This week features an extra dose of links due to the holiday break. Topics include: the NCAA convention, concussions, counterfeiting, pay for play, gambling, and franchise relocation. Next week we will return to the regularly scheduled programming.
Sports Broadcasting
NFL officially inks new deals with CBS, FOX, and NBC. NFL teams will now divvy up nearly $7 billion in media money starting in 2014. http://onforb.es/vhL27G
The NFL will stream the Super Bowl online and to phones for the first time http://usat.ly/rWNuxP
The FCC is reviewing the NFL's blackout policy. http://nyti.ms/AmfXjB Here is the FCC's release: http://bit.ly/xCik1d. Alicia Jessop has a thorough analysis here: http://bit.ly/xzFxjr
NCAA - Scholarship Stipends, Pay for Play, and the Annual Convention
Mark Emmert is determined to make changes and remains confident that a $2,000 stipend and four-year scholarships will eventually be implemented. http://es.pn/yJO6E1
Back in October, following the presidential retreat, the NCAA announced a plan to allow schools to offer a $2,000 stipend to student-athletes. That plan faced opposition in December and is now in trouble. Ultimately, 161 of 355 Division I schools signed an override measure against the stipend, far more than the 75 needed for the NCAA board to reconsider the stipend. http://usat.ly/sVCzOe.
However, this past weekend, the NCAA concluded its annual convention, and we learned more about the future of several proposed rule changes, including the stipend.
The $2,000 stipend is delayed, but not defeated. http://abcn.ws/ygFlgF
Here's a look at how the top issues at the NCAA convention fared: http://trib.in/whv16Z and http://bit.ly/wEHbjQ
And here's a summary of the issues that were expected to be addressed at the convention by Inside Higher Ed, written in advance of the meeting: http://bit.ly/x0X0Ls
Doug Lederman of Inside Higher Ed didn't think you should get your hopes up for changes anytime soon. http://bit.ly/zi0giA
The 7th Circuit heard oral arguments in Agnew v NCAA (whether 1yr scholarship is antitrust violation) last week. You can listen here: http://1.usa.gov/ya1Iz9
Todd O'Brien's Waiver Is Officially Denied.
On Wednesday, the NCAA officially denied Todd O'Brien's waiver appeal: http://es.pn/ylX9iJ
Todd O'Brien's op-ed explaining his side of the story, http://bit.ly/ukM0l9
Tulane Law student, Darsh Patel wrote about the situation back in December at http://bit.ly/wpKOyA
Now, Kansas and Coach Weis won't release backup freshman quarterback Brock Berglund. http://bit.ly/y4cLNG
Transfer 101 by John Infante, http://bit.ly/yTaVyQ
BCS v. Playoff
The 11 Football Bowl Subdivision conference commissioners along with the Notre Dame athletic director sat down in New Orleans to discuss a change in the postseason format. http://bit.ly/wE6QUc
Even NCAA President Mark Emmert supports a playoff format. http://bit.ly/AsfsGy
Alicia Jessop takes a look at the chances for a plus-one format. http://bit.ly/xHBQdD
Utah Attorney General, Mark Shurtleff, is planning to sue the BCS and believes the Boise State snub helps his cause. http://bit.ly/uGa70f
ESPN profile of the lawyers behind the "Playoff PAC" aimed at taking down the BCS: http://es.pn/t5H88o
The NY Times wants a playoff, and bowl games too: http://bit.ly/zm1CQp
Trademarks, Licensing, Merchandise and Counterfeiting
Texas A&M is considering sending a cease and desist letter to the Denver Broncos for infringing on the school's "12th Man" trademark. http://es.pn/wIJNeK They did the same with the Seattle Seahawks in 2006. http://bit.ly/wDBkc2
The Sports Business Journal takes a look at the licensing boon that awaits BCS title winners. http://bit.ly/whBwGi
Is LSU profiting from the Honey Badger nickname? http://onforb.es/zFv7s9
Plans for an LSU-licensed beer are on hold. http://bit.ly/xFizxZ
The Ravens and the NFL recently shut down hundreds of online counterfeiters. http://bsun.md/xZFA3f
Kristi Dosh has an inside look at collegiate counterfeiting on her ESPN Sports Business Blog
Terrell Suggs is in a legal battle for ownership of "Ball So Hard University" http://bit.ly/yBI5UK
Electronic Arts is now battling to use images of real-life helicopters in one of its video games. http://bit.ly/yEJTzn
Other NCAA Issues
"Paying College Athletes Is a Terrible Idea" - Mark Emmert http://on.wsj.com/Ax4Tts (subscription required)
An NCAA working group on enforcement will recommend the adoption of an expanded, four-level violation structure for infractions. http://bit.ly/wv3iyk
Does college athletics need a government intervention? http://buswk.co/taq9G4
Back in December, the Chronicle of Higher Education posted several articles under the heading "What the Hell Has Happened to College Sports And What Should We Do About It?"
This was the NCAA's response: http://bit.ly/vDMl84
Despite success on the field, big-spending Rutgers athletics is saddled with its largest deficit ever http://bit.ly/uJ3Keq
Congressman Joe Barton announced the formation of the Congressional Collegiate Sports Caucus which will "examine pressing issues facing college sports." http://bit.ly/vi0VfO
The National Collegiate Players Association has persuaded California and Indiana lawmakers to introduce student-athlete bill of rights legislation. http://bit.ly/yyEXIS An Ohio lawmaker is pushing for similar legislation. http://bit.ly/z0jRUl
A new SEC rule on signings offers a safety net for victims of oversigning. http://bit.ly/ym4pNF
New Orleans, Sports Mecca?
How sports helped New Orleans rebuild following hurricane Katrina: http://es.pn/x15VRN
New Orleans hosted 9 major sporting events in a two-week span, http://nyti.ms/xALJ0k resulting in an economic impact of over 400 million dollars. http://bit.ly/zblggH
Lamar Odom recorded a 'victory' in his battle with the IRS: http://bit.ly/zYL9Rk
Concussions
Over the past 6 months, the NFL was rocked with a flurry of concussion-related lawsuits. As of January 9, 2012, a total of 16 lawsuits have been filed against the NFL. http://bit.ly/w8ikmL
Jamal Lewis and Dorsey Levens filed suit in Atlanta back in December. http://es.pn/sRkATn
The NFL and NCAA are urging states to adopt concussion legislation http://usat.ly/whxyXB
The Chris Paul Saga
Before CP3 became a Clipper he was very nearly a Laker and almost never a Clipper. Before the trade was proposed:
Professor Feldman gave his take on the CP3 saga http://es.pn/urR8Jo, and CP3 considered filing a lawsuit to force the trade. http://nydn.us/sA6Sfb
Franchise Relocation
New York's governor is calling for millions of dollars in state funding to help keep the Buffalo Bills in western New York. http://es.pn/y709lN
Could the Raiders be heading back to Los Angeles? http://read.bi/xFJEUY
Minnesota appears committed to keeping the Vikings from leaving. http://es.pn/AigKsD
West Virginia v Big East Lawsuit
On Dec. 27, 2011, a Rhode Island judge denied the Big East's request to dismiss the Big East's suit. http://es.pn/rV2Aaj
This week the judge ordered the two sides to mediation. http://bit.ly/wiArOI
Other
A Maryland lawmaker is seeking to exempt fantasy football from state gambling laws, http://wapo.st/A34uk7
New Jersey Governor Chris Christie signed a bill into law legalizing sports betting in the state - but only after a federal ban on such gambling is overturned. http://bit.ly/wPOHFQ