Supreme Court takes NFL licensing case
The Supreme Court agreed yesterday to decide whether the NFL and its 32 teams can enter an exclusive licensing deal with a maker of team jerseys and other gear without violating federal antitrust law.
The court said it will hear an appeal from American Needle Inc., of Buffalo Grove, Ill., that challenges an agreement the NFL struck with Reebok International Ltd. American Needle had been one of many firms that manufactured NFL headgear until the league granted an exclusive contract to Reebok in 2001.
The NFL won the case in the federal appeals court in Chicago. But it also asked the Supreme Court to hear the case in a quest for a more sweeping decision that could put an end to what the league considers costly, frivolous antitrust lawsuits.
The case concerns whether the league is essentially a "single entity" that can act collectively or 32 distinct businesses that must be careful about running afoul of antitrust laws by working too closely together.
In a statement, NFL spokesman Greg Aiello said the league looked forward to explaining why the court should extend, on a national basis, favorable appeals court rulings on how antitrust laws apply "to the unique structure of a sports league."
Colleges
* The University of Kentucky Athletics Association said former Kentucky basketball coach Billy Gillispie has sued the wrong people and in the wrong place. The athletics association has asked a federal judge in Texas to either dismiss Gillispie's lawsuit over his firing or move the case to Kentucky. In a motion filed Friday in federal court, the association's attorneys say the school has minimum contact with the state of Texas, giving the court there no jurisdiction to hear Gillispie's claims. The association's attorneys also claim the University of Kentucky, not the athletics association, hired Gillispie and paid him. Gillispie sued the University of Kentucky Athletics Association in federal court in Dallas on May 27, claiming fraud and breach of contract.
* Texas linebacker Sergio Kindle was treated for a concussion after crashing his car into an Austin apartment building last week while he was either sending or receiving a text message, his attorney said. Kindle's attorney, Brian Roark, said Kindle lost control of the car on June 24 while looking at the message. The crash caused about $8,700 damage and no one inside was hurt. After the crash, Kindle pushed the car back into the street and went home. He was checked by team doctors and told he had a concussion but did not have to be hospitalized. Kindle had 10 sacks last season.
* North Carolina State linebacker Nate Irving is recovering from surgery after being hurt in a car crash.
* Arkansas linebacker Khiry Battle has been dismissed from the team after a weekend arrest on a charge of driving under the influence.
Philly File
* Villanova's Corey Fisher scored 15 points as the U.S. World University Games team defeated Russia, 67-63, in the Serbia International Invitational in Belgrade.
Sport Stops
* NASCAR filed court documents that show an independent laboratory found an illegal substance in the urine sample that led to Jeremy Mayfield's suspension for a failed drug test.
* The Carolina Hurricanes agreed to a 2-year deal with star forward Jussi Jokinen, who was to become an unrestricted free agent tomorrow. Carolina acquired Jokinen from Tampa Bay in February. *
