If Deflategate's courtroom battles placed "sports law" into mainstream conversation in 2015-2016, then 2017 gave sports law an entire fleet of those Wacky Waving Inflatable Arm Flailing Tubemen [Note: If you do not understand the reference, I encourage you to click the link.] As we step - no, run - into a new year embracing all the change that is more likely than not going to occur, I would like to put the past twelve months into perspective and reflect on what I predicted would be the sports law hot topics to watch in 2017, what happened and what did not, and see whether the topics attained some means of closure. All in all, I can proudly say that my umbrella picture that 2017 would be a continuation of prevalent sports law trends was pretty accurate.
Read MoreI have a fantasy football draft on Wednesday night. Anyone who knows me knows that I believe Tom Brady is a god on and off the field and that I would jump at the chance to select him. Does Deflategate's legal proceedings in front of Judge Richard M. Berman affect my strategy for drafting him to lead my fantasy team to victory? Not really. There is a good chance (in legal terms, you could say "more probable than not") that he will play in the NFL regular season opener against the Pittsburgh Steelers next week through one scenario or another thanks to legal strategy. The legally available routes are discussed in further detail here for those who are interested. For those who want the blunt story, here it is.
Note: "Arbitration Award" refers to Goodell's decision as arbitrator to uphold Brady's four game suspension.
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