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"All of those scenarios, in fact, could become realities if the NFL triumphs in a case now under consideration in the U.S. Supreme Court. Experts agree that the case known as American Needle vs. NFL could easily be the most significant legal turning point in the history of American sports. If the high court rules in favor of the NFL, the development will be more important to the sports industry than Curt Flood's battle against the reserve clause in the 1970s; than baseball's collusion cases in the mid-'80s; than the NFL players union's epic fight for free agency in a series of antitrust cases that stretched over a decade; and even than the enactment of the Sports Broadcasting Act in 1961, which is the legislation that is the foundation of the NFL's television riches."
This article is a must-read for any sports fan. Basically, by next spring, the Supreme Court will rule on an antitrust case known as American Needle v. NFL. The NFL wants the court to consider the NFL (and all major sports leagues) as a single entity competing against other leagues rather than as 32 teams competing for profits. This would essentially exempt the leagues from any antitrust suits. The potential ramifications of the court ruling in favor of the NFL include elimination of local broadcast rights, increased prices for tickets and merchandise, severe restriction of free agency, and decreased salaries for players and coaches.
Again, this would affect every sports league in the United States, not just the NFL.
"All of those scenarios, in fact, could become realities if the NFL triumphs in a case now under consideration in the U.S. Supreme Court. Experts agree that the case known as American Needle vs. NFL could easily be the most significant legal turning point in the history of American sports. If the high court rules in favor of the NFL, the development will be more important to the sports industry than Curt Flood's battle against the reserve clause in the 1970s; than baseball's collusion cases in the mid-'80s; than the NFL players union's epic fight for free agency in a series of antitrust cases that stretched over a decade; and even than the enactment of the Sports Broadcasting Act in 1961, which is the legislation that is the foundation of the NFL's television riches."
This article is a must-read for any sports fan. Basically, by next spring, the Supreme Court will rule on an antitrust case known as American Needle v. NFL. The NFL wants the court to consider the NFL (and all major sports leagues) as a single entity competing against other leagues rather than as 32 teams competing for profits. This would essentially exempt the leagues from any antitrust suits. The potential ramifications of the court ruling in favor of the NFL include elimination of local broadcast rights, increased prices for tickets and merchandise, severe restriction of free agency, and decreased salaries for players and coaches.
Again, this would affect every sports league in the United States, not just the NFL.
