HUM_LECT_12

Power of Commissioner's Office:

-Approval of player contracts -Resolution of disputes between / among players / clubs / league -Disciplinary matters -Rule-making authority -Exercises regulatory powers in professional sport leagues through decisions concerning fines, suspensions, and disciplinary actions

History of the MLB

1869: First club—Cincinnati Red Stockings— was founded 1876: First professional sports league was established—Baseball's National League (NL) 1901: American League (AL) was established All early rival leagues failed Currently 30 total teams : American League (AL), 14; National League (NL) 16

History of the NHL

1917: Started with four Canadian teams-Toronto, Ottawa and two teams in Montreal 1924: League expanded to the United States 1972: NHL was challenged by the World Hockey Association (WHA) 1979: There was an Agreement to transfer four remaining WHA franchises to NHL 30 total teams in two conferences: Western and Eastern

History of the NFL

1920: American Professional Football Association (APFA) was established 1922: APFA name changed to National Football League 1926: First American Football League (AFL) was organized

NBA History (1924-1949)

1924: First professional basketball league— American Basketball League—was established 1947: American Basketball League disbands and Basketball Association of America (BAA) emerged 1949: Basketball Association of America becomes National Basketball Association (NBA)

NBA all-stars began organizing players into what became National Basketball Players Association

1954

NFL players organize National Football League Players Association

1956

AFL emerged and challenged the NFL and finally the league signed an agreement in ___?

1966 to establish an inter-league championship, and full NFL-AFL amalgamation occurred in 1970

Major League Baseball Players Association (MLBPA) was founded

1967

National Hockey League Players Association founded

1967

More NBA Hist. (1967-1976)

1967: Rival American Basketball Association (ABA) was formed 1976: Agreement was made between the two leagues to transfer four ABA teams to NBA There are 30 teams total in two conferences: Western and Eastern

All leagues share common governance structure

A league commissioner Board of Governors or committee of team owners, and Central administrative unit that negotiates contracts on behalf of the league

Individual Team Level [Owners]

Multibillionaires Like excitement and publicity Goals of winning and making profits

Currently there are 32 total teams:

National Football Conference (NFC): 16 American Football Conference (AFC): 16

Other sports that take place in form of 'tours or organized series" include:

PGA, LPGA, National Association of Stock Car Auto Racing (NASCAR)

Players Associations [Organizational Structure]

Player Associations share common governance structures: They have- Player representatives Executive Board Executive Committee Full-time staff

Each of the Big Four professional leagues has a _____

Players Association

__________________has the longest history of labor organization; _________________________

Professional baseball ; the first players' union was formed in 1885

Players Associations [Mission]

Protect the rights of members (players) Represent players regarding wages, hours, and working conditions Deal with insurance benefits, retirement, and charitable opportunities

Central Administrative Unit : League Office

Responsible for league-wide issues: -Scheduling, hire and train officials, discipline players -Licensing logoed merchandize -Coordinating publicity-broadcast contracts -Coordinating advertising Organized by function- examples: Commissioner's Office, Administration, Baseball operations, Broadcast operations, Global merchandizing.

Players Associations [Financials]

Revenues from individual membership dues-e.g. in 2005, MLB -Player Association had $45 per day from each player. Licensing-'taking off helmets and marketing them as personalities and as professional athletes." to generate revenue

Responsibilities of the Board of Player Reps

Sets annual dues Adopts annual budget Elects President and Vice-President Elects an Executive Director Drafts and implements agent regulations Authorizes safety and turf studies Negotiates post-career benefits

Current Policy Area: Increasing Diversity in Front Offices

Specific initiatives to hire minority candidates Expanding definition of diversity to include people with disabilities Institute for Diversity and Ethics in Sport

Who makes the games happen?

Sport Managers

Board of Governors or Owners Committee

Ultimate authority on policy development regarding: Rules and rule changes Expansion and franchise relocation League-wide broadcast contracts Represents management in labor negotiations with players

Other professional leagues include:

WNBA, Major League Soccer (MLS), and Mixed Martial Arts (MMA)

North American Professional Sport=

is the most visible of all of the sport industry segments

Each professional Sport has various levels of governance structures: [league level]

made up of League commissioner, and the league offices; this is the management side of professional sport; the player's side is governed by the Player's Association

Individual Team Level [Front office staff]

Daily operations for individual team Departmentalized by function-e.g. basketball operations, Sport Media Relations, Marketing, Operations, Finance, corporate partnerships, ticket operations and Services, and Human Resources Typically divided into business and sport operations

Each professional Sport has various levels of governance structures: [front office level]

Day to day operations and business decisions are made. Example: Baseball: Business operations and baseball operations, with each having different duties and responsibilities.

Responsibilities of the Player Reps

Collect membership dues Help with grievances and fine appeals Collect group licensing authorizations Act as spokespersons for the organization Bring important issues to the full Board for action

1921: First commissioner was baseball's _______________

Kennesaw Mountain Landis

Current Policy Area: Criminal Activity by Players

Key issues: ->Media coverage ->Punitive action and the appearance of guilt before legal system judges -.>Cover-up accusations ->Reaction of players associations to punitive action ->Definitions of "prohibited conduct"

Current Policy Area: Labor Issues

Key issues: Revenue sharing-players versus owners Salary caps-salary cap is defined as "the maximum allowable team salary for each team for a salary cap year, subject to the rules and exceptions set forth in the agreement" Salaries Pensions Benefits

Current Policy Area: Drug Policies

Key issues: 1 NFL drug policy includes: Administration, Confidentially, Testing for substance abuse, discipline for violations of law related to substance abuse, imposition of fines, and appeal rights Key issues; NBA Administration, Confidentially, Testing, marijuana program, dismissals, reinstatement etc

Current Policy Area: Gambling

Key issues: Uniform Players' Contracts contain specific language about involvement with any gambling. --Integrity of the game-needed orderly conduct of the games, and good character of NFL players ---Image of sport-The appearance of activities associated with gambling does not shed positive light on the sport ---Gambling problems apply to both players and officials

The Big Four:

MLB NFL NBA NHL

_________________________has the longest history of any professional sport in North America

Major League Baseball

NFL faced Challenges from the following leagues:

World Football League (WFL), 1974-1975 United States Football League (USFL), 1983-1985

Players Associations [Membership]

all players, managers, coaches, and trainers holding signed contracts with the league

The odds of making any of these team sports is astronomical,

but the games would not happen without the athletes' involvement

Commissioners' Offices

created and defined by league constitution and by-laws