League Notes

Vick Allowed To Keep $20M In Bonuses

In St. Paul, Brian Murphy reports the U.S. Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals yesterday ruled that Judge David Doty "did not abuse his authority when he allowed" Eagles QB Michael Vick to keep $20M in bonuses after being imprisoned for running a dog fighting operation. The NFL had wanted the court to "overturn Doty's ruling last year." Meanwhile, Doty's "oversight in Minneapolis over league labor matters will remain intact" as the NFL and NFLPA negotiate a new CBA. The NFL in March had argued that Doty's role in collective bargaining was "no longer needed 16 years after owners and players brokered their landmark labor deal" in '93 "under his scrutiny" (ST. PAUL PIONEER PRESS, 11/11).

ABSENCE FELT: ESPN’s John Buccigross wrote there will be "major repercussions" from not having former NHLPA Exec Dir Paul Kelly and his staff with the organization. Buccigross: "On the business side, many current and potential corporate sponsors and licensees must be questioning the value of the NHLPA brand and whether this is the kind of organization they want to be associated with. ... On the overall CBA negotiations, I think it hurts the players because it has left them so divided and without a leader." Buccigross added, "The best thing the players could ever do would be to bring Kelly back" (ESPN.com, 11/10). 

RUSSIAN WINTER: The GLOBE & MAIL's Eric Duhatschek reports IIHF President Rene Fasel "believes there is a 'better than 90[%] chance' the NHL will participate" in the '14 Sochi Olympics. Fasel: "Speaking with the players, I know they want to go." Fasel noted NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman is "not so much in favour to go to" the Sochi Games. Fasel: "I think this is wrong. He should be the man that says, 'We want to go because this is good for our sport.' I think this is a must for the game" (GLOBE & MAIL, 11/11).

FA CUTS: In London, Paul Kelso reports England's Football Association (FA) is "facing budget cuts of up to 10[%] in an attempt to insulate the organisation from the collapse of Setanta, which has left a shortfall of up to" US$83.3M. The cuts, which could save more than US$16.7M annually, are "intended to drag spending back in line with contracted revenue and allow the organisation to live within its means in the medium term" (London TELEGRAPH, 11/11).