Conspiracy Theory-Stern,League,Media...

TaS · May 18, 2008

ESPN.com: MLB - Baseball's antitrust exemption: Q & A

This was pretty informative.

Q: What is the antitrust exemption and how did baseball get it?
A: Any business that operates across state borders -- and therefore participates in interstate commerce -- is subject to antitrust legislation. Attempts to control trade and monopolize may be deemed illegal by federal circuit courts under the Sherman and Clayton acts.
Baseball has been exempt from these antitrust laws since 1922, when the Supreme Court ruled in its favor in Federal Baseball Club of Baltimore, Inc. v. National Baseball Clubs. The Supreme Court determined even though there was scheduling of games across state lines, those games were intrastate events since the travel from one state to another was "not the essential thing," Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes wrote in the decision.

Baltimore, a member of the Federal League that operated as a major league in 1914-15, had sued the National and American Leagues, charging the Federal League's inability to sign players was due to antitrust violations.

At the time of the 1922 ruling, the National and American Leagues were merely umbrella organizations. They arranged the schedules and set the rules, but the business was entirely local in the sense that there was no revenue sharing, no radio or television and no national sponsors or licensing deals.

By virtue of the exemption, coupled with decades of reluctance of various courts to overrule, baseball is the only sport, or business for that matter, that has an exemption to the extent that it does.

Q: What does the exemption do?
A: There are several aspects to the exemption, but the primary issue right now is this means a team can't move unless MLB allows it to move.

Q: Why don't other sports have the antitrust exemption?
A: For 18 years after Toolson, in case after case, judges admitted that the baseball exemption was flawed, but it was never overruled. Exemptions for boxing, football and basketball were denied in the higher courts, while hockey and golf antitrust exemptions were also denied in the lower courts.

In 1972, Curt Flood's case -- which also challenged baseball's reserve system -- reached the Supreme Court and although it was again acknowledged that baseball's antitrust exemption was "an anomaly," the Court ruled that it is up to Congress to change baseball's antitrust exemption. Bills were introduced before and after Flood v. Kuhn (1972), but none ever became a law. In 1998, Congress passed the Curt Flood Act of 1998, which said challenges to league rules that restrict player movement or compensation would be subject to antitrust laws. (Although the Supreme Court ruled two years earlier that unionized employees may not file antitrust suits.)

Nemo · May 18, 2008

roscoe36 said: ↑

Arlen Spector is an idiot. With everything going on in the world, there are better uses of your government's time than investigating NFL Spygate.

:p_welldone: :p_welldone:

As a society, I think we have become totally retarded. Reactionary, paranoid, overbearing, arrogant, intrusive, manipulative etc.

Roscoe...Don't hold back. Tell us how you feel...

roscoe36 · May 18, 2008

Sorry. I just get so upset when the government decides to regulate against industry, but they never regulate themselves.

I can pretty much guarantee that if the government ran the major sporting leagues, everyone would be into bowling or tiddly-winks.

max · May 18, 2008

aurora said: ↑

I can answer this. Duncan is boring because he is not fun to watch. Because he plays a clinical textbook fundamental basketball that is mind-numbing as a spectator. Because he gets the same "surprised look" on his face EVERY TIME he gets a foul called on him. The guy is just consistent beyond belief and the only time he is interesting to watch is when he is playing poorly, because it's his same old same old game and you can somewhat enjoy trying to figure out why the usual robotic approach to a creative game isn't working that night.

When the only consistently played "open with music highlight shot" of someone's basketball PERSONALITY is him holding the basketball with his arms crossed over his lower face and his eyes peeping over with all the self-revelation of an awkward eleven year old ...you know that guy's basketball persona is BORING.

Also, I like some of LeBron's commercials, but I still can't stand the guy. In an imploding capitalistic culture such as ours, sooner or later people do get tired of having products, celebrities, events and even concepts shoved down their throats. It becomes all too obvious that our only value in this culture is as consumers, and we find a place to rebel somewhere. Apparently some people drew the line with LeBron Fatigue and the Cavs last year and then of course there was Timmy again, with his signature crossarmed caress of the basketball.

I'm real tired of the same old teams. I'd like to see a few emerging teams break through to be contenders next year. God, no more Spurs in the Finals. PLEASE.

I really do not want to see the Spurs again either. What people do want to see is someone score 50+ points in a Finals game. Neither Duncan or Lebran can do this. At least not against a proper defensive team. I wonder if they hyped LBJ way too early and have already made him too unlikable for most fans.

roscoe36 said: ↑

I never buy into the "someone would have exposed a conspiracy", reason for not believing a conspiracy.

