The Blitz 1/2/17

newyear17blitz

Wow! Ir’s hard to believe Advocacy for Fairness in Sports is only starting its 3rd month, and already we’re off and running into a New Year! I’m truly humbled by and so very appreciative of the friendship and support many of you have shown since the “Deflategate days,” and moving onward. I’m at a loss for words to express my gratitude!

As I think about things I’d like to see in the coming year, near the top of my wish list is to add some additional writers to the “staff.” I’m especially hopeful to hear from law students, as I think it would be an opportunity of mutual benefit; writing about important issues in sports law would give added exposure to new writers/future attorneys while at the same time, allowing for broader coverage of a greater variety of sports fairness issues for the blog. Together I believe we can make a impact for the better! If you’re interested in writing, or know someone who might be, you can learn more here, or if you have a news tip, story idea, or other comments, click here; I’d like to hear from you. Also, to everyone reading who’s is interested in sports fairness issues, I’d like to invite you to join our little Facebook group.  To friends old and new, I wish you a happy, healthy and prosperous New Year! The challenges may be great but the possibilities are also endless. Let’s make a difference together! #OnTo2017

~Sheilla

And now for today’s Twitter news round-up…

Domestic Violence & Sexual Assault in Sports:

This is an impressive summary of the Sooner’s handling of the Joe Mixon case by Rexford Sheild.


Lindsay is one of the many incredible people I’ve been blessed to interact with over the past year. She delivers an excellent take in this article (as always)

She was also instrumental in inspiring me to take on the topics of sexual assault and domestic violence.  You can read my first article here, and her piece that inspired me here.

This is an important and disturbing development. We need to make sure our congressional representatives are aware of the facts and that we object to moving backward.

This isn’t a sports article, but is a very important, and under-reported issue in regard to domestic violence.  I hope you’ll find time to give it a read.

Concussion Discussion:

In case you missed it over the holiday weekend, I wrote an article about the NFL insurers lawsuit against the league and how it’s now proceeding to discovery.  In my opinion this will be one of the more important sports law cases of the coming year.


Three of my favorite sports law attorneys, Daniel Wallach, Dan Werly, with top concussion litigation expert Paul D. Anderson, discussing perhaps the most important and vital issue in sports. You really owe it to yourself to listen to this podcast. If you’d like to access it on itunes and subscribe, here’s the link.


Rick Westhead’s been nailing coverage of the NHL concussion suit and what’s being revealed in discovery there. Here’s the latest:

NFL Notebook:


Truth is indeed stranger than fiction. As Jaime said, “2017 has begun.”

Things are rarely black and white, and often there are no clear-cut answers.  Such is the case of Michael Floyd.  Fact: his DUI arrest revealed a high level of intoxication.   While not a violent crime, driving while intoxicated is dangerous not only to the driver, but threatening and potentially deadly to others who share the road.  What we don’t know, and probably never will,  is if this is habitual or an isolated instance?  Floyd has shown himself to be a capable football player, but this doesn’t excuse placing others in danger.  As the criminal justice process unfolds and league discipline is decided, I think it’s best to keep an open mind.  He’s probably wound up in the best situation possible – the Patriots are known for having a disciplined system; Belichick’s reformed more than one loose cannon, so I’m hoping this turns out to be a good fit.  As always Michael Hurley has delivered some well reasoned thoughts on the subject.

This & That:

? ? You’ll have to give this one a click for the video. ? ?


Lindsay wrote this prior to last year’s Super Bowl. If you missed it then, it’s well worth reading now.


One final thought…

I’m thankful for the valuable insights Dr. Abrams has contributed to Advocacy for Fairness in sports.  You can read an in-depth interview with him here.  He also, along with Daniel Wallach added some important thoughts about handling domestic violence in the NFL in this one.

Permanent link to this article: https://advocacyforfairnessinsports.org/2017/01/02/the-blitz-1217/