Friday, November 28, 2014

Despite Winning Appeal Ray Rice May Never Play in the NFL Again

Running back Ray Rice has won his appeal. The celebration will be short lived, I suspect, as materially very little changes for Rice. He doesn't have a team and is unlikely to find one.

Here's my coverage of the story:

1) In this TSN article, I cover why Rice is unlikely to ever play in the NFL again. Spoiler alert - he's toxic.

2) I join TSN 1200 to talk Ray Rice.

Thursday, November 27, 2014

Full Coverage of NHL Player Jack Johnson's Parents Blowing His Money

It all started with Aaron Portzline's investigative report into Blue Jackets defenseman Jack Johnson having to declare bankruptcy after his parents blew is money.

Over his NHL career, Columbus Blue Jackets defenseman Jack Johnson has earned $18 million. In 2011, Johnson signed a seven-year, $30.5 million contract. And on October 7, Johnson filed for bankruptcy.



While the parents spending their kids money is not an isolated incident, the magnitude of Jack Johnson's betrayal is spectacular and astonishing. Also very surprising is a player declaring bankruptcy during his career (at the age of 27). Brutal and nuts.

Here is a summary of the coverage of the story:


2) My interview of Aaron Portzline of the Columbus Dispatch who broke the story.

3) My interview of Andrew Scott, sports agent at Octagon.

If you're a player, get a good agent and a good financial advisor. If your parents are Goldman or Sachs, use someone else. No family.

Wednesday, November 12, 2014

Friday, November 7, 2014

TSN Article: Can the Yankees Cut A-Rod

In light of the recent news that Alex Rodriguez has admitted to the DEA that he used PEDs, the question is now whether the Yankees can cut him.

For the answer, click here to read my TSN article.


Tuesday, October 21, 2014

TSN Articles: Pistorius & Voynov

I address the latest at TSN.ca.

In this article, I discuss Pistorius' 5 year sentence and the possibility of appeal.

Here I write about Slava Voynov's criminal charges, prison time, the basis for the NHL suspension and his risk of deportation. 




Wednesday, October 8, 2014

TSN Article: Adrian Peterson Could Walk At Trial

My recent TSN article outlines the charges against AP, his jail time and why he may well walk at trial.

Read it here.


Thursday, October 2, 2014

Interview: Amani Toomer

Former elite WR for the Giants turned NBC radio host Amani Toomer joined me on my TSN radio show Offside yesterday. We first hit on the NFL as secondary law enforcement and his thoughts on Rice and AP.

After that, we did a rapid fire on a bunch of players including Kaepernick, Le'Veon, Donnell, Luck, Eli and Brady.

Amani is a top NFL analyst. He pulls no punches, isn't afraid to call it like it is and is also pretty damn smart.

Click here to listen.

Tuesday, September 30, 2014

Roger Goodell Should Not Step Down

There is no doubt that the NFL and the Ravens have mismanaged their handling of the Ray Rice case. They've told us that much.

When I interviewed Don Van Natta, the ESPN Outside The Lines Reporter and two-time Pulitzer Prize winner who wrote his expose on the Ravens handling of the situation, it was tough to conclude otherwise.

Calls for Roger Goodell to step down, however, are not only premature but unsubstantiated. While many believe Goodell saw the video, there is simply no concrete evidence to date to suggest that's the case.

Some argue he should resign on the basis that at the very least he should have known of the video's existence or was willfully blind to it. While I am sympathetic to that position, ultimately there is no evidence he knew of the dramatic and disturbing images on that video.

Historically, Goodell has been tough on all those associated with the NFL - players, coordinators, coaches and owners (see Vilma, Payton, Loomis, Vitt and Irsay).

So in light of Goodell's (fierce) past practice, what did he have to gain by covering things up? Not sure he did.

Perhaps a more likely scenario is that he treated this case as one in series of 89 domestic violence cases the NFL has faced since 2000 - and which have received on average a 2 game suspension. And perhaps a more likely scenario is that Goodell has become somewhat desensitized to instances of domestic violence and saw this as just another case.

The two videos are what caused the public uproar and backlash. However, there was no uproar or backlash in connection with the previous 88 domestic violence cases. And as a lawyer I will say this - that's what domestic violence looks like (and frankly sometimes it's a hell of lot worse).