This is an entertainment business, first and foremost. There is an expectation of fair play and such, but if the league decided to fix all of the outcomes, that's entirely their right.

The NBA exists to make money, not provide entertainment. If it was a charity, then it would be a different story.

Thing is if you are selling a product as one thing but its really another then that is Fraud and Fraud is and should be punishable by law. Its a case of basic consumer protection and the fact that they are in the Entertainment industry does not make them exempt. I also have selfish reasons. If Max was ever convinced that it was not a competivive sport then Max would have to stop watching the NBA. Seriously, I could not watch it if I thought it was corrupt.

roscoe36 said: ↑

Sorry. I just get so upset when the government decides to regulate against industry, but they never regulate themselves.

I can pretty much guarantee that if the government ran the major sporting leagues, everyone would be into bowling or tiddly-winks.

No complaints there about who regulates the law makers. I guess thats supposed to be us but few have the time for it. I really cannot get into all my complaints of the ruling body here in this capacity but I will say that I do happen to agree with Consumer protection laws and Business does need some regulation. Seems like whever they trust a certain industry to govern themselfs they fail and there is always a high cost to pay in the end.

Nemo · May 18, 2008

BillLaimbeer said: ↑

No........

Why ask a Yes-No question in a poll and have 3 choices, all of which are "yes"?

...agreed

TheeTFD · May 18, 2008

Max, I told you the refs are weak minded, they may even be hypnotized. All Stern has to say is Boston has a nice halftime show. Then what do you know no one can breathe on Rondo.
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Beer, this is an election year, we will try and govern our system. Don't try an say a vote for Obama isn't a "no" vote for big unbridled business and WAR economy. That's why they call you Liambrains. What about that phathom call on Beer back in '90. You don't even remember. A "no" vote is a yes. Same as not voting.
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Aura, that's the only reason I like the Spurs they're the anti-Stern team. Kind of like the Pistons. That's why if the Spurs don't make it the Pistons have an obligation to represent. Besides watching Timmy stare down a car salesmen is good stuff. See they can even find a way to sell staring. But if it's a call between Lakers and Spurs, the league usually gets it right.

aurora · May 18, 2008

adonis said: ↑

How about when he was ejected because of two technical fould called on him when he was smiling on the bench. That was not boring

Okay it was mildly entertaining. But still it was entertaining because even the ref that ejected him recognized that the break in Timmy's usual deadpan stare could only mean he was "showing up" the ref. I mean it was so unprecedented that it elicited the overreaction from the ref. Anyone else, it would have gone unnoticed.

BillLaimbeer · May 18, 2008

TheeTFD said: ↑

Max, I told you the refs are weak minded, they may even be hypnotized. All Stern has to say is Boston has a nice halftime show. Then what do you know no one can breathe on Rondo.
-
Beer, this is an election year, we will try and govern our system. Don't try an say a vote for Obama isn't a "no" vote for big unbridled business and WAR economy. That's why they call you Liambrains. What about that phathom call on Beer back in '90. You don't even remember. A "no" vote is a yes. Same as not voting.
-
Aura, that's the only reason I like the Spurs they're the anti-Stern team. Kind of like the Pistons. That's why if the Spurs don't make it the Pistons have an obligation to represent. Besides watching Timmy stare down a car salesmen is good stuff. See they can even find a way to sell staring. But if it's a call between Lakers and Spurs, the league usually gets it right.

LOL, TheeTFD. You are funny....in a disturbed sort of way...

st8ofmind · May 18, 2008

It's an even year (08')

The Spurs are of no impact on the title.

KarmasComing · May 18, 2008

The NBA wants a Laker Celtics finals and it couldn't be any clearer.

BillLaimbeer · May 18, 2008

KarmasComing said: ↑

The NBA wants a Laker Celtics finals and it couldn't be any clearer.

Yea, and if the Cavs would have won, then it would have been....The NBA wanted LeBron in the finals and it couldn't be any clearer.

KarmasComing · May 18, 2008

BillLaimbeer said: ↑

Yea, and if the Cavs would have won, then it would have been....The NBA wanted LeBron in the finals and it couldn't be any clearer.

Not quite. Lebron had no chance in this series. He was playing by himself.

I have been calling a Celtic Lakers final since Garnett was traded.

The NBA can only do so much to fix games. Sometimes a player steps up and hit a crazy shot that the refs can't fix.

