Unexpected results & events tonight in the SPANISH FOOTBALL LEAGUE with the three games played as part of Round 34 of LA LIGA. Here is a summary of events, the results & the scorers
Iker Casillas
REAL MADRID lost 2 - 3 to REAL ZARAGOZA who was fighting for their 1º Division life & with Real Madrid suffering the side - effects of the Barça clashes these last weeks. Real Madrid started without
REAL MADRID 2011 | AGREEMENT WITH NURIN SAHIN OF BORRUSIA DORTMUND ?
The news is not from a specialist Spanish Football paper, the report is from a very serious local online news site called "Elconfidencial". According to the source REAL MADRID has come to an agreement with German Budesliga & BORRUSIA DORTMUND 22 year old Turkish midfield sensation NURIN SAHIN.
Nurin Sahin
The news gains weight because the player has refused to renew his contract with the
Nurin Sahin
The news gains weight because the player has refused to renew his contract with the
REAL MADRID | CRISTIANO RONALDO "PUNISHED" TO THE STAND
REAL MADRID has the first casuality from the "Barça Wars", or at least the one that is ringing the most in Spanish Sports media. CRISTIANO RONALDO has been "punished" by his Coach José Mourinho mainly for the following post-match comments to media after the Champions League semi-final 0 - 2 loss against FC Barcelona :
"No me gusta jugar así, pero tengo que adaptarme a lo que me piden..."
"I don
"No me gusta jugar así, pero tengo que adaptarme a lo que me piden..."
"I don
New Sports Illustrated Column: Eighth Circuit grants temporary stay -- NFL Lockout is Back On
Here's my new SI column on tonight's big news from the Eighth Circuit: Judge Nelson's preliminary injunction order has been temporarily stayed and the tea leaves suggest the order will be made permanent.
Philippine Wonders - Destination Bohol
Chocolate Hills are one of the attractions that you don't miss to see when you are in Bohol and it is one of the amazing wonders only seen in the small island of Bohol.
There are more than a thousand of it that is covered in green grass that turns brown during dry season or summer, thus getting its name. So don't expect to see them during rainy days.
Philippine Tarsier - one of the smallest inhabitant primates that, just like all other tarsiers, their eyes are fixed in the skull and uses their neck to rotate 180 degrees. It measures about 3-6 inches in height.
Tomorrow in Boston: A Discussion on NFL Labor Negotiations
My Vermont Law School colleague and good friend Professor Sean Nolon, who is Director of the Dispute Resolution Center at our school, and I will give a joint presentation the NFL labor crisis tomorrow at the Boston office of Bulkley, Richardson and Gelinas. While the event is primarily geared for Vermont Law School alumns, please contact me if you would like to attend as I can secure you an invitation.
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PORTO 5 VILLAREAL 1 | SPANIARDS STEAM-ROLLED IN EUROPA LEAGUE 1º LEG SEMI
Portuguese League Champions PORTO took the sail out of the "Yellow Submarine" after defeating Spanish Football Club VILLAREAL 5 - 1 in the 1º leg of the EUROPA LEAGUE semi final. The Portuguese Club put in an electric second half that knocked the Spaniards onto the "Football canvass".
Villareal celebrate their goal
It looked in the first half that Villareal would surprise the hot favourites
Villareal celebrate their goal
It looked in the first half that Villareal would surprise the hot favourites
The Rose Garden Tea House
I awoke this morning to howling winds and a torrential downpour and thought, "Yep, if it's raining, it must be coffee crawl day." Rain is one thing, but PE has been experiencing constant winds of 25-30 mph with 40 mph gusts since Monday, earning it the moniker "The Windy City," putting Chicago to shame. These winds coupled with the rain made for a chilly autumn morning so I expected only a few crawlers to join me at The Rose Garden Tea House for coffee. In all, though, we numbered thirteen who braved the elements for a cappuccino, with everyone in good spirits despite the weather. Today's crawlers included June Nash, her daughter, Leanne Waller, and her grandson, Luke Waller, Beth Vieira, Prudie Brown, Fran deBeer, Stella and Beryl Dawson and their niece, Jenny Fowler, Margaret Zoetmulder, Colleen LeRoux, and Elize Potgieter.