And so perhaps a fair question to ask ourselves is whether as a collective we have become desensitized to domestic violence and whether, as a collective, we have also failed.


Thursday, September 25, 2014

TSN Article: It's Not Over for Tony Stewart

In my latest TSN article, I discuss the Tony Stewart case, including the grand jury process, the grand jury electing not to charge Stewart and what's next for Stewart.

In short, this isn't the end for Stewart. Expect Ward's family to sue Stewart for wrongful death. They hold him responsible for Kevin Ward's death.

Click here to read. 


Wednesday, September 17, 2014

TSN Article: Adrian Peterson's Indefinite Suspension & The Exemption List

Today, news broke that the Vikings had a change of heart and were suspending Adrian Peterson indefinitely by placing him on a mysterious Exemption List.

Click here for my breakdown.




TSN 1200 Radio: We Talk Adrian Peterson Indefinite Suspension

I join JR and Steve Warne on TSN 1200 to talk Adrian Peterson's indefinite suspension.

Click here to listen.

Tuesday, September 16, 2014

Bertuzzi Settlement: Who Generally Pays

The lawyers in the Steve Moore/Todd Bertuzzi lawsuit announced settlement recently. At this point, they are crossing the T's and dotting the I's with a view to formally dismiss the case with the Court. Once the dismissal is filed with the Ontario Superior Court of Justice, the lawsuit will officially come to an end. That should happen soon. That's correct - it's technically not over yet.

A common question that has been raised is who pays the Bertuzzi settlement, which may be in the tens of millions dollars. Is Bertuzzi on the hook for the whole amount? Do the Canucks or Orca Bay, the former owner of the Canucks, pay anything?

At law, an employer can be held liable for the acts committed by an employee in the course of his or her employment. This principle is called vicarious liability. That's why Steve Moore not only sued Bertuzzi, but also his employer Orca Bay.

So back to the question - who pays.

The terms of settlement in the Bertuzzi case are confidential so I can't speak to the actual arrangement. 

Generally, however, the lion's share of the settlement in these types of cases will be paid by the insurance companies. Bertuzzi's lawyer, Geoff Adair, was likely hired by the insurers.

There is a small wrinkle on the issue of the insurance coverage. Insurance policies typically will deny coverage in cases of criminal or intentional conduct. Bertuzzi committed a crime when he assaulted Moore and ended up pleading guilty to assault. That being said, Bertuzzi likely took the position that he did not intend to injure Moore, and as a result, the insurance companies may have stepped in and paid most of the settlement less any deductibles.

The other question I get a lot is this: how much is the settlement worth.

The short answer is I don't know and won't hazard a guess. The terms of settlement are confidential and will remain so. As well, anyone who is a party to the action will be contractually bound to keep the dollar amount strictly confidential, and breaching that agreement will come with penalties.

Monday, September 15, 2014

TSN Article: The Reactivation of Adrian Peterson

In this TSN article, I explain the charges against Adrian Peterson, his possible jail time, the legal options for the Vikings and what the NFL can do.



TSN Article: Judge Masipa Makes Grave Error in Conviction of Pistorius

Judge Masipa cleared Oscar Pistorius on the murder charge and convicted him on the lesser charge of culpable homicide. 

In my TSN article here, I explain why Judge Masipa made an error and should have convicted Pistorius of murder.




Friday, September 12, 2014

TSN's Off The Record: Pistorius, Ray Rice, Goodell & NHL Concussions

I join Michael Landsberg on his TSN show Off The Record. We take a 4 minute spin around the legal world of sports hitting on Pistorius, Ray Rice, Roger Goodell and the NHL concussion lawsuits.

Click here to watch.


Thursday, September 11, 2014

CTV National News: Why Judge Masipa Got It Wrong

I join CTV National News and discuss the Pistorius verdict. Click here to watch.

Same tie as below - sorry (same day).


CTV National News: Pistorius Verdict

I join CTV National News and break down the Oscar Pistorius verdict (day 1) in about 4 minutes.

Click here to watch.


Monday, September 8, 2014

TSN Article: NFL Could Revisit Rice Suspension

Here's my legal take in light of the breaking news of a new Ray Rice video showing him delivering a left hook to his fiancee at the time, Janay Palmer.


