For most major sports in the United States, the offseason can feel like a dull stretch of time that leaves fans yearning for the next season. The NBA, however, is somehow able to turn its league into the most exciting thing on television without a single game playing.

Every year, a new story emerges about players changing the fortunes of a franchise with the stroke of a pen, getting traded multiple times in one day, or potentially kidnapping a teammate to get him to re-sign with a team. This year, already, All-Star Jimmy Butler gave out his phone number at a press conference encouraging critics to contact him directly with any problems.

Now, it seems like politicians are getting in on the action too. Tanner Ainge, a Republican candidate running in Utah’s 3rd Congressional District, used Twitter to try and curry favor with All-Star forward Gordon Hayward–who became a free agent Thursday after spending his first seven seasons with the Utah Jazz. One of Hayward’s rumored destinations is the Boston Celtics. As a friendly reminder to the Hayward, Ainge decided to tweet at him a link to a news story about how Massachusetts is considering a “millionaire tax” that would increase the tax burden for high-earners.

@gordonhayward: something to consider over next few days… #takenote https://t.co/bqyEtXvnKO

— Tanner Ainge (@tannerainge) June 29, 2017

This story has a little more twist to it than just a politician attempting to gain voters through relevant sports commentary. Tanner Ainge’s father is the president of basketball operations for the Boston Celtics–or, the man responsible for trying to bring Gordon Hayward to Boston this summer–Danny Ainge. The Celtics do have a tempting proposition for Hayward: make as much as $127 million over four years–per ESPN–and join a team that could possibly win the Eastern Conference. However, a new state tax could actually affect his decision.

Let’s break it down. The Massachusetts Legislature on Wednesday passed a constitutional amendment to raise the tax rate by 4 percent on income over $1 million. Massachusetts currently has a flat tax, which means everyone pays 5.1 percent tax rate on their income. Pending a referendum vote in the next state election, the constitutional amendment would mean if someone earned $1.3 million, they would pay 5.1 percent on the first million and 9.1 percent on the remaining $300,000. As a result, that person’s state income taxes would grow from $66,300 to $78,300. The state’s department of revenue estimates this will help raise $1.9 billion for the state in 2019.

If, hypothetically, Boston and Utah were to both come to Hayward with the exact same contract–$127 million over the course of four years–the all-star would see an annual difference of over $2 million in taxes paid. If he signs with Boston, Hayward would likely pay about $11,400,000 over the course of the four years, as opposed to about $6,350,000 in Utah–which has a 5 percent state income tax–during that same period. No matter what your tax bracket is, $5 million is a lot of money.

But this is just a hypothetical and does not account for a few things. On the one hand, the current NBA collective bargaining agreement allows Utah to offer Hayward more money for a contract over a longer term. On the other hand, a dark horse candidate for Hayward from a state that has no income tax–like the Miami Heat, for instance–could swoop in and complicate the decision even further. It’s also worth noting that money isn’t always everything for some players, as many value the potential to win as much as their checks, which Tanner Ainge understands.

“Unfortunately, I’m not sure I have a lot of influence there,” Ainge told Deseret News on Thursday. “Ultimately, Gordon is going to make the decision. I hope he stays.”

Gabe Fernandez

Gabe is an editorial intern at Law Street. He is a Peruvian-American Senior at the University of Maryland pursuing a double degree in Multiplatform Journalism and Marketing. In his free time, he can be found photographing concerts, running around the city, and supporting Manchester United. Contact Gabe at Staff@LawStreetMedia.com.

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The NYPD has been under a lot of fire in recent months for its actions, particularly after the death of Eric Garner last summer and the continual debate over stop-and-frisk policies. Now, the NYPD may come under scrutiny once again, after an interaction between officers and NBA player Thabo Sefolosha ended with the Atlanta Hawks player breaking his leg.

