Can the NBA and NFL Place Teams in Europe? Exploring the EC Antitrust and 'Free Movement' Risk

With talk of the NFL hosting a Super Bowl in London, some sports fans are beginning to wonder if we will soon see U.S. sports leagues place teams in Europe.

In a recent law review article, Brian Doyle and I argue that before either the NBA or NFL could expand into Europe, these leagues would need to first abandon their age/education requirements and alter their reserve rules.

While the NBA and NFL age/education requirements might be legal in the United States, these requirements are much more likely illegal under Article 81 of the Treaty Establishing the European Community (the EC's counterpart to Section 1 of the Sherman Act).

The NBA and NFL age/education requirements likely violate Article 81 of the EC Treaty, even though the EC recognizes a non-statutory labor exemption to antitrust law, because the European Court of Justice defines its non-statutory labor exemption more narrowly than the Second Circuit did in Clarett v. National Football League, 369 F.3d 124 (2004).

In addition, the NBA and NFL reserve rules may violate Article 39 of the EC Treaty by preventing "free movement" of European nationals between teams located in EC member states.

To learn more about the antitrust risks of U.S. sports leagues expanding into Europe, please visit Marc Edelman & Brian Doyle, Antitrust and 'Free Movement' Risks of Expanding U.S. Professional Sports Leagues into Europe, 29 N.W. J. of In'tl L. & Bus. 403 (2009).


(Cross-Posted on Sports Law Blog)

State of the Union: Boston

Earlier this decade, fans in New England were treated to an exciting run of Red Sox and Patriots championships as both teams dominated their respective leagues. Meanwhile, to find a story about the Celtics or Bruins, you would've had to dig pretty deep into the sports section of the Boston Globe to find a recap of a game the night before. On December 7, for the first time in as long as many fans can remember, the Bruins were featured above the fold on the front page of the Globe. Has the torch been passed? Let's first take a look at the Bruins and try to figure out if this torrid start can possibly continue and somehow lead to a Stanley Cup Championship.

Following Tuesday's 2-0 shutout of the New Jersey Devils, the Bruins now find themselves perched atop the Eastern Conference with a 25-5-4 record. Their 54 points are second in the NHL only to red-hot San Jose who achieved the fastest start in league history through 30 games. Third-year winger Phil Kessel currently sits fourth in the league in goals with 21 while playmaker Marc Savard trails Pittsburgh's Evgeni Malkin by one for the assist lead with 21. The dangerous duo teams up with 6-4, 220 pound beast-child Milan Lucic to create one of the most balanced, talented, and fun-to-watch lines in the NHL. In goal, Tim Thomas and Manny Fernandez are ranked second and third respectively in goals against average behind Columbus rookie Steve Mason. How could this team possibly lose?

I'm not about to say the Bruins will head into a freefall and miss the playoffs completely. I can't argue a team that starts 25-5-4 isn't one of the league's elite. But I will say they are about to cool off...and when that happens we'll begin to really see what this very young team is made of.

Boston currently leads the NHL with 126 goals...but aside from Savard and the injured Patrice Bergeron, not a single player on the roster has put up more than 63 points in a season. Once teams begin to find ways to slow down this offense, the Bruins will need to start winning some 2-1 defensive battles. While the Thomas-Fernandez tandem has been standing on their head through the first third of the season, they are facing far too many shots a game (ranked 22nd at 30.5 shots a game). Boston's defense currently features Zdeno Chara, Dennis Wideman, Matt Hunwick, Shane Hnidy, Mark Stuart, and Matt Lashoff...hardly an imposing top 6.

In many cases, all it takes is a few unlucky injuries to expose a team like this. Last Thursday, winger Marco Sturm suffered what looks to be a bad knee injury that might require surgery. There's no word on how long he'll be out, but two days later Patrice Bergeron absorbed another concussion which has the potential to threaten his career. If you'll remember, Bergeron was hit viciously into the boards last season by the Flyers Randy Jones and it took him months to recover enough to even ride a bike for 5 minutes. Losing key forwards like Sturm and Bergeron for a long period of time could bring this hot start to a screeching halt. I would still expect Boston to have no trouble making the playoffs, but this is a very young team. Inexperience can be deadly when the stakes are raised in the playoffs - look for the Bruins to last one round or two at the most.