TSN 1260: We Talk Ray Rice and New Video

I join Dustin Nielson and Wil Fraser at TSN 1260 to discuss breaking news on Ray Rice. A new video has surfaced showing the RB knocking out his fiancee (at the time) in the elevator. 

We discuss what that means here.

Saturday, September 6, 2014

Tony Stewart & Possible Criminal Charges

As the investigation enters its fourth week, it remains an open question whether NASCAR race car driver Tony Stewart face criminal charges in the death of Kevin Ward Jr.

During a NASCAR race on August 9 in upstate New York, Ward’s car was spun out by Stewart. Furious, Ward unbuckled, climbed out of his car and walked onto the track to confront Stewart, at which point he was struck by Stewart’s car.

The District Attorney continues to investigate the death of Ward looking into whether Stewart, at the very least, intentionally revved his throttle as he passed Ward to put a scare in him. By hitting the throttle, the car fishtailed to the right into Ward, killing him. If the conclusion is that Stewart was looking to scare Ward, he could be criminally responsible for the death of Ward.

That would likely mean a second degree manslaughter charge. Also called involuntary manslaughter, this occurs when a person “recklessly” causes the death of another person. Reckless acts are generally deemed less serious or blameworthy than intentional acts. A conviction carries a minimum sentence 1 to 3 years in prison and a maximum period of incarceration of 5 to 15 years.

I wrote about the incident days for TSN here.

The DA is going to need strong evidence to be satisfied that criminal charges against Stewart are warranted. The track was dark, Ward was dressed in black and he put himself into an inherently dangerous situation by walking into oncoming traffic.

Bearing these circumstances in mind, it would be a surprise to see the DA pursue criminal charges against Stewart unless they believe the evidence, in its totality, suggests that Stewart not only failed to avoid Ward, but was reckless in the way he approached him. That reckless element is key and is your threshold for criminal charges.

I’m not making a declaration as to whether I believe Stewart intended to hit Ward or, at the very least, tried to scare him by getting close to him. I can’t crawl into Stewart’s mind to assess intent. And frankly, neither can the DA. So the evidence as a whole will need to be assessed to make a reasonable conclusion as to what likely happened that night.

And absent compelling evidence to the contrary, Stewart may get the benefit of the doubt and walk. 

While I have not had the benefit of reviewing the results of the investigation to date, my sense is that Stewart isn't likely to face charges. Of course, that could change depending on what the DA uncovers. Still, I would be surprised to see charges materialize.

That being said, it seems likely that Stewart will face a wrongful death civil lawsuit from Ward's family. If a person is killed as a result of the negligence or misconduct of another person, the surviving members may sue for "wrongful death". So long as the Ward family believes that Stewart is responsible, a lawsuit is inevitable.

Friday, September 5, 2014

TSN 1200 Ottawa: Bertuzzi/Moore

I joined Steve Lloyd and Chris Stevenson on TSN 1200 to discuss the Moore Bertuzzi settlement and what it means for the future of the game.

Click here to listen.

TSN Radio Toronto: Bertuzzi/Moore Settlement

I join Matt Cauz and Mike Hulk Hogan on TSN Toronto 1050 to talk Bertuzzi, Moore and Night Court's Markie Post.

Click here to listen.

Thursday, September 4, 2014

Interview: Former MLB Commissioner Fay Vincent

Anyone who has had the great pleasure of interviewing Fay Vincent, the former Commissioner of Major League Baseball, will tell you he is tremendous guest. And they're right. I interviewed Vincent and was left entertained by his insight wisdom, and above all, honesty.

Vincent and I covered a lot in our interview, including his time as Commish, his legacy, Bud Selig, Bob Manfred, Pete Rose, PEDs, Expos, Bart Giamatti, his close relationship with the Bush family and his time as CEO of Columbia Pictures.

Wednesday, September 3, 2014

Friday, August 22, 2014

Save By The LeVeon Bell: My TSN article on Bell, Blount and Blunt

I take a look at possible punishments against Leveon Bell and LaGarrette Blount, and by extension provide fantasy advice. Click here to read my TSN article on Bell, Blount and Blunt.



Wednesday, August 20, 2014

Bertuzzi/Moore: It Ain't Settled Until the Fat Bailiff Sings

It's settled.

It's not settled.

Hang on - it's settled.

Wait - it's not settled. And that's where we are now.

