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Sports and the Law

MIchael Vick: The failure of a media appointed savior

He was “the most dynamic and exciting player EVER!” Now he may be just another vulgar, trouble making felon. ESPN made us believe Sundays would never be the same. But Michael Vick is facing a felony rap for hideous animal abuse. From the article: “The search warrant was issued after an informant told Brinkman there were as many as 30 dogs carcasses...

Video of the Week: Duke Lacrosse parents slam Mike Nifong

Justice was done today, finally. The three Duke lacrosse players falsely accused of rape by a seedy Durham stripper and soon-to-be-Ex DA Mike Nifong and have been cleared of all charges. Here is the link to the CBS interview with the players’ parents. Now, where do they go to get their reputations back? Where do the run to escape this when people meet them...

PGA’s Arjun Atwal under investigation in fatal street race crash

***UPDATE 03.11.07 18:30*** Orlando Sentinel Article is here. Fox Sports and the AP report PGA Tour player Arjun Atwal was engaged in a street race in which John Noah Park, the driver of another car crashed and died. According to the article: No charges have been filed against Atwal, the first player from India on the PGA Tour. “At a minimum, he is facing a...

Fox Sports writer slams Tank Johnson slap on the wrist

Whaddya know.  We found a sportswriter not beholden to a ride in an escalade and a night at the club with an athlete.  Fox Sport’s Ian O’Connor lays out the air tight case against Tank Johnson being permitted to play in the Super Bowl. Quick! Name one other sports outlet telling you that not only was Tank arrested for pot and 550 rounds of...

The decision in City of Sherrill v. Oneida Indian Nation

You’ll recall my piece describing the tax dispute between the City of Sherrill and County of Oneida on the one hand and the Oneida Indian Nation on the other. The piece is here. While the Oneidas still respond that all official statements about the dispute are addressed on their website, here, when I had discussions with media relations head Mark Emery, I told...

Duke Lacrosse “Rape Case” DA Mike Nifong should be disbarred

In this picture, Mike Nifong is wheeling “evidence” into court. Maybe he can use the same cart and dirty old box again as he leaves his version of “public service” forever – dismissed in disgrace. I am an attorney as well as a sportswriter. So let me lay out the case against Mike Nifong, the Durham DA who got re-elected solely on the...

2006 Jazzy Awards – Best sportswriting, the Barry Bonds Expose

The “Bunker Mulligan Award” for this year’s best sportswriting goes to Game of Shadows authors Mark Fainara-Wada and Lance Williams. The famed excerpt which appeared in Sports Illustrated is here.  Not only does it read like a confession and detail to perfection Bonds’ alleged steroid use, it debunks the myth that performance enhancers like...

Kiran Matharu to spend year on Ladies European Tour, will play select LPGA dates

As many of you know, I am the U.S. lawyer for Kiran Matharu, the 17 year old British professional who recently won the Ladies British Amateur, played on the Curtis Cup Team and is the number one female player in the UK under their handicap system (she’s a +4, the highest in the UK). As you also know, Kiran asked for an age exception so she could play in this...

Junk Justice, Athlete Pandering help accused felon Reuben Houston play for Georgia Tech

Nothing erodes confidence in the American Justice system faster than when athletes and celebrities get preferential treatment. In a ghastly and grotesque parody of “justice,” Superior Court Judge M. Gino Brogdon ordered Georgia Tech to reinstate cornerback Reuben Houston to the football team even though he is facing felony drug charges and was suspended...

Copyright lawyer argues for protection for golf hole designs

by Peter Black, Jr. The New York State Bar Association CLE lecture at Fordham University Friday featured some litigation shots that may have far reaching implications in the world of golf. New York intellectual property law expert Robert Clarida of Cowan Liebowitz & Latman in Manhattan argued that golf holes are no different than sculptures and that the more...

NY Bar Association Lecture – Can you copyright a golf hole or “steal” the design of a hole?

There is CLE for this lecture. I'll give an intro on design features architects use frequently to create golf courses (redans, punchbowls, etc. and compare U.S. courses. Architect Stephen Kay who makes original courses and courses that look like those of other designers or other courses will talk about his designs. (He built Links of North Dakota, Architect's Club...