Image credit: USA Today Finally, a court of law will decide the most important issue in the history of collegiate athletics: are students who participate in college varsity sports employees? The term "student-athlete" was coined by the NCAA in the 1950s to ward off potential workers' compensation claims by student-athletes. Over time, the phrase became... Continue Reading →
It has finally happened. After months of conjecture, debate and then a lengthy period of silence, several minor league baseball clubs that were eliminated as part of MLB’s restructuring have filed suit against MLB under the anti-trust laws. As a professor of sports law, one of my favorite topics is MLB’s historic anti-trust decision... Continue Reading →
So, historically, the key to determining the extent of an individual's right to free speech under the First Amendment has been the classic example that one cannot "shout fire in a crowded theatre". The social media analogy to that now is the use of a public platform to spew false, discredited and completely erroneous information... Continue Reading →
Unbelievable. Every time I think we have encountered a new low in the continuing fight for diversity, equity and inclusion in sports, it seems there is another unconscionable incident. Think the women's NCAA field hockey contest stopped in OT because of a fireworks display on an adjoining field for the football team. Or the continuing... Continue Reading →
And just like that, the term originally developed by the NCAA in its quest to dodge potential workers' compensation claims from injured college athletes has been wiped from the lexicon. Earlier today, National Labor Relations Board General Counsel Jennifer Abruzzo released Memorandum GC 21-08 stating her position that collegiate athletes, including specifically D1 FBS football... Continue Reading →
Image credit: USAToday.com Strong words, and the last sentence in a compelling concurring opinion written by Justice Kavanaugh in a watershed unanimous Supreme Court decision issued earlier today, NCAA v. Alston. This long-awaited decision begins a new era for collegiate athletics. What remains to be seen, however, is what that new landscape will look like.... Continue Reading →
Today, the OHL made history as the Sarnia Sting drafted female goalie Taya Currie in the 14th round of the annual draft. Currie, like many other talented female hockey players, has routinely played on boys travel teams up through the Bantam level. Following in the skates of her idols, Shannon Szabados and Manon Rheaume, who... Continue Reading →
The UB Center for the Advancement of Sport and Buffalo Sports & Entertainment Law Society congratulates the Sports Law Concentration Graduates of 2021. This is a stellar group of individuals, whose talent and accomplishments are especially impressive given the extraordinary challenges they faced over the course of the last 14 months. We wish them all... Continue Reading →
The Center for the Advancement of Sport, Project Play WNY and Medaille College are pleased to host The Thomas G. Stemberg '71 Family Endowed Coach for Harvard Men's Basketball for a special Sports Law Round Table & Community Discussion webinar on Thursday, March 25th from 12:00 - 1:00 pm. Coach Amaker's stellar career as four... Continue Reading →
One Last Goal, a charitable foundation established by the family of UB Sports Law alum Matthew Benedict, is co-sponsoring a free mental health webinar, "Behind the Mask" featuring mental health expert Ross Szabo in partnership with the Maria Love Fund. Mr. Szabo is a nationally renowned speaker on mental health concerns affecting young people, and... Continue Reading →