Until such time as a Notice of Discontinuance is filed with the Court, there is no settlement. This type of Notice is filed with the Court with the consent of both parties letting the Court know it's over. Anything short of that means it's not technically over. And technically means a lot. 

These things can go sideways at the 11th hour and it's not unusual to believe that settlement has been achieved when in fact it has not.

I mentioned yesterday on Twitter it was highly unusual, if not completely unprecedented, to see a play by play of the tail end of settlement talks. I've never seen that in the context of an Ontario action and expect I never will. That made me wonder as to the legitimacy of the claims being made.

Ultimately, it is unclear where this confusion is coming from. However, it does raise some interesting questions.


Tuesday, August 19, 2014

Bertuzzi, Moore & Possible Settlement

TSN’s Bob McKenzie is reporting that lawyers for Todd Bertuzzi and Steve Moore are engaged in “deep negotiations” with a view to settling the lawsuit. He has also reported that settlement is not yet finalized. There have been reports that the lawsuit has been settled. However, those reports are premature.


Moore NHL playing career ended in March 2004 when Bertuzzi, playing for Vancouver, jumped on Moore of the Colorado Avalanche from behind, and drove his head into the ice. As a result of the incident, Moore broke three vertebrae and will not play NHL hockey again.

Typically in civil cases (suing for money), parties are engaged in settlement discussions throughout the entire process. While it’s a standard occurrence, as the trial date bears down on the parties, there is an added incentive for the parties to settle. The certainty of settlement is often preferred to the uncertainty of a trial decision. Parties are further incentivised to settle in light of Court rules that penalize parties if they refuse a reasonable settlement offer.

Reports are that Moore is seeking about $38 million. I can’t confirm whether that is accurate. His lawyer Tim Danson, though, will consider a number of factors when arriving at a proposed dollar figure.

First, he will want Bertuzzi to compensate Moore for his lost NHL earnings. Bertuzzi would argue that Moore was a fringe fourth liner that had very limited earning potential and may not have stuck around the NHL. On the flip side, Moore will argue that at the age of 25 he was coming into his own and was poised to enjoy a long and fruitful career in the NHL. For example, Danson could take the position that Moore would have played 10 years at an average salary of $2 million a year, which would take his hockey earnings to $20 million. That number may be low for a 10 year veteran, but that’s q starting point. Ultimately, it is difficult to predict and the sides would each bring in experts to opine on the likely trajectory of Moore’s career. As you can appreciate, the sides would have entirely different opinions.

Danson will also want compensation for Moore’s lost future earnings outside of hockey to the extent that Bertuzzi is responsible. Danson has alleged that 10 years after the incident, Moore is still suffering from concussion symptoms and has difficulty focusing on a given task. As a result, Danson would argued that his client’s future earning potential has been substantially compromised.

Danson would maintain that Moore’s earning potential outside of hockey was likely to be substantial. Moore is a Harvard grad who had aspirations to work in the financial sector. Theoretically, he could have been a good earner, but because of his cognitive injury, he won’t be. As a result, Moore must be compensated for that loss.

Part of the monetary equation will include compensation for Moore’s pain and suffering and payment of part of his legal fees.

The issue of quantum is certainly a complex one and requires expert evidence. Both sides will likely have very different ideas of what constitutes appropriate compensation under the circumstances. But you can see how quickly things add up.

Under settlement is formally announced and all documents are signed, the case is not settled.


And one more thing: the terms of settlement will be confidential unless the parties agree for partial disclosure of terms. In cases with great public profile, that can happen. However, in this case, don’t bet on it.

Wednesday, August 13, 2014

My 2 Minute Tribute to Robin Williams With The Help of Louis Armstrong

Here's my 2 minute tribute to Robin Williams with the help of Louis Armstrong. It starts with audio footage from 1971, where a rising star is introduced to a nightclub.

May Mr. Williams find peace.

Friday, August 8, 2014

Pistorius Resources: Offside Articles & Radio Shows

Today the Oscar Pistorius trial ended. Judge Masipa announced that a verdict would be presented on September 11, giving the Court a little over 1 month to sort all this out. 

I have covered this trial in some depth. On my TSN radio show Offside I have played an analysed a lot of the testimony. I have also written a number of articles on this high profile trial. 