If the Bruins' bubble is about to burst, what about the Celtics? SportsJudge's NBA expert Adam Primm decided to weigh in on the Celtics' chances at repeating and possibly topping the regular season wins record set in the Michael Jordan era:

On Sunday the Celtics won their 18th straight game to go to 26-2 on the season. With such a prolific start, fans have to wonder if the Celtics can keep up this pace. The Chicago Bulls record of 72 wins in a season is within reach even if the Celts cool off a little, but how feasible will it be for Boston to break that record.

Only 10 of the 26 wins have been within 10 points. However, one of those was to the 23-4 Cleveland Cavs, and two were to the South leading Atlanta Hawks. The Celtics have simply been obliterating the competition in the early part of the season. And the scary thing is, the 'Big Three' (aka the Boston Three Party) are scoring less this year than last year. Paul Pierce's scoring average is down one point and Kevin Garnett is down two. Ray Allen has improved by one point. The main reason for the Celtics improved play has been the maturation of point guard Rajon Rondo who is playing more aggressive this season and is showing he can score with the other three. The 'Big Three' may become the 'Four Horsemen' by the end of the season if he continues to improve.

The Celtics are currently on pace to finish roughly 76-6 at their current pace. However, there is no chance that the win at that rate for the full season. Given the age of this team, relatively older by NBA standards, I would expect to see them wear down a little come midseason. Also, this team has yet to experience any kind of injury. The Cavs were playing at a similar pace winning 19 out of 20 games during a stretch earlier this season. While the Cavs are now 23-4 overall, they struggled in two tough games against Philadelphia before losing on the road at Atlanta, a major reason why these three games were difficult was because two of the Cavs key players were injured in Daniel Gibson and Zydrunas Ilgauskas. When those two came back, the Cavs crushed the Nuggets in Denver. The Celtics currently have a better record, and Pierce, Allen, Garnett, and Rondo are probably are better starting unit than Lebron James, Mo Williams, Delonte West, and Ilgauskas, but the Cavs are a team that are 10 deep with the bench. The Celtics bench is good, but only has 3, maybe 4 players, that can be plugged in to avoid a letdown if someone gets hurt meaning the health of the Big Three is very important to their run at 72. The Cavs had 2 guys go down and promptly lost one game and struggled in the other two. A team that isn't quite as deep will probably have similar problems in the same situation.

While I think the Celtics have a very good chance to win 70 games, I think they will fall just short of the record at 72. I expect the veteran players to wear down a little and some major contributor to be hurt for a significant period, like 10-15 days. This doesn't mean that I don't think the Celtics are the best team in the league. I am confident that we can at least pencil the Celts in the Conference Finals right now because the only two teams that have a chance of beating them in a seven game series are the Cavs and the Lakers. The Celtics should easily finish with the best record in the league, but I don't think they will be able to keep up this pace and break the Bulls record for wins.

Agree? Disagree with where the Bruins and Celtics are headed this year? Feel free to speak your mind in the comments section.

Above the Rim: Rudy!, Rudy!

This week, Above the Rim will cover a few important points omitted from last week's discussion of the Iverson trade, as well as three players I continue to project big things from in 2008-09 and beyond.

The Detroit "Iversons"

Teams tend to emulate their leaders and I guarantee you that Allan Iverson demands more respect in that locker room than head coach Michael Curry. Curry played with most of these current Pistons and was a reserve with that team, while Iverson is a first ballot HOF and one of the most well respected players in the league. With that said, the Pistons are no longer “your dad’s Pistons”, but rather a more up-tempo, fast paced team. Iverson will push the pace and get players easy shots in transition, as was the case on Friday during the Lakers vs. Pistons game. Rasheed Wallace worked over Gasol and looked like a re-energized player (a combination of the Iverson trade and being in a contract year). He hasn’t looked this fresh since he was a Blazer and Damon Stoudamire was pushing the pace of the game. In Friday’s game, Rasheed dropped 25 points, grabbed 13 boards and blocked 2 shots. The unsung hero of that game was former Laker, Kwame Brown. In 28 minutes of action, Kwame had 10 points and 10 boards. He is currently available in 99% of the leagues on ESPN and recently just replaced scrub, Amir Johnson in the starting line-up. Brown has never lived up to his potential but he is a solid play for the near future.