Exactly what happened that caused Sefolosha’s broken leg is still unclear–as with many of these stories there are two distinctly different narratives. According to the NYPD:

Sefolosha sustained the injury while resisting arrest outside a Manhattan night club early Wednesday morning. Sefolosha was arrested along with teammate Pero Antic for interfering with local police’s efforts to set up a crime scene following the stabbing of Indiana Pacers forward Chris Copeland.

However, a video shows Sefolosha being pulled in different directions by officers, and quite possibly being hit by one of the officer’s batons. At one point he’s grabbed by the neck and pulled to the ground by an officer. There were at least six officers present to take down Sefolosha.

Pero Antic, the other player who was arrested in the scuffle, claims that he and Sefolosha weren’t trying to interfere with the police, nor were they involved in the incident that led to fellow NBA player Chris Copeland, his girlfriend, and another woman being stabbed. Antic stated:

I would say that it’s a pure example of being in the wrong place at the wrong time. I mean, people know Thabo for so many years in the league. He’s probably one of the greatest guys. The reporters who are here know me. … It’s just a pure example of being in the wrong place at the wrong time.

However, it’s difficult to determine from the video what the players were doing before the fight, as the police claim that Sefolosha was charging at them. Both Sefolosha and Antic were arrested on charges of obstructing authorities and disorderly conduct, but were released from prison. They’ve both said that they intend to fight these charges.

As a result of Sefolosha’s broken leg, he will be out for the rest of the season and unable to play with the Atlanta Hawks in the playoffs, despite the team’s surprisingly stand out season. Sefolosha’s absence will absolutely be a big blow to the team moving forward.

Now the NBA Players’ Association has announced that it will be looking into the incident and conducting an investigation into the actions of the NYPD. What it determines will be interesting, especially in light of the other issues with tactics the NYPD has had over the last few years.

Anneliese Mahoney

Anneliese Mahoney is Managing Editor at Law Street and a Connecticut transplant to Washington D.C. She has a Bachelor’s degree in International Affairs from the George Washington University, and a passion for law, politics, and social issues. Contact Anneliese at amahoney@LawStreetMedia.com.

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There were a lot of big news stories this year, from the Olympics in early 2014 to the ongoing Sony hack. Read on to learn about the top 15 news stories of 2014.

1. The Winter Olympics: $how Me the $ochi

Image courtesy of Atos via Flickr

The 2014 Olympics were hosted in Sochi, Russia, this winter, and the entire event was marked by controversy after controversy. The Russians were chosen to host the Olympics because of an impressive, expensive bid to the International Olympic Committee (IOC). However, the chaos of the 2014 Games left many wondering whether or not cash should be the deciding factor in the selection process.

2. Malaysian Airplane Crash: Who’s Liable?

Image courtesy of abdallahh via Flickr

In March, the world watched as a Malaysian Airlines flight disappeared, and many families were left devastated. It was a horrifying tragedy, but many were wondering who was to blame for the catastrophe, or more appropriately, who was liable? Given that much is still unknown about the crash, the legal questions are far from being answered.

3. Punishing Donald Sterling Is About to Get a Lot Harder

Image courtesy of Michael via Flickr

Clippers owner Donald Sterling came under fire after an audio recording of him making racist statements came to light. NBA Commissioner Adam Silver levied a notable punishment against Donald Sterling. However, given the unprecedented level of punishment, there were significant legal concerns.

4. An Open Letter to Shailene Woodley: What Every Not-a-Feminist Needs to Hear 

Image courtesy of Red Carpet Report on Mingle Media Tv

One of the most talked about stars of 2014 was Shailene Woodley–she starred in films such as Divergent and The Fault in Our Stars. However, she also made headlines for a less flattering reason–for saying that she wasn’t a feminist. Unfortunately, she had the definition of feminism wrong.

Answer Emma Watson’s Call for Gender Equality

Image courtesy of EyesonFire89 via Flickr

However, another movie starlet, Emma Watson of Harry Potter fame, gave an amazing speech this year about the importance of feminism and equality. Unlike Woodley, her definition of feminism was spot-on, and she made a great appeal.