BillLaimbeer · May 18, 2008

KarmasComing said: ↑

Not quite. Lebron had no chance in this series. He was playing by himself.

I have been calling a Celtic Lakers final since Garnett was traded.

The NBA can only do so much to fix games. Sometimes a player steps up and hit a crazy shot that the refs can't fix.

If you watched this game, the Cavs were getting more help from the officials than the Celtics.

This was a 1-point game with 1 1/2 minutes left. Only someone who either doesn't understand the game or has an extremely active imagination would say this game was fixed.

KarmasComing · May 18, 2008

BillLaimbeer said: ↑

If you watched this game, the Cavs were getting more help from the officials than the Celtics.

This was a 1-point game with 1 1/2 minutes left. Only someone who either doesn't understand the game or has an extremely active imagination would say this game was fixed.

I suppose you missed all the tripping the Celtics were doing and how KG stood around in the paint. Or how KG pushed everyone and was never called for the foul.

You are going to get those same calls ignored against the Pistons. Just wait. KG is going to be able to do what he wants and so is Pierce and in the end it will decide the series.

max · May 19, 2008

BillLaimbeer said: ↑

If you watched this game, the Cavs were getting more help from the officials than the Celtics.

This was a 1-point game with 1 1/2 minutes left. Only someone who either doesn't understand the game or has an extremely active imagination would say this game was fixed.

Stern ordered the Cavs to miss a few rebounds near the end so the Celts could get some 2nd chance points.

BillLaimbeer · May 19, 2008

max said: ↑

Stern ordered the Cavs to miss a few rebounds near the end so the Celts could get some 2nd chance points.

You might have something here, Max. I'm pretty sure Stern ordered Big Z to shave his head, as well.

TheeTFD · May 19, 2008

It's a bad poll. I only got 14 people to acknowledge my dementia.

TheeTFD · Jun 10, 2008

This thread was supposed to be whimsicle.
-
Originally Posted by ESPN - Prosecutors say Donaghy should get break for fessing up to gambling - NBA
In the letter, dated May 8, prosecutors asked a judge to consider giving Donaghy a break on his sentence to reward his "substantial assistance" in an investigation that resulted in the indictment and guilty pleas of a professional gambler and a middleman, both former high school classmates of the referee.
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Donaghy, who pleaded guilty in Brooklyn Federal Court to charges of betting on games he officiated, told FBI agents “league officials would tell referees that they should withhold calling technical fouls on certain star players because doing so hurt ticket sales and television ratings," the document said.

Donaghy claims he was told that two refs who were “company men” acting in the interest of the NBA conspired to extend a playoff series in 2002 to a seventh game.

The referees allegedly ignored flagrant fouls committed by the team that needed to win. They also reportedly called "made-up fouls" against the other team which led to the ejection of two of their players. The team favored by the refs won that night and the next game to win the series Lakers/Kings 2002 WCF Game 6 ? Qoute G26
-
Even when I'm joshing I'm die on.

detteam · Jun 11, 2008

I didn't expect this stuff to start coming out until around Donaghy's sentencing next month. I hope Stern's now pooping his pants in the middle of his Celts-Lakers Finals.

NEW YORK - NBA referees, influenced by cozy relationships with league officials, rigged a 2002 playoff series to force it to a revenue-boosting seven games, a former referee at the center of a gambling scandal alleged Tuesday.

Without identifying anyone or naming teams, Tim Donaghy also claimed the NBA routinely encouraged refs to ring up bogus fouls to manipulate results but discouraged them from calling technical fouls on star players to keep them in games and protect ticket sales and television ratings.

The following sounds like complete BS to me. Just how powerful does Stern think he is?

“He’s a singing, cooperating witness who is trying to get as light a sentence as he can,” Stern said. “He turned on basically all of his colleagues in an attempt to demonstrate that he is not the only one who engaged in criminal activity. The U.S. attorney’s office, the FBI, have fully investigated it, and Mr. Donaghy is the only one who is guilty of a crime. And he will be sentenced for that crime regardless of the desperate attempts to implicate as many people as he can.”

Donaghy says 2002 playoff series rigged - NBA - MSNBC.com

linwood · Jun 11, 2008

This article names another playoff series in 2005. Houston vs. Dallas.

Ex-NBA referee: playoff series manipulated - NBA - Yahoo! Sports

YES	4 vote(s)	15.4%
Maybe- not as blatant as pro wrestling but definitly suspicous, absolutly	15 vote(s)	57.7%
OH HELL YES	7 vote(s)	26.9%

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