Rudy Fernandez
Once again, we here at “Above the Rim” would like pat ourselves on the back for being the first ones on the Rudy bandwagon. We were riding this wagon when it was just us and Rudy’s mom. He jumped off our radar during the Olympics when he cocked back on Dwight Howard and has done nothing but impress thus far this season. He is currently playing like a top 25 selection in most leagues and surprisingly is still available to close to 30 percent of you out there. He is still coming off the bench in Portland and is logging close to 29 minutes a game. I would assume that his sixth man role will remain but look for his minutes to increase and this should have a positive effect on his stat line.


Trevor Ariza
With all the talk about a healthy Andrew Bynum, a healthy Trevor Ariza has been just as important to the Lakers early season success Ariza is 6’ 8” with a freakish windspan that he has parleyed into over 2 steals a game. That puts him in the top 10 in steals numbers while still being available to 95% of ESPN owners. The Lakers rely heavily on their bench players and that means job security for Ariza. I think so highly of Ariza’s upside that I have added him personally to most of my teams.

JaVale McGee
JaVale is the first NBA player to be the son of a WNBA player. Pamela McGee, JaVale's mother, played in the WNBA for two seasons in 1998 and 1999. And with the mess that is the Wizard’s front court, JaVale has emerged has the one bright spot. He is an extremely athletic 7 footer who also boasts a 7’ 6” wingspan. JaVale currently is averaging close to 10 points and 6 boards with 1.5 blocks in around 20 minutes a game. He is also available in 97% of the leagues out there so get on the waiver wire and pick him up.

Above the Rim: Same Faces, New Places

Welcome back to “Above the Rim,” the leader in fantasy basketball advice. Today’s edition will cover players and coaches who switched teams over the summer and their subsequent impact on the fantasy world. When a new player is introduced in the article, I have included their notable ‘07-’08 stats as well as where ESPN.com has them ranked on their big board. Now lets get into it.

Yi Jianlian/ Richard Jefferson
Nets: Despite Yi Jianlian’s (8.6 pts, 5.2 reb, ESPN #173) unreal talent, I don’t see him getting any more than 24 minutes a night and this basically makes him irrelevant in the fantasy game. On the other hand, Devin Harris (14.4 pts, 5.3 ast, ESPN #76) is a stud. As he gets older, he will learn to improve his shot selection which should raise his questionable field goal percentage.
Bucks: The Bucks are an intriguing team. Both Richard Jefferson (22.6 pts, 4.2 reb, 3.1 ast, ESPN #86) and Michael Redd (22.7 pts, 3.4 ast, ESPN #47) can fill it up and Jefferson is used to running along side another super star. I expect both Jefferson and Redd to build upon last year’s performance. Yi’s departure also opens up minutes for Charlie Villanueva (11.7 pts, 6.1 reb, ESPN #124) and he should see career numbers this year as a result.

James Posey
Celtics: The Celtics were already thin at the bench and the loss of James Posey (7.4 pts, 1.5 ast, ESPN #136) is a blow to the defending champions. Look for Leon Powe (7.9 pts, 4.1 reb, ESPN #224) to raise his stat line to the 12 point and 8 rebound range, while Eddie House (7.5 pts, ESPN #154) should see a couple more 3-point opportunities a game.
Hornets: The Hornets went out and bought a proven winner and from what I have seen of the preseason, look for Posey to raise his numbers across the board. I wouldn’t be at all surprised to see Posey supplant Mo Petterson (8 pts, 2.7 reb, ESPN #168) in the starting line-up at some point this season. The Hornets did not spend $25 million to watch Posey ride the bench.

Ron Artest
Rockets: Ron Artest (20.5 pts, 5.8 reb, 3.5 ast, 2.3 stl, ESPN #54) is a fantasy stud, and he will be playing for a contract, so expect him to produce. His ppg will dip a little from last year but the rest of his stat line should see a slight bump. I am also excited to see Tracy McGrady (21.6 pts, 5.1 reb, 5.9 ast, ESPN #108) play now that we won’t have to take the number one defense assignment (just pray his shoulder stays together).

Mike D’Antoni
Knicks: Finally the Knicks seem to care about winning basketball games. D’Antoni will bring his offense minded game to the Garden and the expect the shots to be flying. I am predicting career years for David Lee (10.8 pts, 8.9 reb, ESPN #67) and Nate Robinson (12.7 pts, 2.9 ast, ESPN #141). Conversely, Eddie Curry (13.2 pts, 4.7 reb, ESPN #266) and Zach Randolph (17.6 pts, 10.3 reb, ESPN #112) should be avoided like the plague (that is until they get traded).
Suns: Terry Porter was brought in to strengthen up the Suns defense and create a more deliberate offensive scheme. This means the offensive stat lines of most of the Suns players should see a small decrease. One of the only fantasy improvements should be Amare Stoudemire’s ( 27.2 pts, 9.1 reb, 2 blk, ESPN #2) rebounding numbers.

