under 20's (The Toyota Cup) in the NRL,...

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Why the Florida Marlins now are state actors in their new stadium

The gory details of the stadium deal that my esteemed city, county, and state officials recently struck illustrate how my state-action arguments can work as to fan speech in publicly funded stadiums.If there is anything left to the "symbiotic relationship" test of Burton v. Wilmington Parking Authority (admittedly a debatable proposition for a Civil-Rights-Era-product-of-its-time decision), this deal satisfies it. The government is paying 75 % of the costs to build a cathedral for the long-term predominant use and exclusive benefit of one private...

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Weaning, day 2

The girls have worn a walking track along their fence line - I guess that was inevitable. Otherwise, they seem fine - signs of milk on their legs and swollen udders - all par for the course, poor ladies.The 'kids' have been released from the yards and are now sharing a grassy paddock with Uncle B. Poor long suffering Uncle B is being suckled relentlessly - He's naughty as...

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Weaning Day

This is a day I always stress over, put off and generally fernaffle about over yet every year, without fail, it goes without a hitch. Today is weaning day. This morning we went over to the 'nursery' and caught Maude and Hooty and lead them to the jumping paddock. Both foals got to jump the big scary ditch. Rory, with typical gusto, launched himself over without hesitation...

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UConn Accused of Recruiting Violations for Nate Miles

Paul Doyle of the Hartford Courant interviewed me for a story concerning former UConn recruit Nate Miles and possible NCAA violations committed by the university, especially by former student-manager0turned agent Josh Nichomson (who himself may soon be sued for defrauding clients, including Richard Hamilton of the Pistons). Miles would never play UConn, as he was expelled...

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Marlins New Stadium Deal = Worst in Taxpayer History?

On several occasions, I have written about how professional sports teams use monopoly power to demand stadium subsidies from their local governments.Yesterday, at Above the Law, I argued that the new stadium agreement just signed between Miami-Dade County and Florida Marlins owner Jeffrey Loria will prove to be the worst ever for taxpayers.I believe this for three reasons:1....

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Indian Cricket League Moves Tournament to South Africa

On Tuesday, I was interviewed for the BBC World Radio Service program World Have Your Say, for the story, Is India Showing Weakness in the Face of Terrorism?. After an attack on Sri Lanka's cricket team in Pakistan earlier this month, India's government informed the year-old Indian Premier League that the government would be unable to provide security for its spring tournament...

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An Unconstitutional Tax for Traitorous Ballplayers?

Via TaxProf blog, a New York lawyer has (humorously) proposed an AIG-bonus-type tax for Manny Ramirez: The Manny Ramirez Lightbulb: Also (2 Ideas in 1 Memo) Putting Pay in Perspecti...

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Why oh Why Jesse Ryder

A year ago, the Barmy army made fun of the Jesse Ryder incident, by doing a spoof version of a Neil Diamond song, they called the song Why oh Why Jesse Ryder. Well what a difference a year makes, back to back centuries in the first and second test, he is unbeaten on 137 overnight and New Zealand is 351/4 after the first day of the second test.Can we do the impossible and tie...

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20 Years Ago

This single was released, and music would never be the same aga...

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Exciting stuff!

Well we got the call early this week to say that Gavin (Morison) was ready for Meg so this morning I dragged her abandoned backside out of the paddock, threw her on the float and drove her the 70km to Gavin and Nicole's property. Poor Meg had literally been turfed out into a back paddock after the Masterton A&P and I was very pleased with her attitude when I caught her....

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Swedish Cross World Meet report at Liljeros Blog

Here is a report in Swedish from the Swedish Cross World Meet:http://liljeros.blogspot.com/2009/03/cross-world-2009.htmlEven if you prefer not to read Swedish there are a lot of videos.Thanks to Liljeros who undertook the enormous job of downloading all the films!Thanks to us a...

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New Sports Law Scholarship

Recently published scholarship includes:Roger I. Abrams & Alan Levy, The trial of Rube Waddell, 19 SETON HALL JOURNAL OF SPORTS AND ENTERTAINMENT LAW 1 (2009)James Bamberg, Wrestling with a union: can anyone protect the 6’7”, 300-pound professional wrestler from the sports-entertainment industry?, 2 FLORIDA ENTERTAINMENT LAW REVIEW 1 (2008) Susannah Carr, Title IX: an...

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New York Law School Sports Law Panel this Wednesday

I'm honored to be speaking this Wednesday, March 25th, at New York Law School, on a sports panel. Here is info on the event:* * *The Media, Entertainment, and Sports Law Association at New York Law School will host a panel on sports law this Wednesday between 5:00 and 7:00 p.m. in the Stiefel Reading Room.Topics will include sports contract negotiations and the legality...

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Catching Up with Links

I have two new columns on SI.com: Roger Clemens Facing Long Year in Court & Unsigned and Unwanted: Is Barry Bonds Building a Case for Collusion?University of Illinois Law Professor John Colombo, who probably knows more about the intersection between tax and sports law than anyone, has posted a free draft of his forthcoming law review article: The NCAA, Tax Exemption and College Athletics. If you're interested in the NCAA's tax exempt status, be sure to check it out.If you have HBO on Demand, be sure to check out the Real Sports feature on...

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Justice Jackson on Umpiring and Judging

This post was written by John Q. Barrett of St. John's and the Robert H. Jackson Center; it was sent to the Jackson List and was forwarded by my FIU colleague, Tom Baker. Jackson's comments are in line with arguments I have made against Chief Justice Roberts's views of the judge-umpire connection.On Thursday, December 13, 1951, Justice Robert H. Jackson spoke at the New York County Lawyers’ Association’s annual dinner, held at the Waldorf=Astoria Hotel in Manhattan. The Association and its 1,000 guests that evening honored senior federal Circuit...

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Garth Brooks sings Rodeo on Leno 2009

How else do you follow up, Obama, well with the biggest selling artist in USA history, MR Garth Broo...

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Horse of the Year 2009

I LOVE Horse of the Year! We are very lucky to live a three-hour drive from Hastings, where the Horse of the Year show has been held for the last 10 (I think) years. This year was my fourth visit to Horse of the Year and I had a thoroughly enjoyable time, first helping out a friend in the Junior Sport Horse section on Thursday and following that up with a day of shopping and...

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