Though the tea house looked cozy, especially with a cheery fire blazing in the wood-burning stove in the corner, we were met by the staff and manager with a chill that rivaled the temperature outside. I will chalk up this less-than-warm reception to the staff having to work after an extended holiday weekend which included Easter and two national holidays. The weather probably didn't help either.
The Rose Garden Tea House is situated at Floradale Nurseries on William Moffett Expressway in the Overbaakens area. The shop's decor is somewhat like a Japanese tea garden with pale blue-and-white Japanese themed wallpaper and coordinated framed pictures, blue-and-white checked tablecloths, and assorted bamboo bird cages hanging about. Lucky for me the cages were lightweight and birdless because I hit my head on one of them about six times during our visit. It's a wonder I'm even coherent right now! Unfortunately, we didn't get the chance to stroll around the gardens and nursery due to the rain. Note: There will be no Meet the Owner / Meet the Barista pictures this week as we were asked not to take pics or reveal the identity of any staff.
The coffees were very good but it's hard to go wrong with a Masterton's blend. Fran finally jumped back on the cappuccino bandwagon, Jenny and Stella ordered caffe lattes which presented beautifully (see pic), and three-year-old Luke got a "babycino" (hot frothed milk to which his mom added some sugar!). After the coffees were served there was some discussion about tomorrow's royal wedding. Most everyone is planning to watch the nuptuals while donning their own millinery couture. I will be sporting the white Esprit baseball cap I won at the Splash Festival this past weekend.
A sad farewell goes out to Prudie Brown. Prudie left for the airport right after the crawl today to head back home. Thank you, Prudie, for joining us the past few weeks while you were in PE visiting your sister. We all hope you got home safe and sound. The next time you're in town please come crawl with us.
Some recent follow-up visits: Lou and I went to Shelly's (the site of the first coffee crawl!) for Easter brunch. The food was great! Shelly was glad to see us and has been reading the PE Coffee Crawl blog to keep up with our adventures. We also stopped by Cobblestone, on the way home from a Masterton's run, to pick up some of those awesome bagels I wrote about last week. We will definitely become regulars there!
A HUGE THANK YOU to all of this week's crawlers. You guys are the best and have made this blogging experience a real treat for me!!!
Until next week,
Ellen
Though the tea house looked cozy, especially with a cheery fire blazing in the wood-burning stove in the corner, we were met by the staff and manager with a chill that rivaled the temperature outside. I will chalk up this less-than-warm reception to the staff having to work after an extended holiday weekend which included Easter and two national holidays. The weather probably didn't help either.
The Rose Garden Tea House is situated at Floradale Nurseries on William Moffett Expressway in the Overbaakens area. The shop's decor is somewhat like a Japanese tea garden with pale blue-and-white Japanese themed wallpaper and coordinated framed pictures, blue-and-white checked tablecloths, and assorted bamboo bird cages hanging about. Lucky for me the cages were lightweight and birdless because I hit my head on one of them about six times during our visit. It's a wonder I'm even coherent right now! Unfortunately, we didn't get the chance to stroll around the gardens and nursery due to the rain. Note: There will be no Meet the Owner / Meet the Barista pictures this week as we were asked not to take pics or reveal the identity of any staff.
The coffees were very good but it's hard to go wrong with a Masterton's blend. Fran finally jumped back on the cappuccino bandwagon, Jenny and Stella ordered caffe lattes which presented beautifully (see pic), and three-year-old Luke got a "babycino" (hot frothed milk to which his mom added some sugar!). After the coffees were served there was some discussion about tomorrow's royal wedding. Most everyone is planning to watch the nuptuals while donning their own millinery couture. I will be sporting the white Esprit baseball cap I won at the Splash Festival this past weekend.
A sad farewell goes out to Prudie Brown. Prudie left for the airport right after the crawl today to head back home. Thank you, Prudie, for joining us the past few weeks while you were in PE visiting your sister. We all hope you got home safe and sound. The next time you're in town please come crawl with us.