TJ Ford/ Jermaine O’Neal
Pacers: The Indiana Pacers are back on track. They are no jumping into the stands after fans and Jamal Tinsley (11.9 pts, 8.4 ast, ESPN #293) is being paid not to be around the team. If TJ Ford (12.1 pts, 6.1 ast, ESPN #92) can stay healthy, he has the ability to be one of the league leaders in assists. Unlike ESPN, I have not been drinking the Danny Granger (19.6 pts, 6.1 reb, ESPN #22) juice. I won’t even look at this kid until at least the fourth round.
Raptors: Jose Calderon (11.2 pts, 8.3 ast, ESPN #32) finally gets his chance to start with TJ Ford being shipped out. I don’t see a full 82 game schedule out of Calderon and I would let someone else take the gamble on him. Jermaine O’Neal (13.6 pts, 6.7 reb, ESPN #96) was a rookie in ’96 and doesn’t come off my board until at least the 8th round.

Baron Davis/ Corey Maggette
Warriors: The Warriors are another team going in the wrong direction. Monta Ellis (20.2 pts, 3.9 ast, ESPN #97) won’t be available until ‘09 and that means Marcus Williams’ (5.9 pts, 2.6 ast, ESPN #164) fantasy stock is soaring. Expect Williams to be in the TJ Ford range during Ellis’ absence. Corey Maggette (22.1 pts, 5.6 reb, 2.7 ast, ESPN #90) will continue to be a reliable scorer and Nellie’s wide open offense will open up the lanes to showcase Magette’s athleticism.
Clippers: Well, after Elton Brand (17.6 pts, 8 reb, ESPN #14) bolted for a fat pay check back east, Baron Davis (21.1 pts, 7.6 ast, ESPN #16) steps in as the franchise in Clipper-land (lucky him). I see a slow adjustment for Baron in his new system but expect him to be back to 20+ pts and 7+ ast by early December.

Random Notes:
Agent Zero (19.4 pts, 5.1 ast, ESPN #69) is back on the bench watching and it is starting to feel like Wizards fans will never get to see how good this team truly could have been. In his absence, expect Antonio Daniels (8.4 pts, 4.8 ast, ESPN #150) to see some considerable minutes. Remember, Daniels has twice led the league in assist-to-turnover ratio.

Deron Williams (18.8 pts, 10.5 ast, ESPN #12) left a preseason game on Saturday with a smoked ankle, but the x-rays were negative. I see no reason why Williams stock should suffer. You should feel confident building your team around this kid.

Allan Houston has announced that he will be taking his comeback with the Knicks slowly. Houston has been out of the game for over 3 years and D’Antoni’s system is not compatible with an old, out of shape shooter. Don’t get me wrong, I LOVE Allan Houston. He has one of the sweetest strokes to ever grace the hardwood, but honestly, dude is 37 years old. Retire and open a restaurant Allan. Time to hang up the high tops.

Above the Rim: Impact Injuries to Start the NBA Season

At the start of the NBA season, there are already some big names that will miss time and some big names returning from major injuries. The Wizards are feeling the pain early as three of their five starters--including two all-stars--have question marks about how much they will be able to play at the start of the season.

Here are some of the players you should use extra caution when drafting heading into Fantasy Hoops '08. For now, I'm bullish on Elton Brand, Andrew Bynum and Greg Oden. As for the others, they'd have to drop pretty far before I call their names in any draft:

Gilbert Arenas, Wizards
Arenas only played 13 games last year. He is projected to be out for three months following surgery on his left knee in September. While Agent-0 is good for at least 20-4-5 when he’s healthy, the Wizards are not sure when he will be back. Arenas will be out at least for the first month of the season, and could be out longer. Gilbert tried to come back from a knee injury for the end of the season and the playoffs last year but was unable to finish the Wizards opening round series against the Cavs; this time the team may wait until he is definitely 100%. Antonio Daniels will take over the starting point guard spot while Gilbert is out. Daniels averaged 8.4 points and 4.8 assists per game last year, 9.1 points and 5.1 assists in 63 starts.