5. SCOTUS Steps Up Amid Execution Controversy

Image courtesy of [Ken Piorkowski via Flickr]

6. Trigger Warnings Creep Off the Web and Into the Classroom

Image courtesy of OpenClips via Pixabay

Trigger warnings are a common sight on websites, in order to alert readers to content they may find troubling. However, trigger warnings started to make their way off the internet and possibly onto college syllabi. That change has led to concerns that trigger warnings may end up creating optional content in college courses.

7. The Dark Side of the World Cup: Corruption, Bribery, and Civil Unrest

Image courtesy of Amil Delic via Flickr

This summer, the world watched as the 2014 World Cup took place in Brazil. But, much like the 2014 Olympic Games, the World Cup had problems with corruption, lack of organization, and bribing scandals. Not only was the World Cup an interesting look into the the politics of Brazil, but it says a lot about what may happen at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.

Oh, and that guy who bit another player: The People vs. Luis Suarez

Image courtesy of [George via Flickr]

8. The Senate Torture Report: Government Infighting Over Release

Image courtesy of Justin Norman via Flickr

The Senate torture report was finally released a few weeks ago, but there was a lot of infighting prior to the release. Major players included the U.S. Senate, particularly the Senate Intelligence Committee, the CIA, and the White House.

9. We Should All be Upset About What’s Going on in Ferguson: Here’s Why

Image courtesy of Elvert Barnes via Flickr

In early August, a young man named Michael Brown was killed in Ferguson, Missouri, by Officer Darren Wilson. The following weeks led to protests over a few different topics, including police militarization, racial profiling, and First Amendment issues.

10. Ebola and America’s Fears

Image courtesy of CDC Global via Flickr

This year, Ebola has killed thousands in Western Africa, particularly in Liberia, Sierra Leone, and Guinea. Globalization and international travel led to a case making it to the United States, sparking fear around the nation.

11. Strikes Against ISIS in Syria: Shaky Ground for Obama Administration

Image courtesy of Official US Navy Page via Flickr

The U.S. has been waging war against ISIS since it emerged in Syria and Iraq. Early this fall, the U.S. and some Middle Eastern allies bombed ISIS. Like any international action, the U.S. needed to be able to legally justify their actions, but that may be easier said than done.

12. The Washington Redskins: What’s Next in the Name Debate?

Image courtesy of Keith Allison via Flickr

The Washington D.C. NFL team is called the “Redskins,” a name that has received ire for its offensive origin. Journalists have begun to refer to the team by almost any other name, and this summer the US Patent office cancelled the team’s trademark. Whether or not the name will ever be changed remains to be seen.

13. The CIA: How to Get Away With Torture

Image courtesy of takomabibelot via Flickr

That Senate Intelligence torture report was finally released, and it was a disturbing revelation into the practices of the CIA. However, despite the fact that torture is illegal internationally, it’s doubtful that the U.S. will ever see any legal ramifications.

14. Australian Hostage Situation Ends: A Community Stands Together

Image courtesy of Corey Leopold via Flickr

Earlier this month, there was a horrifying hostage situation in Sydney, Australia. But the aftermath was heartening, as Australians banded together to show the world that the actions of one mad man does not justify discrimination on a wide scale.

Australians School the World on How To Not Be Racist

Image courtesy of Chris Beckett via Flickr

Here’s a further look into the amazing Australian compassion after the Sydney hostage situation. The hashtag #IllRideWithYou was created, in order to provide support for the Australian Muslim community. Citizens of Sydney offered company to Australian Muslims who needed to travel on public transportation without fear of discrimination.

15. Disturbing New Developments in the Continuing Sony Hacking Scandal

Image courtesy of The City Project via Flickr

One of the biggest stories of the end of 2014 was the Sony Hacking scandal, when a hacking group called the Guardians of Peace (GOP) made its way into Sony’s computer system. The story escalated quickly, as the hacking group demanded that a movie called The Interview not be released, or drastic action would be taken.