Some recent follow-up visits: Lou and I went to Shelly's (the site of the first coffee crawl!) for Easter brunch. The food was great! Shelly was glad to see us and has been reading the PE Coffee Crawl blog to keep up with our adventures. We also stopped by Cobblestone, on the way home from a Masterton's run, to pick up some of those awesome bagels I wrote about last week. We will definitely become regulars there!
A HUGE THANK YOU to all of this week's crawlers. You guys are the best and have made this blogging experience a real treat for me!!!
Until next week,
Ellen
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| Leanne, Luke, Fran |
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| Say, "Cappuccino!" |
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| This Week's Crawlers Prudie, Stella, Beth, Jenny, June, Leanne, Fran, Beryl, Colleen, Margaret, Elize |
FC BARCELONA TAKES JOSE MOURINHO TO THE UEFA DISCIPLINARY COMMISSION
SPANISH FOOTBALL has exploded with the announcement that FC BARCELONA will take REAL MADRID Coach Jose Mourinho to the UEFA Disciplinary Commision under article 5 of infrigement of the ethical code.
Jose Mourinho
This is almost unprecedented between the two Major Spanish Football Clubs that will no doubt lead to further conflicts on all fronts. FC Barcelona has considered that the words &
Jose Mourinho
This is almost unprecedented between the two Major Spanish Football Clubs that will no doubt lead to further conflicts on all fronts. FC Barcelona has considered that the words &
Reminder: SLA and Sullivan and Worcester Panel tonight
If you're in the Boston and are looking for a timely sports law discussion - it should be fun and I strongly suspect the NFL legal chaos will work itself into the discussion:
The Sports Lawyers Association and Sullivan & Worcester LLP present
Boom Goes The Dynamite! Top Sports Transactions of 2010 |
Thursday, April 28, 2011 Program: 5:30 pm - 6:30 pm Reception: 6:30 pm- 7:30 pm |
Sullivan & Worcester LLP One Post Office Square Boston, MA 02109 MAP |
The Sports Lawyers Association and Sullivan & Worcester LLP invite you to attend a panel discussion on the top sports transactions of 2010, including the sale of the Golden State Warriors, the Texas Rangers and the acquisition of Liverpool FC. Speakers:
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Please RSVP by April 22. If you have questions or need more information, please contact Katie Potter at 617.338.2923 or kpotter@sandw.com. |
VIDEO | PEPE RED CARD INCIDENT WITH DANI ALVES | REAL MADRID - FC BARCELONA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE SEMI
I have been accused of being biased, one sided, not objective regarding my below post on what I consider is not a red card, & a moment that radically altered the course of the REAL MADRID - FC BARCELONA Champions League 1ºst leg semi-final. I also make the point that the referee standards for the whole Champions League this season has been poor & not up to the standards called for this level.
New Sports Illustrated Column: Judge Nelson Denies NFL Stay. What's Next?
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| Judge Susan Nelson. Do NFL owners now regret Judge David Doty's removal? |
4. So what would you recommend the NFL do?
First, NFL teams should re-open business without any physical or other obstructions to players. A court has told the league to resume operations. It should do just that and not pull any gimmicks. It may be an awkward time for teams and players, but only if they let it be.
Second, the NFL should -- for the time being -- not employ a salary cap, meaning teams should be able to sign free agents without restriction. Teams would still be deterred in their spending because a new CBA will eventually be reached and it will contain a salary cap -- no team wants to be way over the cap when the new CBA is put in place.
Third, teams should remove franchise tag designations and other restrictions on players' free agency rights. History should convince the league of this point: the NFL has lost antitrust cases involving unilaterally imposed restrictions on movement of free agents between teams. Judge Nelson notably stipulated that teams are not obligated to sign free agents. In one respect, that stipulation benefits teams since they cannot be alleged to have engaged in a group boycott under federal antitrust law by not signing free agents. But as a matter of practice, the stipulation may not prove meaningful: teams may not be legally obligated to sign free agents, but if they don't, their competitors will. . . .