Antawn Jamison, Wizards
Jamison suffered a knee injury in the Wizards’ preseason opener, but the injury is not as serious as it appeared to be at the time. While it was initially reported that Jamison would miss a month, it was recently reported that the injury should be day-to-day; Jamison plans on being ready to play in the final two preseason games. If Jamison does miss time, Andray Blatche, just 22 years old, will step into the starting lineup. Blatche set career highs with 7.5 points and 5.2 rebounds in 20 minutes a game last season.

Brendan Haywood, Wizards
Haywood is another Wizard who set career highs in points (10.6) and rebounds (7.2) last season. He also contributed 1.7 blocks. Like the rest of this team, Haywood will miss time this season with an injury; he should miss 4-6 months after surgery on his right wrist. Etan Thomas, who sat out last season after heart surgery and averaged 6.1 points, 5.8 rebounds, and 1.4 blocks in 2006-2007 and 8.2 points, 7.1 rebounds, and 1.7 blocks a game in 66 career starts, Blatche, and draft pick JaVale McGee, only 20 years old, should combine to take Haywood’s minutes.

Monta Ellis, Golden State
Ellis is out until after December 17th after the Warriors suspended him 30 games (4 pre-season) for injuring his ankle while riding a mo-ped in the off-season, conduct that is prohibited by his NBA contract. Ellis probably would not have been able to play until mid-December anyway because of the injury; the difference is the Warriors do not have to pay Ellis during the suspension. Last year Ellis averaged 20.2 points, 5 rebounds, and 3.4 assists per game. Ellis should be able to repeat these numbers when he can play again because he will be filling Baron Davis’s role as the trigger man for the run-and-gun Warriors offense. If Ellis can maintain his quickness despite the ankle injury, his numbers may improve in his new role. While he is suspended/injured, former Nets guard Marcus Williams (11.1 points, 6.3 assists, and 4 rebounds in 7 starts for NJ last year) will start at point guard. Williams could put up 15 points and 6-8 assists while filling in.

Manu Ginobli, Spurs
Ginobli averaged careers highs in points (19.5), rebounds (4.8), assists (4.5), and 3-point % (40.1) last season, but he underwent surgery on his left ankle in early September after injuring the ankle in the NBA playoffs and then again in the Olympics. Ginobli is hoping to return by opening day, but a more likely timetable has him returning in December. Michael Finley will replace Ginobli in the starting lineup and should be in the 12-15 point per game range.

Elton Brand, Sixers
Brand has been a 20/10 guy with 50.5% shooting percentage in his career, and his consistency makes these number almost a lock for the upcoming season. Brand only played in 8 games at the end of last season as he recovered from a knee injury, and he averaged career lows in points (17.6), rebounds (8), and shooting percentage (45.6%). Brand’s numbers were down partially due to playing less minutes as well. If healthy, and it appears that Brand is, he should rebound to 20/10 again this year, especially with Andre Miller and Andre Iguodala preventing a defense from focusing on stopping Brand.

Andrew Bynum, LA Lakers
I thought Bynum was on the verge of stardom when he was injured last season. In a December game in Cleveland that I was at, Bynum, not Kobe (who had an off game), was the Lakers' best player as none of the Cavs could stop him. Bynum was averaging 13.1 points, 10.2 rebounds, and 2.1 blocks per game when he was injured, but he averaged 14.6 points, 10.7 rebounds, and 2.3 blocks as a starter. Bynum’s number improved every month of the season as well. He averaged 11.4 points, 10.7 rebounds, and 1.5 blocks while shooting 59.3% in November 13.9 points, 9.1 rebounds, and 2.7 blocks on 66.1% shooting in December, and topped out at 17.3 points, 12.2 rebounds, and 2.3 blocks with 70% shooting in January. This improvement coupled with PF Pau Gasol starting next to Bynum in the post this year should mean even better numbers. While Gasol could take some looks away from Bynum, 16-18 points with 10-12 rebounds should be a reasonable expectation. Bynum is a future all-star, and this year might be his debut in February’s showcase.