Anneliese Mahoney

Anneliese Mahoney is Managing Editor at Law Street and a Connecticut transplant to Washington D.C. She has a Bachelor’s degree in International Affairs from the George Washington University, and a passion for law, politics, and social issues. Contact Anneliese at amahoney@LawStreetMedia.com.

The post ICYMI: Top 15 Top News Stories of 2014 appeared first on Law Street.

It’s been a few weeks since the announcement that the Ferguson grand jury would not indict Officer Darren Wilson for shooting Michael Brown to death. It’s been about a week since a Staten Island grand jury announced that Officer Daniel Pantaleo would not be indicted for the death of Eric Garner. Protests have continued in many major cities, and everyone is still talking about the injustices inherent in our judicial system. #ICan’tBreathe, a reference to Garner’s last words as he died after being put in a chokehold by Panteleo, is still trending on Twitter as I write this.

Now, celebrities are starting to get involved. A few nights ago, Kobe Bryant and other members of the Los Angeles Lakers wore “I Can’t Breathe” t-shirts before their game.

Kobe and the rest of the #Lakers wearing #ICantBreathe T-Shirts during warm ups ( pic via @lakers ) pic.twitter.com/kd2OlxrZfm

— Jeff G. (@TheSportsDude) December 10, 2014

The Lakers weren’t the first team to participate in protests. The St. Louis Rams, shortly after the Ferguson grand jury decision, walked out onto the field with their hands in the “Hands Up, Don’t Shoot” gesture that has been a symbol of the Ferguson protests:

Rams players said they ‘absolutely’ would repeat ‘Hands Up, Don’t Shoot” gesture http://t.co/lxshSRD8wrpic.twitter.com/H4Z71QQWau

— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) December 4, 2014

Rams player Davin Joseph also kept his support going by writing “I Can’t Breathe” on his shoes before a recent game:

R.I.P Eric Garner pic.twitter.com/i84grny7pR

— Davin Joseph (@DavinJoseph75) December 7, 2014

Detroit Lions player Reggie Bush also showed his support with a homemade “I Can’t Breathe” shirt:

ICYMI: Reggie Bush supports Eric Garner with message on shirt http://t.co/N6oDRFTcQD pic.twitter.com/LqMsc2eCsx — Josh Katzenstein (@jkatzenstein) December 7, 2014

It’s not just professional athletes who are showing their support; other celebrities have chosen to throw their weight around as well and bring attention to the Brown and Garner-inspired protests. Singer/songwriter John Legend and his wife Chrissy Teigen, a model, paid for an entire fleet of food trucks to serve protesters in Lincoln Square in New York on Sunday. 

.@johnlegend and his wife pay for a food truck to feed #EricGarner supporters at #NYC protest. http://t.co/HYLPqHTFZxpic.twitter.com/0JJqqEuIIu — Jassiel Perez (@fl_dreamer) December 8, 2014

Finally, members of Congress have shown their support. Four members have done the “Hands Up, Don’t Shoot” gesture on the floor of the House of Representatives: New York Reps. Hakeem Jeffries and Yvette Clarke, and Texas Reps. Sheila Jackson Lee and Al Green. 

Four Members of Congress do ‘Hands Up, Don’t Shoot’ gesture on House floor. http://t.co/EMPkdTk6otpic.twitter.com/YanQI5RzJ4 — NYDN Politics (@NYDNPolitics) December 2, 2014

Although many celebrities have made their opinions known about the lack of indictments in these cases, these athletes, celebrities, and politicians have stood out. They’re in good company–it’s only by bringing attention to these issues that we can ever hope to enact change. 

Anneliese Mahoney

Anneliese Mahoney is Managing Editor at Law Street and a Connecticut transplant to Washington D.C. She has a Bachelor’s degree in International Affairs from the George Washington University, and a passion for law, politics, and social issues. Contact Anneliese at amahoney@LawStreetMedia.com.