I have been asked a number of times if I believe Pistorius will be convicted of murder,

So at the risk of repeating myself, I have decided to reproduce links to my articles and radio shows, which outline my views on this case. I'm of course happy to answer any questions. You can send me your questions or comments through Twitter - @EricOnSportslaw.

The radio shows below where I carve out his testimony and comment is a good starting point. Don't mind all his crying.

Articles

August 7, 2014

July 3, 2014

April 7, 2014

March 4, 2014

February 22, 2013

Radio

April 9 Offside Radio Show: Start here for review of key testimony 

April 15 Offside Radio Show: Review of more testimony

April 22 Offside Radio Show: More of Pistorius testimony





Thursday, August 7, 2014

Tuesday, July 29, 2014

TSN Article: Sterling Loses Lawsuit

A Court is allowing the sale of the Clippers by Rochelle "Shelley" Sterling.

Here's a link to my TSN article outlining what all this means.


Wednesday, July 23, 2014

Edmonton Listeners Fill In the Blanks

Listeners of TSN 1260 have always been pretty engaged in the smash hit morning show hosted by Dustin Nielson and Will Fraser. Some of the best listeners around.

Dustin likes to play a game with the listeners where he poses this question: 

"TSN 1260 Legal Analyst and __________ Eric Macramalla FILL IN THE BLANK FOLKS."

Last week, there were so many great responses. Here are the top 5 Twitter replies:

5) Eric Macramalla TSN1260 Legal Analyst and famed Jeterologist

4) Eric Macramalla TSN1260 Legal Analyst and professional twinky tester.

3) Eric Macramalla TSN1260 Legal Analyst and newest Preds centre

2) Eric Macramalla TSN1260 Legal Analyst and Mario Van Peebles stunt double

1) Eric Macramalla TSN1260 Legal Analyst and "My Buddy" doll creator

Here's a sample of some of the text messages sent in:

Tsn 1260 legal analyst and full time young and the restless blogger 
·         
TSN legal analyst & sexy librarian, Eric Macramalla   

TSN legal analyst & professional male model, Eric Macramalla
·     
Tsn legal analyst and child star of 1960's Bulgarian soap operas Eric Macromella 
·        
Legal analyst and collector of celebrity hair clippings. 
·         
TSN 1260 Legal Analyst and next host of the hit TV show Survivor
·         
TSN legal analyst & creepy ex-boyfriend, Eric Macramalla 
·         
Tsn 1260 legal analyst and creator of "is that hair gel?" hair products.
·         
TSN legal analyst and adult diaper fashion model.         

TSN legal analyst and traveling hair growth tonic salesman Eric Macramella

Eric Macramalla TSN legal analyst and falafel connoisseur. 

Tsn 1260 Legal Analyst and Co-Star of the Super Terrific Happy Hour with Jerry Seinfeld
·         
Legal analyst and "Chris Tucker Impersonator"

Legal analyst and guy in front of you at the grocery store till who has to go back for 1 more item. 

Eric Macramalla - TSN1260 Legal Analyst and Bea Arthur body double. 

Tsn legal analyst and assistant to the general manager of the Yankees
· 

Wednesday, June 18, 2014

CTV National News: Redskins Trademark Cancellation

I joined Marcia MacMillan at CTV News to discuss the cancellation of the Redskins trademark registrations. 

Click here to watch.


TSN Article: Cancellation of Redskins Trademarks & What It Really Means

Today the USPTO ruled that the Redskins trademarks are to be cancelled. As a result of this ruling, there has been some confusion as to what this really means for the Redskins.

I clear it up here at TSN.ca.

Spoiler Alert: not as bad as many are saying.

Wednesday, June 4, 2014

TSN Article: Dan Marino - Why He Withdrew From His Lawsuit

Dan Marino is withdrawing from his concussion lawsuit against the NFL. I address the withdrawal in my TSN article here.

I also wrote an article on the actual lawsuit before he withdrew, which can be found here at TSN. 

Dan Marino Sues the NFL

Hall of Fame quarterback Dan Marino has filed his own NFL concussion lawsuit. Marino, along with 14 other players, filed the lawsuit on May 28, 2014 in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania.