Greg Oden, Trailblazers
Oden is another young center coming back from an injury this year. Oden was dominant as a man child during his freshman year at Ohio State in 2006-2007, but microfracture surgery on his knee prevented him from playing as a rookie last year. Oden spent the season putting over 20 pounds of muscle on his already sturdy frame; his increased bulk persuaded the Blazers to ask Oden to stop working out because they were worried he was getting to big. Oden looked dominant in the post and on the offensive glass in a pre-season game last week, fighting through multiple defenders for points and boards. Starting with PF LaMarcus Aldridge in the post, these players should both put up solid numbers complementing each other down low. Oden should get at least 12 points and 10 boards a game with around 2 blocks. Aldridge should at least match the 17.8 points and 7.6 rebounds he averaged per game last season, and those numbers could approach 20 and 8 with one more season of experience and Oden next to him.

Darius Miles, Celtics
Miles last played in 2005-2006, and then he only 40 games after playing just 63 games in 2004-2005. In a preseason game last Friday against Cleveland, Miles only played 3:40. While some have touted Miles as a replacement for James Posey, I feel that Miles is too much of an uncertainty to expect him to be the Celtics 6th Man. Miles has the talent to be effective in that role, but even when healthy, he hasn’t been able to live up to that potential, and I am not convinced he is 100%. Miles may be worth a last round pick in a fantasy draft, but anything earlier than that could be a big risk. If Miles doesn’t take Posey’s role, look for PF Leon Powe and rookie G-F Bill Walker to be big off the bench for the Celtics. Powe’s playing time and scoring averaging improved every month, starting at 4 minutes and 2.7 points per game in November and finishing at 22 minutes and 13.7 points in April. Powe’s rebounding numbers also improved from 1.3 to 6.3 per game throughout the course of the season. For the season, Power averaged 7.9 points and 4.1 rebounds, but those numbers will definitely be up this year. Walker has looked good so far in the preseason and is athletic enough to make an impact despite his lack of experience.

Luol Deng, Bulls
Deng was injured in midseason last year but still managed to average 17 points and 6.3 rebounds per game, slightly below career highs he set in 2006-2007 (18.8 and 7.2). However, Deng only averaged 16.8 points and 5.5 boards in March and April after returning from the injury. Deng should be able to at least match what he did last year, and I wouldn’t be surprised to see him return to the career highs he set two seasons ago.

Sean May, Bobcats
May didn’t play in 2007-2008 and was limited to only 58 games in the two seasons before that. The Bobcats think that May will be able to start at PF next to C Emeka Okafor this season although the Bobcats have previously said they would like to play Okafor at PF. If that happens, and it doesn’t appear likely currently, May would still be a valuable bench player if he can remain healthy. May averaged 11.9 and 6.7 in 24 minutes during the 2006-2007 season. However, May also missed 188 of 246 games in three professional seasons due to three surgeries on his right knee. If healthy, May should be able to average around 12 points and 8 rebounds, maybe more.

Shaun Livingston, Heat
Livingston didn’t play in 2007-2008 after tearing basically everything in his knee. Livingston has not played in 20 months, and is still rehabbing. As of now, Livingston is behind Chris Quinn, Marcus Banks, and Mario Chalmers on the depth chart. While I have always loved Livingston’s game, I can’t see him being a major contributor this season. If Livingston can rehab and get some solid minutes late in the season, I would look for him to be a solid contributor in 2009-2010.

Above the Rim: Bracket Busters

Today on “Above the Rim” I will attempt to use all the information I have gathered over the past few months to help you navigate the mine field which is the NCAA first round. It takes very little skill to pick the #1 seeds, so I will focus on the games that I think aren’t as obvious. Of course, I will not get many of these games correct, and the girl in accounting, who picks teams based on mascots, will walk away with the cash.

East

#6 Oklahoma (22-11) vs. #11 St. Josephs (21-12)
St. Joseph’s is an explosive team with great guard play. Conversely, the Oklahoma Sooners struggle to score points and are extremely prone to turnovers. I like the Hawk’s here and think they have a good chance to make it to the Sweet 16.

Midwest

#5 Clemson (24-9) vs. #12 Villanova ( 20-12)
The Clemson Tigers make it back to the tournament after a 10 year drought. Too bad they won’t be staying long. The Tigers reached their emotional high when they made the tournament and now they will lay an egg in the first round. The Villanova Wildcats are led by Scottie Reynolds and he is good enough to win at least two games in this tournament by himself. The Wildcats play a relentless man to man defense and will choke the life out of the less disciplined Clemson guards.