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Donald Sterling’s dramatic month was capped off with a fittingly tumultuous final week. Let’s review: Sterling authorized his wife to sell his beloved basketball team, then disavowed that plan. He received an offer for $2 billion to buy the team, then was deemed mentally unfit to make authorizations on behalf of his family trust. He then filed a lawsuit against the NBA for $1 billion, only to have the NBA approve the $2 billion sale of the Clippers and forego the now unnecessary forced sale process. Got it?

The flurry of events would be hard enough to understand were they to make sense, but they don’t seem to do that. Why would you authorize your wife to sell the team then sue after she fields a great offer? Maybe there is another motive at work? Maybe Donald Sterling is mentally incapacitated . . . like a fox.

Make no mistake, Donald Sterling was a shrewd attorney and businessman in his day. His ability to navigate the greater Los Angeles real estate market made him millions of dollars and gave him the means to buy the Clippers in the first place. But if the average shrewd businessman felt he were being unfairly forced to sell his largest asset, he might try to halt the sale by requesting injunctive relief from a court. At the very least, he might request a temporary injunction to slow the process. Sterling hasn’t done that. In fact, in the complaint filed by his attorneys on May 30, Sterling asks only for money damages.

Perhaps Sterling believes the value of his basketball team has been artificially inflated. Upon hearing whispers regarding what his team could sell for, he instructs his attorney to draft a letter ceding all selling responsibility to his wife, Shelly. After his instinct regarding his team’s worth is seemingly validated upon Steve Ballmer offering to buy the Clippers for $2 billion, Sterling decides to let the sale proceed. He instructs his attorneys to remove from their suit any provision requesting temporary or injunctive relief.

Ostensibly approving of a sale could make him appear feckless and get his lawsuit against the NBA thrown out of court, so next he agreed to undergo a mental evaluation knowing he would be diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. This diagnosis would leave Shelly alone to approve the sale, while Donald could still carry on his lawsuit against the NBA while still projecting the image of an angry, dangerously litigious man. After the sale is completed, Donald would remove his assets from the Sterling family trust. This way, if Donald Sterling was to successfully sue the NBA, the latter could only collect reimbursement from Shelly Sterling. Donald meanwhile, would be resting comfortably with his recently improved pile of money, and a newer, possibly even more vapid young lady to spend it on.

Possible? Maybe. Probable? Maybe not. The flurry of chess-like moves may only appear strategic considering the wealth and profiles of the parties involved. The truth may be that Donald Sterling is a spiteful man who no longer possesses the abundance of fluid intelligence he once had, but maintains the wealth to fire various shots via high priced attorneys. But even that would seem to make too much sense, and really nothing in this saga is as it appears.

Andrew Blancato

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The NFL’s drug enforcement policy is making news again, this time because the Cleveland Browns’ only reason for existing star receiver, Josh Gordon, failed another drug test for allegedly smoking marijuana. The Browns are now likely to be without Gordon for the entire 2014-2015 season because the League’s Policy and Program for Substance Abuse (a cleverly couched title for a lengthy drug rulebook) imposes a one-year banishment from the league as the minimum penalty for stage three infractions.  Much like a judicial body, the NFL and a few other leagues have devised a lengthy program to curb drug use. Unlike a judicial body, however, the NFL is not a tax-payer funded institution entrusted to balance the punishment and rehabilitation of society. So why do they try? It probably has to do with image. Drug-using players make for poor role models, which is why the issue remains uncontentious between player unions and ownership (at least compared to wages). But with public opinion changing and player drug-use actually elevating, it’s probably time to relax the rules with regard to weed.

The League should remove marijuana from its drug policy list of controlled substances because the public doesn’t care if athletes smoke weed. A majority of Americans now support efforts to legalize marijuana, and 18 states have decriminalized non-medical marijuana possession. Will Sports Illustrated for Kids soon be posting pictures of Johnny Manziel on its cover smoking a joint? Probably not, but it’s already pretty clear that not all pictures of athletes exude professionalism.