Marino joins a little under 5000 retired NFL players and their families that have sued the league across approximately 225 concussion lawsuits. There have been many notable players that have filed lawsuits, including Tony Dorsett, Eric Dickerson, Mark Rypien, Tony Mandarich, Art Monk, Jim McMahon and Jamal Lewis, as well as the estate of the late Junior Seau. None, however, are as well known as Marino.

The key allegation raised by Marino is the NFL concealed information. He is arguing that the NFL knew of the long-term neurological impact of headshots but failed to share those findings with the players. This issue of fraudulent concealment was also alleged in the other concussion lawsuits so it’s not new.

It’s tough to know if Marino will succeed as everything turns on the evidence presented at trial. To win, he will need to show that the NFL had key and important information about the long-term and devastating impact of headshots and concealed it.
The NFL, however, has certain defences available to it. First, it can argue that players were aware of the risk associated with playing football and they agreed to those risks each time they stepped onto the field. The NFL would also maintain that they didn’t conceal anything. As well, the NFL could point out that no one can say for sure what caused a player’s dementia, and even if it was caused by repeated headshots while playing football, how much of that damage was sustained outside the NFL in places like college or high school ball. So what caused the dementia and when it was caused become key issues.
The NFL can also argue that Marino’s lawsuit doesn’t belong in court in the first place, but rather should go to arbitration. The collective bargaining agreement provides that issues of player health and safety go to arbitration and not court. On the flip side, Marino would argue that since this case involves fraud in the form of concealment, it properly falls outside of arbitration and within the jurisdiction of the courts.

Bottom line is this: both sides face challenges in this case and that's where we generally see settlement.

All this is probably moot, as the league is working on finalizing a global settlement of these cases. You may recall that back in July 2013, the league announced it had settled the concussion lawsuits with the players. The negotiated settlement was for $765 million and would bind every retired NFL player, of which there are about 19,000. You should note, though, Marino is included among these players. So that means that Marino didn’t need to file the lawsuit at this time.

As well, while settlement was indeed announced, it was not finalized. Before the NFL can consider the case closed, the Court has to approve the terms of settlement. The problem is that on two separate occasions the Court has rejected the settlement on the basis that there is insufficient money to pay all players.

As well, even if the Court were to approve the settlement, any of the 19,000 players would have the option to opt-out of the settlement agreement. If a player believes that he can do a lot better filing his own individual lawsuit, he would tell the court and the NFL thanks but no thanks, I'm headed to court.

The Marino lawsuit may suggest that he is tired of waiting around for a payout from the proposed settlement and wants to take matters into his own hands.

Whatever Marino’s motivation, these concussion lawsuits are likely to continue for years. In the event a global settlement is approved by the Court, it seems likely that a number of players will opt out and file their own lawsuits.

Indeed, there is still a lot of track to cover.


Wednesday, May 28, 2014

Prust v. Moore: Why They Are Different

Some are saying that John Moore's hit on Dale Weise is the same as Brandon Prust's hit on Derek Stepan. 

While both hits were dirty and unacceptable, they are in fact different from the vantage point of the NHL.


Rule 48.1 of the NHL Rule Book is key when making this distinction. It provides as follows:
Illegal Check to the Head – A hit resulting in contact with an opponent’s head where the head was the main point of contact and such contact to the head was avoidable is not permitted.
When Prust delivered his hit on Stepan, the "main point of contact" was not Stepan's head (watch the GIF here). Rather, contact was made with the upper chest area and the jaw area. It may be seen as an issue of semantics, but "main" (or as previously referred to as "principal") means "chief" or "prime" point of contact. It cannot be said that Stepan's head was the main point of contact - even though it was a point of contact. Was the hit dangerous and unnecessary? Yes. Was the head the main point of contact? No.

So that's why in the NHL's suspension video, the hit was described as "significant head contact" but not "main" head contact. That resulted in a 2 game suspension for interference (which did seem a bit light given the lateness of the hit and the ensuing injury).

On the other hand, the "main point of contact" was Weise's head on the Moore hit. It's tough to see it any other way (watch a GIF here). Moore hit Weise square in the head. For that reason, expect this hit to be treated differently and possibly end with a longer suspension than that of Prust. Somewhere around 3 games. Two games, though, would not be a surprise since the league historically values playoffs games higher than regular season games.


With the fine distinction being made, are we splitting neurons? Maybe - but that's how it's interpreted at the league level.