Messi Beats 10-man Real Madrid
Real Madrid’s chance for a treble has farther lost its grip as the Los Blancos succumb to the pressure during its first leg semifinals Champions League game at the Bernabeu, losing 0-2 in the third El Clasico. Although they have taken already the Copa del Rey but they are also 8 points behind Barca in La Liga with only 5 more games left to play. And going to Nou Camp, on 3 May for the second leg, down by 2 goals is hard to imagine if Real still has hope of advancing to the finals at Wembley. What disturbs me is Real finished the match again with 10 men on the pitch and eventually was beaten black and blue by Barca.
It seems that Iker is not Paul eventually. He slipped for the first time in his predictions or was it caused by other factors such as the referee, who have given Pepe a straight red card. That also triggers the sending of Mourinho to the stands. Would the game be the same if Real Madrid is not short handed? I doubt but not very certain also because Champions League competition is a different level. But we have seen Real Madrid fought back with a 1-1 draw last 16 April and eventually diffuses Barca’s resilience in the Copa del Rey finals, three days back and claim Mourinho’s first silverware in Real Madrid. Aside from it is the third Clasico, what is common amongst the three is Real finished the game again with 10-man for the fourth time. There have been several reactions about game officials officiating, favoring Barcelona’s way and mainly the reason why Mourinho was sent off.
It seems that Iker is not Paul eventually. He slipped for the first time in his predictions or was it caused by other factors such as the referee, who have given Pepe a straight red card. That also triggers the sending of Mourinho to the stands. Would the game be the same if Real Madrid is not short handed? I doubt but not very certain also because Champions League competition is a different level. But we have seen Real Madrid fought back with a 1-1 draw last 16 April and eventually diffuses Barca’s resilience in the Copa del Rey finals, three days back and claim Mourinho’s first silverware in Real Madrid. Aside from it is the third Clasico, what is common amongst the three is Real finished the game again with 10-man for the fourth time. There have been several reactions about game officials officiating, favoring Barcelona’s way and mainly the reason why Mourinho was sent off.
I wonder if Barca will be able to score those two goals if it was against 11 men on the pitch. Barcelona is the best team right now but many would refute for they might just be good actors in acting diving. Those were just hypothetical but nonetheless were shared by many others. The return leg next week on 3 May is a difficult stride for Real Madrid to overcome since they will be playing without Ramos and Pepe and a tactician who can’t be on the bench.
Boston Marathon concedes its course is ineligible for world, American records
The organizers of the Boston Marathon decided today not to contest IAAF rules that make the course ineligible for a world record. (The Boston route ends 459 feet of elevation below the start, and it is a point-to-point course that is susceptible to a tailwind such as the one last Monday that helped Geoffrey Mutai finish in 2 hours, 3 minutes, 2 seconds _ 57 seconds faster than Haile Gebrselassie's world record.)
B.A.A. officials had said they would file the paperwork to have the record certified, even though the IAAF language is clear and Boston has long been known to be ineligible. Today the B.A.A. decided not to force a confrontation over the issue. Instead, it said it would "engage members of Boston's scientific and medical communities" to see if they can't come up with new rules that would better recognize the challenges of the course, notwithstanding its net downhill layout.
B.A.A. officials had said they would file the paperwork to have the record certified, even though the IAAF language is clear and Boston has long been known to be ineligible. Today the B.A.A. decided not to force a confrontation over the issue. Instead, it said it would "engage members of Boston's scientific and medical communities" to see if they can't come up with new rules that would better recognize the challenges of the course, notwithstanding its net downhill layout.
CHAMPIONS LEAGUE 1º LEG SEMI FINAL RESULT | REAL MADRID 0 FC BARCELONA 2
REAL MADRID lost 0 - 2 to FC BARCELONA in the 1º leg of the semi final of CHAMPIONS LEAGUE. Very controversial with Real Madrid going down to 10 men when referee Stark unjustly sent off Pepe (Red Card) in the 60th min & with the match in a 0 - 0 draw. The protests lead to Coach Mourinho being sent off as well & the balance was pushed "artificially" in Barça favour.
