Sports Law Blog week 3 Tammy Kennedy
Poor Michael Vick, I have been watching his reality show “The Michael Vick Project” on cable this season and I really feel sorry for this guy. When I first heard about Vick and his indictment I was shocked. My first thought was “why would a successful NFL player spend his time fighting dogs?” But after watching the show I understood, somewhat. This is what this man did before he became the NFL superstar. His childhood was not the best. Vick and his family and friends spent their youth like a lot of inner city boys fighting dogs for a hustle. I personally think dog fighting is ridiculous and brutal to say the least.
Obviously Vick needed to grow up. He was still doing things after becoming a multi-millionaire that he was doing when he was poor. He definitely did not need to continue hustling for a few bucks. "Vick, a standout at Virginia Tech who was the first player chosen in the 2001 NFL draft, is one of pro football's highest-profile and highest paid players. In 2004, he signed a 10-year, $130 million contract with the Falcons."(CNN.com, 2007) I think a lot of these guys entering professional sports need personal development classes. Just like they need to learn how to manage their money they need to learn how to manage a millionaire lifestyle. The people around him didn’t know any better.
He appears to have grown up. He proposed to the mother of his children, he spends time talking to other kids about his mistakes and he seems to have matured. He also appears to be very remorseful. Overall he is a lucky man. He has been given a second chance. "Vick's problems would seem to be plentiful now that he has gone from a person of interest in local and federal investigations to one of four men charged in U.S. District Court in Richmond, Va., with conspiracy to commit interstate commerce in aid of unlawful activities and to sponsor a dog in an animal-fighting venture. On the Travel Act portion of the conspiracy charges, he faces a maximum of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine. The dog fighting charges carry a possible sentence of one year in prison, a $100,000 fine or both." (Sports Illustrated, 2007) I think and hope that he has learned his lesson and I wish him and his family well. This childhood pastime could have cost him his life and his livelihood.
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2007/football/nfl/07/17/dohrmann.vick/index.html Sports Illustrated Shocking Charges
http://www.cnn.com/2007/US/law/07/17/vick/index.html NFL Star Indicted over Dog Fighting
Wednesday, July 21, 2010
Wednesday, July 7, 2010
The Sports Authority sued by US Soccer Federation
Oops! TSA’s Bad! Gotcha July 7, 2010
The United States maybe behind the rest of the world when it comes to soccer but the Sports Authority (TSA), one of the largest retailers of athletic apparel in the country, tried to capitalize during the world cup events in South Africa. Michael Strahan appeared in a commercial which aired during the US and England game, sporting the official crest of the U S Soccer Federation (USSF). Although TSA does have a relationship with the USSF they were out of bounds in their attempt to market their merchandise during the FIFA games.
The USSF has an exclusive agreement with Dick’s Sporting Goods to market with the office logo and crest. TSA can and does sell USSF products but they do not have the right to advertise using the crest. “The infringement enjoined retailer The Sports Authority from running ads depicting official U.S. soccer trademarks and players, granting an emergency motion by the U.S. Soccer Federation Inc. in its suit accusing the company of seeking an unfair competitive edge and interfering with endorsement contracts through infringing ads.” (Forbes.com 2010)
Judge William H. Hibbler granted a temporary restraining order and preliminary injunction, called for the plaintiff to post a $25,000 bond and set a status hearing for June 28. (Forbes.com)
I am like many Americans, we know more about basketball, baseball and football than soccer, but to the rest of the world soccer is the number 1 sport. "TSA's misuse of U.S. Soccer's marks, logos and uniforms is likely to cause confusion, mistake and deception among consumers and give the false impression that U.S. Soccer has an authorized relationship with TSA, which it most clearly does not." (Eurosport.yahoo)
I think because of the FIFA’s games being viewed by such a large audience that, TSA wanted to get the added exposure to boost their reputation around the world. It seems to me that they should have known that they would be scrutinized and consequently fined, “The U.S. Soccer Federation is seeking to stop Sports Authority from using its trademarks, triple and punitive damages, and other remedies” (Reuters.com) but apparently they did not care.
After all is said and done the TSA commercial featuring Michael Strahan http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OXcrUhUkQqk
(Commercial with Michael Strahan, displaying the crest of the US Soccer) was viewed by millions of sports fans and although TSA was enjoined with a $25,000 bond,and ordered to stop airing the spot, I would think that they got more than they bargained for with the added PR around this lawsuit.
Case 1:10-cv-03755 Document 1 Filed 06/17/10 Page 1 of 20
The United States maybe behind the rest of the world when it comes to soccer but the Sports Authority (TSA), one of the largest retailers of athletic apparel in the country, tried to capitalize during the world cup events in South Africa. Michael Strahan appeared in a commercial which aired during the US and England game, sporting the official crest of the U S Soccer Federation (USSF). Although TSA does have a relationship with the USSF they were out of bounds in their attempt to market their merchandise during the FIFA games.
The USSF has an exclusive agreement with Dick’s Sporting Goods to market with the office logo and crest. TSA can and does sell USSF products but they do not have the right to advertise using the crest. “The infringement enjoined retailer The Sports Authority from running ads depicting official U.S. soccer trademarks and players, granting an emergency motion by the U.S. Soccer Federation Inc. in its suit accusing the company of seeking an unfair competitive edge and interfering with endorsement contracts through infringing ads.” (Forbes.com 2010)
Judge William H. Hibbler granted a temporary restraining order and preliminary injunction, called for the plaintiff to post a $25,000 bond and set a status hearing for June 28. (Forbes.com)
I am like many Americans, we know more about basketball, baseball and football than soccer, but to the rest of the world soccer is the number 1 sport. "TSA's misuse of U.S. Soccer's marks, logos and uniforms is likely to cause confusion, mistake and deception among consumers and give the false impression that U.S. Soccer has an authorized relationship with TSA, which it most clearly does not." (Eurosport.yahoo)
I think because of the FIFA’s games being viewed by such a large audience that, TSA wanted to get the added exposure to boost their reputation around the world. It seems to me that they should have known that they would be scrutinized and consequently fined, “The U.S. Soccer Federation is seeking to stop Sports Authority from using its trademarks, triple and punitive damages, and other remedies” (Reuters.com) but apparently they did not care.
After all is said and done the TSA commercial featuring Michael Strahan http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OXcrUhUkQqk
(Commercial with Michael Strahan, displaying the crest of the US Soccer) was viewed by millions of sports fans and although TSA was enjoined with a $25,000 bond,and ordered to stop airing the spot, I would think that they got more than they bargained for with the added PR around this lawsuit.
Case 1:10-cv-03755 Document 1 Filed 06/17/10 Page 1 of 20
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
