The Sport Professor Podcast

Sport Law - Premise Liability Part 1 - An Introduction

Have you ever wondered what actions or inactions could lead to athletes, spectators, or employees bring a lawsuit against your favorite team, gym, or stadium? If so, this is the podcast for you as today we once again deep dive the world of sport law, providing insight into the world of torts in sports and facility liability.  Beginning with a quick discussion of negligence, we then move to define the key relationships present within facility and property usage, before ending with a breakdown of the specific legal obligations and duties of stadium owners and possessors.  So, if you are interested in learning more about law and premise liability and how both tie into the world of sport just sit back relax and enjoy this episode of The Sport Professor Podcast.

Sport Law - The Case of the Negligent Athlete

Have you ever wondered if athletes can sue one another for their actions on the playing field? Or if teams can be held liable for what their athletes do? If so, this is the podcast for you as today we deep dive what case law has to say about athlete liability and negligence. Beginning with a quick reminder of the definition of negligence and the legal elements that encompass it (2:14), we then discuss how the historical view of athlete liability has evolved over time (12:00) before dissecting three key court cases (18:33) and applying the discovered case law to a well known modern day example of athlete-on-athlete violence (57:09).  So if you are interested in learning more about the legal liability of athletes and how it affects sport teams just sit back relax and enjoy this episode of The Sport Professor Podcast.

Sport Law - An Introduction to Legal Theory

Have you ever wondered why we have laws? Or what led to societies agreeing that certain behaviors should not be allowed and even punished? If so, this is the podcast for you as today we deep dive one of the founding principles of the modern world, legal philosophies. Taking a step back from our normal format, we will focus our conversation on the three principle theories that guide the reason, formation, and interpretation of laws.  In doing so, we will discuss the Natural Law Theory, Legal Positivism, and Law as an Organic Process.  We will then apply these philosophies to one of the most taught cases in law schools across the country, The Case of the Shipwrecked Sailors.  Breaking down the facts, we will move to discuss the application of law and how each philosophy applies to the trial and its outcome. After complete, we will end the podcast by addressing one fundamental question, why should we as sport managers and sport lovers care about these ancient philosophies and cases? In other words, why do we need to understand these things and how will that understanding help us better appreciate the uniqueness that is sport. So if you are interested in learning more about the legal theories that guide all aspects of our lives just sit back relax and enjoy this episode of The Sport Professor Podcast.

Sport Law - Introduction to Con Law & State Action

Have you ever wondered why Tom Brady sued the NFL for Deflategate?  Or why the NCAA does not have to uphold the constitution?  If so, this is the podcast for you as today we once again deep dive the intersection of constitutional law and the world of sports, as we examine the legal construct of STATE ACTION.  Beginning with a brief refresher on the United States Constitution (2:48), we then move to breakdown when federal courts are willing to hear sport organization disputes (11:31), before ending with an in-depth analysis of the legal elements of standing (17:19), injunctions (20:47), and state action (26:05).  So, if you are interested in learning more about the Constitution, and what it takes for the courts to get involved in sport organization disputes just sit back relax and enjoy this episode of The Sport Professor Podcast.

Sport Law - 3 Things Everyone Should Know About Contracts

Have you ever wondered why tampering is illegal in the NBA? Or what goes into a legally binding contract? If so, this is the podcast for you as today we once again take a quick glimpse at the intersection of the world of sports and law, and provide a crash course in contracts. Beginning with a short discussion of where we see contracts in the world, we then move to break down three things everyone should know about contracts, providing context from the world of sports along the way. So, if you are interested in learning what makes something a contract, how interfering with an existing contract is illegal, or what happens when a contract is broken, just sit back, relax and enjoy this episode of The Sport Professor Podcast. 

Game Theory & Gambling - 5 Tips For Betting the NFL in 2020

Have you been wondering how Covid might change betting on football this year?  Or what team you should pick to win it all? If so, this is the podcast for you as today we provide a crash course in gambling on football in 2020.  Using the lens of game theory, we begin with a quick review of the academic construct before connecting the theory to practice and offering 5 tips for how to approach gambling on the upcoming football season.  So, if you are interested in learning more about how scholars and gamblers are viewing this strange time in football just sit back, relax and enjoy this episode of The Sport Professor Podcast.

Crash Courses - The MISSION of the NBA Boycott

Have you ever wondered how organizations go about establishing a mission or vision for their future? Or why the NBA players' boycott led to meaningful actions around the country?  If so, this is the podcast for you as today we provide a crash course in strategic planning and dissect the mission and outcomes of the NBA players' playoff strike.  Beginning with a quick discussion of values, missions, visions, goals, and objectives, we then move to break down the NBA and NBPA mission statements, before ending with a dissection of the Milwaukee Bucks statement and call for change.  So, if you are interested in learning more about how strategic planning can help organizations and groups achieve their desired outcomes just sit back, relax, and enjoy this episode of The Sport Professor Podcast.

Sport Law, Free Speech, & Defamation

Have you ever wondered why athletes lose sponsors for what they say, even though the 1st Amendment guarantees them freedom of speech? Or why broadcasters, writers, and commentators can say almost anything they want about athletes in the eyes of the court? If so, this is the podcast for you as today we once again deep dive the world of sport law and examine the intersection of the 1st Amendment and the world of sports. Beginning with a quick discussion of the construct of free speech (1:55), we then move to break down the 1st Amendment, focusing on two common misconceptions (18:10), before ending with a conversation about defamation (30:09) and how it all ties into the world of sports (39:50). So, if you are interested in learning more about the Constitution and free speech in sports just sit back relax and enjoy this episode of The Sport Professor Podcast. 

Racism in Sports

Have you ever wondered where the constructs of race and racism began? Or how a disproven pseudo-science that shaped much of America’s early thinking about the differences between people still affects the world of sports? If so, this is the podcast for you as today we deep dive the world of racism in sports. Beginning with a brief discussion of race and racism (8:03), we then move to dissect modern-day racism in sports (27:45), before ending with practical suggestions of what you can do to help improve the racism that exists in sports today (56:03). So, if you are interested in learning more about the history of racism and sports just sit back, relax, and enjoy this episode of The Sport Professor Podcast.

Sport News - Protesting in Sports

Have you ever wondered why so many athletes use their platform to engage in protests? Or why so many people push back against athletes when they do? If so, this is the podcast for you as today we deep dive the world of sport protests.  Beginning with a brief history of protesting in America (2:08), we will then move to discuss the history of sport protests (20:16) breaking down not only why athletes engage in protests but also what those protests say about our society (38:31).  So, if you are interested in learning more about the history of protests in sports and America just sit back, relax, and enjoy this episode of The Sport Professor Podcast.