Pepe red card
At the end
Pepe red card
At the end
SBJ Sports Law Article
The April 25, 2011 issue of Sports Business Journal includes an insightful article by Bill King about several lawyers who work where the law and the sports industry overlap. Lawyers at Proskauer, Weil Gotshal & Manges, O'Melveny & Myers, and other law firms are profiled. The article appears to be gated online, but is worth a read if you can get access to a hard copy or if you have a subscription to the web-based companion publication.
Josh Luchs to speak at New York Law School tomorrow
From Elliot Solop of The Sports Tomato:
Josh Luchs will be lecturing at New York Law School on April 28th (the day of the NFL 2011 Draft) between 1-2pm. Do not miss out on a great opportunity to hear about the realities of the sports industry and how Mr. Luchs hopes to change it. Special thanks to Mr. Luchs for taking time out of his busy schedule to come educate. It should be great!
Here’s the info:
Thursday, April 28, 2011
1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m.
Room WA10
About our speaker:
Josh Luchs was a former NFLPA certified agent that made shocking confessions in a Sports Illustrated article (“Confessions of an Agent,” October 18, 2010) concerning the unethical conduct and foul play of sports agents. Mr. Luchs came out with the story with the goal to change the ethical and moral landscape of the industry.
Notable former clients of Josh Luchs include:
Adam Archuleta (20th overall, St. Louis Rams), Todd Heap (31st overall, Baltimore Ravens) and Terrell Suggs (2004 NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year, Baltimore Ravens), Chris Mims (Tennessee defensive end, 23rd overall in the 1992 draft), Jamir Miller (UCLA linebacker, 10th pick overall in the 1994 draft by the Arizona Cardinals) and Tony Banks (Michigan State quarterback, the first QB selected in the 1996 NFL Draft, by the St. Louis Rams).
Please RSVP to nylawsports@gmail.com.
REAL MADRID - FC BARCELONA CLASHES TEARING APART THE SPANISH NATIONAL FOOTBALL TEAM?
The below photo is the SPANISH NATIONAL FOOTBALL TEAM that made history & won the FIFA World Cup 2010 with great play, but more importantly, with a solid friendship base, team mentality & solidarity. The picture shows only 11 of the 23 Squad members, but one can clearly see a divide: most are either REAL MADRID or FC BARCELONA players. Missing from this picture are Albiol & Arbeloa (Real Madrid)
NPL and CEO Capital Football Discuss Some Football Issues - Part 1
This program was broadcast on 2xxfm (98.3mhz), across the Australian Community Radio Network, Tuesday, 26 April 2011 at 7:00PM.
Download Podcast here:
This is not so much an interview as a Football discussion - with the CEO Capital Football. Always a pleasure to talk to Heather Reid.
This program does not follow a "question / answer" approach,. Its a discussion and discussions generally don't go that way, they tend to be on an "issue' and simply follow their own path. That's communication. It doesn't necessarily mean "agreement" either, but it does enable the issue to be pulled apart from all angles. That's pretty much what happens in "Part 1" of this "discussion" and the "Parts" that will follow.
The NPL has been critical of a number of Capital Football policy and implementation matters in recent times. One of the most persistent complaints by Football Club officials, players and supporters is the proposition that "Capital Football" just doesn't consult effectively with Clubs or the wider football constituency - but particularly with Clubs.
This complaint has substance on several fronts and was clearly acknowledged as a major area of concern /endeavour by the new CF President, Racheal Harrigan, during her address at the recent Annual General Meeting which saw her re-elected to the CF Board. The two new CF Board members also focussed their remarks on the same issue. So too the new Technical Director, who was asked to speak by the CEO at the AGM and who has undertaken to work closely with the Clubs in the ACT region. Indeed, the current CEO, with whom we speak in this program, acknowledges the need to make the "communication" issue a priority.
So there it is - its official - there is a serious communication deficit / problem between Capital Football and Clubs. It would appear, as they say, that there is definately an "elephant in the room"!
So how did it get to the point that it is such a problem? I guess there is a lot going on these days.
Nevertheless, it is a matter which imperils the development and operation of the game in the ACT region.
Nevertheless, it is a matter which imperils the development and operation of the game in the ACT region.