Athletes who use marijuana also don’t hurt their game. Several athletes have admitted to smoking marijuana, even those who rely on lung capacity. If weed cost them a competitive edge and consequently money, why would they continue to smoke?

League drug policies aren’t curbing drug use either. In 2000, marijuana use among NBA players was reported to be small. Now, reports have used the word ubiquitous to describe the prevalence of smoking pot. The drug’s popularity is likely what prompted Arizona Cardinals cornerback Antonio Cromartie to exclaim that penalizing the drug serves no punitive function. Besides, leagues that haven’t penalized marijuana use, such as the NHL, have remained competitive and are not yet overrun with Jeffrey Lebowskis on ice.

Clearly, it’s high time (couldn’t resist!) to change the rules.

—

Andrew Blancato (@BigDogBlancato) holds a J.D. from New York Law School, and is a graduate of the University of Massachusetts, Amherst. When he’s not writing, he is either clerking at a trial court in Connecticut, or obsessing over Boston sports.

Featured image courtesy of [Erik Drost via Flickr]

Andrew Blancato

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It’s no secret that many Americans feel there are too many lawsuits in this country. If you’ve ever been selected for jury duty, then you know that one of the most common questions asked before sitting on a civil case is whether or not people sue too often. The answer back to the attorney is often “yes,” not just because the panelist is seeking to avoid jury service, but because that’s the view espoused by many when reflecting on the American zeitgeist.

This sentiment is caused, or at least reinforced, by the media’s reporting of lawsuits. The headlines that make the largest waves are often based on huge, seven-digit verdicts. Laura Beth Nielsen and Aaron Beim alluded to this correlation in a recent paper claiming the courts are not as favorable to plaintiffs as the media often portrays, yet the media’s reports are what the public absorbs. Neilsen and Beim’s chief example is a Boston Globe report of an MBTA worker who was awarded a $5.5 million discrimination verdict. The verdict was later reduced by 80 percent on remittitur, an important detail the Globe did not feature as prominently as the original verdict. It seems that cases alleging discrimination in the workplace carry a stigma with the public and media.

Just as the figures of a verdict can be lost on the average American, so too can the merits of the underlying discrimination case. In 2009, former Los Angeles Clippers executive Elgin Baylor sued team owner Donald Sterling alleging racial discrimination. A jury of 12 unanimously rejected Baylor’s suit, and many called the hall of famer’s action frivolous.

Cases alleging tales of sexual discrimination are no different. This year alone, cheerleaders from three different NFL teams have sued their employers, often alleging sexual harassment among a variety of different wage claims. Knee-jerk reactions to such suits are often negative, as evidenced in the comments section of ESPN articles covering the matter.

A closer look at both situations may evoke a more tolerant response. Since his lawsuit, Elgin Baylor’s former employer has allegedly been caught on tape making racist comments against African Americans, and some former Clippers aren’t surprised by his discriminatory tendencies. Details have also emerged in the cheerleading case of the Buffalo Jills, whose employer allegedly instructed them on how to control their menstrual cycles and how to wash their “intimate areas.”

In sum, it’s never a bad idea to reserve judgment on a lawsuit that appears in the news or on TV, even one alleging discrimination. In fact, suits alleging workplace discrimination often already have safeguards in place against frivolous litigation, like the EEOC’s Right-To-Sue-Letter. But even absent an EEOC investigation, plaintiffs should be afforded a blank slate. Few things in this country are as ubiquitously opposed as prejudice and discrimination. Those who decide to sacrifice time, money, and privacy to personally combat these evils in a public court should be heard with an open mind.

____

Andrew Blancato (@BigDogBlancato) holds a J.D. from New York Law School, and is a graduate of the University of Massachusetts, Amherst. When he’s not writing, he is either clerking at a trial court in Connecticut, or obsessing over Boston sports.

Featured image courtesy of [BuffaloProCheer via Wikipedia]

Andrew Blancato

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