This Week's Newsmakers: Fantasy Operators Claim Big Victory
THE DAILY each Friday offers our take on the performances over the past week of some people and entities in sports business. Here are this week’s newsmakers.
WIN: SMALL FANTASY OPERATORS -- St. Louis-based CDM wins another legal victory over MLB and the MLBPA, as appeals court affirms ruling allowing commercial use of players' names and statistics without a license. CDM expects baseball to keep fighting, but CHARLIE WIEGART, co-Founder of CDM parent CBC, says the ruling could have a "catastrophic effect" on licensing fees. Wiegert: "Now other people will question whether they do or don't have to pay."
LOSE: NLL -- We hear it all over the industry -- the sport of lacrosse has tremendous potential for growth. While there's still a glimmer of hope to salvage the '08 campaign, there's no better momentum killer than a labor dispute leading to a cancelled season. Just ask the NHL.
DRAW: YANKEES -- The MLB club is taking its shots for its handling of the Joe Torre situation. But the prevailing thought today is they got exactly what they wanted by making Torre an offer he had to refuse. Also, while some believe Torre's departure will hurt the team's chances of retaining key free agents, most believe that money talks and that POSADA, RIVERA and PETTITTE will be back in pinstripes next season. A-ROD? Well, that's a whole other ballgame.
|