Too often it seems that Capital Football acts as though it is the "client", rather than the Clubs. The current structure both within the Capital Football headquarters and the wider organisational structure, which Clubs are obliged to operate within, does not seem to be well positioned to meet the challenges that surround us today, and certainly not going forward. As one Club President pointed out at the AGM, he was rasing issues at that meeting which he had raised at the last AGM (a year before) and which had from his Club's perspective, got no response from Capital Football.
The Mens and Womens Premier Leagues seem to be very good examples at the present time. Clubs not part of the Premier League which service junior / state league players, or provide teams to Premier League Clubs, and of course the Junior Clubs which focus on players (18 years and under), also have issues with Capital Football. Its easy to see that not all Clubs are configured in the same fashion, that it too say, they service their player / parent constituencies as the need arises and are not always in every player age group or category. Some Premier League Clubs put next to nothing into Junior development, preferring to feed off the work of other clubs. Another tension in the Club mix!
My point is that Clubs are a varied group of Football organisations and its only a fool for an administrator that thinks you can speak to them all with one voice, or no voice at all, and at a distance.
Then there is the issue of the funds that all these clubs need to raise each season to make things work, through their all too small army of volunteers. Capital Football is dependent on the money these Clubs initiate through registrations and development programs. On that basis alone, you would think it wise to engage and manage Clubs with care at close range, rather than risk doing it at a distance in a top down, do as you are told fashion. More talk is better than less with community volunteer orgainsations. Talking, communicating and assisting this diverse grouping that is our Football community, requires skill, patience, flexibility and persistance.
Its a long way from a Club issue to the Zone rep to the Standing committees to whom? Capital Football staff? The CEO? The Board? It just doesn't seem to be always working for everyone outside Capital Football headquarters. That must change - and quickly.
The Mens and Womens Premier Leagues seem to be very good examples at the present time. Clubs not part of the Premier League which service junior / state league players, or provide teams to Premier League Clubs, and of course the Junior Clubs which focus on players (18 years and under), also have issues with Capital Football. Its easy to see that not all Clubs are configured in the same fashion, that it too say, they service their player / parent constituencies as the need arises and are not always in every player age group or category. Some Premier League Clubs put next to nothing into Junior development, preferring to feed off the work of other clubs. Another tension in the Club mix!
My point is that Clubs are a varied group of Football organisations and its only a fool for an administrator that thinks you can speak to them all with one voice, or no voice at all, and at a distance.
Then there is the issue of the funds that all these clubs need to raise each season to make things work, through their all too small army of volunteers. Capital Football is dependent on the money these Clubs initiate through registrations and development programs. On that basis alone, you would think it wise to engage and manage Clubs with care at close range, rather than risk doing it at a distance in a top down, do as you are told fashion. More talk is better than less with community volunteer orgainsations. Talking, communicating and assisting this diverse grouping that is our Football community, requires skill, patience, flexibility and persistance.
Its a long way from a Club issue to the Zone rep to the Standing committees to whom? Capital Football staff? The CEO? The Board? It just doesn't seem to be always working for everyone outside Capital Football headquarters. That must change - and quickly.
The issues of concern are beginning to stack up. They are the source of aggravation and resentment to Clubs.
Here's how silly it can get.
Its been suggested to me by one CF person that the lack of complaint to Capital Football staff by Clubs is a clear indication that all are happy in Club land. Just amazing, delusionary and wondrously self serving was my thought at the time. What type of organisation could possibly allow itself to entertain that notion I asked myself. Hmmm! Hard to communicate anything in this sort of environment - harder for Clubs.
Its been suggested to me by one CF person that the lack of complaint to Capital Football staff by Clubs is a clear indication that all are happy in Club land. Just amazing, delusionary and wondrously self serving was my thought at the time. What type of organisation could possibly allow itself to entertain that notion I asked myself. Hmmm! Hard to communicate anything in this sort of environment - harder for Clubs.