#6 USC (21-11) vs. #11 Kansas State (20-11)
I know I mentioned this game in the last article, but there is too much star power here not to mention it again. OJ Mayo and Mike Beasley are the real deal. They are men playing a sport with boys, but this game will come down to the coaches. Tim Floyd had the Trojans in the Sweet 16 last year and knows how to win close games. Look for Floyd to use gimmick defenses to throw Beasley and the Wildcats out of rhythm. I like the Trojans in a close game.

#7 Gonzaga (25-7) vs. #10 Davidson (26-6)
Gonzaga has now been on the scene for over a decade now and they no longer can sneak up on teams. To be honest, this team is much worse than it has been in the past and I expect them to be a one and done team. Davidson is led by Dale Curry’s son, Stephen Curry, who is averaging 25 points a game. This team also has the nations leading assist man, Jason Richards. Having two guards of this caliber is very rare and makes the Wildcats a very formidable foe for anyone. Look for Davidson to shoot Gonzaga out of the gym.

South

#6 Marquette (24-9) vs. #11 Kentucky (18-12)
I know Kentucky isn’t what they used to be, but Bill Gillispie has the Wildcats playing extremely tough defense and they have enough offense to survive. I am not sold on Marquette and they are one bad shooting day away from a quick exit. Dominic James is a solid talent, but he isn’t a big game player. I will take Kentucky in a low scoring affair.

West

#3 Xavier (27-6) vs. #14 Georgia (17-16)
Here is the deal with Xavier. They are coached by Sean Miller, who is a stud of a coach. They play great defense, they spread the scoring load out over a bunch of players, and they play in a weak Atlantic-10 conference. On the other hand, we have the Georgia Bulldogs, who are peaking at the right time of year. The Bulldogs are an athletic team who really believe in themselves. Look for Georgia to speed this game up and come away with a 5th straight victory.

#7 West Virginia (24-10) vs. #10 Arizona (19-14)
I know in the last article I made the claim that Arizona State deserved Arizona’s spot in the field, but truth is, Arizona is there and I like them to win their first game. I don’t like West Virginia and I think Joe Alexander is the most overrated player in the country. The Mountaineers have a good defense and a couple of good wins over UConn, but look for Arizona to be too athletic and run away with this game

Bang to Gavel: SportsJudge Decisions of Note (October 2007)

October brought many new and exciting fantasy sports disputes to SportsJudge.com's docket. Below are four of the staff's favorites from this month:

(1) In the case Team Anadrol v. Vegas Baby & Flathead Yankees, No. 955-C, the Court of Fantasy Baseball ruled in a fantasy baseball arbitration that an out-of-contention owner's decision to bench all of his hitters for the final six weeks of the season in a Yahoo! 5x5 rotisserie league amounted to "illegal sabotage." While the court acknowledged that an owner of an in-contention team may choose to strategically bench his hitters in Yahoo! games to maintain strength in ratio statistics (i.e. batting average), the court found that this same action is impermissible if done only to aid one in-contention team to pass another in the standings. As a remedy, the court ordered the league standings recalculated as if the benching had never occurred, and prizes awarded accordingly.

(2) In the case Cincinnati Bowtie v. Nellie's Nuts, Index No. 904, the Court of Fantasy Basketball ruled in a fantasy basketball arbitration that when during a Yahoo! fantasy draft one owner accidentally selected Jason Terry instead of Jason Kidd, and another owner using auto-draft selected Jason Kidd in the next round, the owner using auto-draft had no obligation to return Jason Kidd to the team that had intended to draft him.

(3) In the case Commissioner v. Defending Champs & Teram Hoon, Index No. 954-T, the Court of Fantasy Football in a fantasy football arbitration upheld the trade of Peyton Manning and Edgerrin James for TJ Houshmanzadeh, Jon Kitna and Travis Henry because the "trade adequately benefited both teams." The court noted that the team trading Peyton Manning also had Derak Anderson on his roster at quarterback, and that team had a tremendous weakness at wide receiver.

(4) In the case Commissioner v. Foilage and W&P, Index No. 991-T, the Court of Fantasy Football overturned the trade of Hines Ward, Shaun Alexander and Brandon Jacobs from Foilage to W&P for Joe Jurevicius and Warrick Dunn. Because this trade weakened Foilage in both the wide receiver and running back positions, the court noted "this trade is amongst the most nonsensical this court has ever reviewed."

* * *

The SportsJudge.com Team also wishes to salute fantasy football expert John O'Malley on O'Malley's Tallies, which was rated as the "Most Read SportsJudge Blog" for the second month in a row.