7 0 0 Why is Congress always meddling with sports?
By Christopher Beam Joe Barton. Click image to expand. Rep. Joe Barton A House subcommittee approved a bill Wednesday that would prohibit the NCAA from dubbing its title contest a "national championship" unless it switches to a playoff system. (As of now, the winning teams are selected via the Bowl Championship Series, a complex system that uses voters and computer rankings to determine the sport's top two teams.) Congress also regularly meddles with Major League Baseball—investigating steroid use and the like. Why does Congress have the right to interfere with the inner workings of college and professional sports?
Because sports are considered interstate commerce. Article I, Section 8 of the U.S. Constitution gives Congress the power to regulate commerce among the states. The Supreme Court has interpreted that power to include sports leagues—with some notable exceptions—since they operate across state borders. That gives panels like the House Committee on Energy and Commerce jurisdiction to look into just about any sports-related issue. Likewise, the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, which investigated steroid use in baseball, has the right to probe "any matter with federal policy implications." Since federal law bans steroids, their transportation across state lines for use by professional athletes is Congress' business.
Congress also has the authority to write and revise antitrust laws, which the current championship selection system may be violating. The organizers of the BCS pick 10 teams to play in the various college bowls, including the Sugar Bowl and the Rose Bowl. Six of these teams—the champions of the ACC, Big 12, Big East, Big Ten, Pac-10, and SEC—are automatically locked into getting a coveted—and lucrative—BCS bowl bid. According to critics, this favoritism prevents fair competition. A playoff, they say, would be a more equitable way to decide which teams make it to the finals.
While Congress intervenes in college sports to prevent the violation of antitrust rules, it often invokes professional baseball's exemption from such laws as a rationale for interference. The logic is that, in exchange for this privilege, Major League Baseball should be accountable to Congress. Baseball obtained a release from most antitrust laws in 1922 when the Supreme Court dubbed it a "pastime" rather than an industry. That exemption, however, was dialed back in 1997 with the passage of the Baseball Fans and Communities Protection Act, also known as the Curt Flood Act, after the St. Louis Cardinals center fielder who sued the National League when they tried to trade him to the Phillies in 1969. MLB—as well as the NBA and the NFL—still enjoy full exemption when it comes to television rights deals. The Sports Broadcasting Act of 1961 allows professional leagues to negotiate TV contracts with broadcast networks and split the proceeds among the teams.
...you are a product of your environment, your environment is a product of your priorities, your priorities are a product of you......
The replacement of morality and conscience with law produces a deadly paradox.
STOP BEING GOOD DEMOCRATS---STOP BEING GOOD REPUBLICANS--START BEING GOOD AMERICANS
In the mid 1970 there was a sizable sum of cash put aside to purchase land for 3 baseball fields. The only land available was a lot more money than the league had. There is also a law limiting the amount of money a nonprofit can carry over from year to year.
In the mid 1970 there was a sizable sum of cash put aside to purchase land for 3 baseball fields. The only land available was a lot more money than the league had. There is also a law limiting the amount of money a nonprofit can carry over from year to year.
wasn't the land they play on part of the old Republican club - many moons ago?????
and why not work a deal with Schalmont or Mohonosen like the Soccer club did with Schalmont - or does the little league have standards so high that the school wont comply - keep in mind it is little league not pro baseball
The Rep Club sold the land and the league at the time didn't have any money. I don't know if the option to make a deal with Mohon or Schalmont was open to them. The land offered to the league in the 70's was the old Larned brush dump and was not suitable for baseball fields due to the huge number of cu yds of fill needed per the Army Corp of Engineers. Baseball fields are a lot more permanent than are soccer fields due to fencing, backstops, dugouts, and other structures needed to host playoffs with other teams/leagues.
I pay taxes, I don't have an interest in baseball. If that was such then the government should do this for ALL sports including disc golf/bowling/curling etc etc...
are the girls softball fields part of the Esposito park or are they private?
...you are a product of your environment, your environment is a product of your priorities, your priorities are a product of you......
The replacement of morality and conscience with law produces a deadly paradox.
STOP BEING GOOD DEMOCRATS---STOP BEING GOOD REPUBLICANS--START BEING GOOD AMERICANS
I pay taxes, I don't have an interest in baseball. If that was such then the government should do this for ALL sports including disc golf/bowling/curling etc etc...
are the girls softball fields part of the Esposito park or are they private?
the girl's have a special lock on those fields - Nobody else can use the fields
it is a super special agreement
and don't you remember the block house roof repair the town would not approve for payment because the league got bids and completed the job - but didn't use the right contractor
the problem is the Boys are Jello-us
you just cant little league boys play on the specially sanded girls softball field - ley will never be the same
The Jan. 13 Gazette article about the county purchasing land for Rotterdam Little League was welcome to many who have worked with the league over the years.
In the article it was pointed out that Timothy Larned, a longtime Rotterdam businessman, and Frank Del Gallo, the former Rotterdam supervisor who is also a businessman, are donating labor and equipment to level the site.
As a person involved with several nonprofits over the years, I have been witness to the generosity of both men. Whether it be helping the Boy Scout camp or the children’s home, Tim and Frank have given of themselves, always asking anonymity. It has been my privilege to know Tim and Frank, as it has for many others in Schenectady County. If there is a cause, both men have been there to help, as was the case with the Boys and Girls Club.
I believe it is time for the county to recognize these men for their contributions, even though they would rather remain in the background. I know I speak for many when I say a hearty “thank you” to both.
Gary P. Guido
Letter courtesy of the Daily Gazette 1/17/14
so far FDG hasn't done a thing except mumble the words HOE and level the playing field
to save $$$$ the LL should ask FDG if they can borrow both his HOE and his BEAVERtail trailer and dig up the old fencing and reuse it on the new fields they could use FDG's BEAVERtail to trans port the fencing material
as for Mr Larnard he sold a piece of property that has soooooo much value that nothing has been developed on it in over 250 years for a quarter million dollars to the people - thank you so much
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