Wednesday, April 9, 2014

TSN 1200 Hit - I Talk Pistorius on Day 1 of Cross-Examination

Click here to listen to my radio segment with Steve Lloyd and Jason York where I break down Day 1 of Pistorius' cross examination.

TSN Article: Instant Legal Analysis: Day 1 of Pistorius Cross-Examination

Click here to read my TSN article entitled "Instant Legal Analysis: Day 1 of Pistorius Cross-Examination". I hit the critical parts of Pistorius' testimony.


Tuesday, April 8, 2014

CTV National News: Pistorius Testifies Day 2

I join Jacqueline Milczarek of CTV National News to talk Pistorius and his second day on the stand.

Click here to watch.


Monday, April 7, 2014

TSN Article: Pistorius Defence Team Takes Center Stage

In my TSN article, I discuss the many challenges faced by Oscar Pistorius and his defence team. 

Click here to read the article.

CTV National News: Pistorius Takes The Stand

Oscar Pistorius took the stand today. Click here to watch my segment with CTV National News talking about Pistorius and what it means.


Tuesday, March 25, 2014

CTV News Clip - Bertuzzi/Moore

I chat with Jacqueline Milczarek of CTV News on Bertuzzi/Moore case. 

Click here to watch.


TSN Article - Does Roddy White Have To Pay Up On Bet?

Click here to read my TSN article (via Bardown) on whether Roddy White needs to pay up on the season ticket offer to poor little Dylan Hoyt.


Thursday, March 20, 2014

Monday, February 10, 2014

Thursday, January 23, 2014

Athletes & The Money They Blow

Former NFL QB Vince Young filed for bankruptcy this week. He joins a long list of players who have had problems hanging on to their money.

Young grossed $45 million during his NFL career. That's a lot of pennies. As per the Court filing, he now has about $100,000 in assets and between $1 million and $10 million in liabilities. This talented QB had the physical tools to be successful but his issue was between the ears. Now those ears are a lot more poor.

Young isn't alone. According to a few reports, 78% of NFL players are either bankrupt or in financial trouble within 2 years of retirement. For the NBA, it's 60% of players that are bankrupt within 5 years of leaving the sport.

We should remember, though, that not all players make Manning coin and nor do they play for a decade. According to some (not all agree with these numbers), the average career length for a player is as follows:

NBA = 4.8 years
MLB = 5.6 years
NFL = 3.5 years

So players obviously have finite careers and finite earning potential - but some more finite than others. 

On top of that, income can be limited for some. While a guy like Brees makes $70 billion dollars or so, the minimum salary in the NFL $405,000 and a second year player gets $480,000. After taxes, these guys aren't exactly flush with cash.

The median NFL salary is about $800,000 (not to be confused with the $2 million average salary which is a less accurate reflection of where players stand given some of the really loaded contracts).

The reasons players blow their money are complex and varied: disadvantaged background and low socioeconomic status;  terrible investment advice and parasites out to defraud them; short careers; overspending; divorce/child custody payments (Travis Henry has 9 kids with 9 different mommies); legal fees because he killed two people and then drove his white car on the highway engaging in a high speed chase. 

Some or all of these factors can conspire to separate a player from his fortune. 

Below is a list I've compiled from around the web of players who have blown it all (or most of it). Their names are followed by their approximate gross (in millions):

Mike Tyson - $400M
Evander Holyfield - $250M
Allen Iverson - $200M
Michael Vick - $130M
Scotty Pippen - $120M
Antoine Walker - $110M
Curt Schilling - $105M (not clear how much he lost but at least $50M)
Latrell Sprewell - $96M                          
Vin Baker - $93M
Derrick Coleman - $90M
Terrell Owens - $80M
Deuce McAllister - $70 M
Warren Sapp - $60M
Arantxa Sanchez-Vicario - $60M
Marion Jones - $50M
Mark Brunell - $50M
Lawrence Taylor - $50M
Tony Gwynn $50M
Jamal Lewis - $40M
Tiki Barber - $35M
Lenny Dysktra - $25M
OJ Simpson - $20M
Travis Henry - $20M
Muhsin Muhammad - $20M
Bernie Kosar - $20M
Jack Clark - $20M
Rocket Ismael - $20M
Bryan Trotier - $8M
Dorothy Hamill - $2M