It was also pointed out to me that criticism of Capital Football was criticism of the "staff". In some cases, on some issues, that may well be true. In an environment where there is a lack of effective communication with the football constituency, its not surprising to that Clubs conclude that the decisions are made by "Capital Football"! And in these circumstances, CF staff take the brunt of cricitism - sometimes it seems earned, sometimes not. Importantly, Capital Football exists to serve the Clubs and the Football constituency, not the other way around. If staff feel unsettled by this notion - move on. The CEO, not the Clubs have the responsibility of keeping the staff focussed and productive and all lines of communication open in all weather states. On the other side of things, Clubs must be prepared to be active communicators and make the process work for them - not remain silent - even when their best efforts seem to bring little to assist them going forward on issues that matter to them. Anything else just gets in the way.
Clubs float on volunteer efforts, they are people who give their time and money to build, maintain and sustain Clubs and they usually have precious little time to dwell on the unsatisfactory nature of CF decisions - they have a Clubs to run so that people can play the game. In the vast majority of cases these people do not get paid for their work. If Clubs say nothing it’s usually because they feel their views are seldom sort and less frequently acknowledged. When the peak body makes decisions at short notice or gives important advice at short notice, when consultation in advnace was a reasonable expactation at Club level - the outcome does not favour effective communcation. If it’s a choice between making complaint and pursuing the issue with vigour, or, simply doing the ordinary Club business so that players can play – its no contest – do the Club work. That makes Clubs a bit vulnerable, but it does not pave the way for understanding and collaboration.
Clubs that do pursue issues with vigour, risk being perceived as troublemakers at Capital Football and that makes then go a bit quite, but the issues are not forgotten. Capital Football must work very , very hard to achieve effective and continuous communication with Clubs - not just talk to itself about it, nor allow itself to become insulated by a succession of seemingly bureaucratic layers of organisational structure (zone reps, standing committees). Its would be a massive mistake by Capital Football to conclude that silence from Clubs indicates satisfaction or agreement. Where that does occur, they deny access to a wealth of talented people in the Football community. Clubs already know they do not proposer under these arrangements.
Clubs that do pursue issues with vigour, risk being perceived as troublemakers at Capital Football and that makes then go a bit quite, but the issues are not forgotten. Capital Football must work very , very hard to achieve effective and continuous communication with Clubs - not just talk to itself about it, nor allow itself to become insulated by a succession of seemingly bureaucratic layers of organisational structure (zone reps, standing committees). Its would be a massive mistake by Capital Football to conclude that silence from Clubs indicates satisfaction or agreement. Where that does occur, they deny access to a wealth of talented people in the Football community. Clubs already know they do not proposer under these arrangements.
The new President of Capital Football is correct to identify the need to communicate with the Football constituency as a top priority. Every other part of the organisational structure (including Clubs) should follow her example.
Just look at some of the range of issues that sit on the table in ACT Football at the moment. You can't fix this lot without Club particpation, mobilising a lot more of the football community's talented / capable / thoughtful / experienced people that reside in all these Clubs, than is available on a daily basis at Capital Football. You have to work to get their engagement and then you have to keep it:
Just look at some of the range of issues that sit on the table in ACT Football at the moment. You can't fix this lot without Club particpation, mobilising a lot more of the football community's talented / capable / thoughtful / experienced people that reside in all these Clubs, than is available on a daily basis at Capital Football. You have to work to get their engagement and then you have to keep it:
The game has been progressing very quickly in recent years, particularly so since the FFA's release of the National Football Curriculum and National Development Plan. To that, add a root and branch reworking of Coach Education and Training, so vital to the successful implementation of the curriculum and development plans and a process that reaches down to the youngest playing level in our game. The Premier League Clubs in the ACT region are leaping ahead in their thinking about what it means to be in a "premier league" as they struggle to find the scarce dollars and volunteers to make it a reality. Their thinking seems to be well ahead of Capital Football. The whole "player development" sphere of operations, centred as it is on the Junior Club base, is galloping ahead and probably without much meaningful input from Capital Football to Junior Clubs. The talented player stream has been reviewed to death here in the ACT and by some very smart Football people and what is left now is "action". So what is the plan - in detail? The deficit (that tragic vacant space") in player development post ACTAS haunts the Mens game, while the Womens game enjoys the W League. Problem identified but no solution for the talented young men - yet. Junior Clubs are the real player / parent powerhouse in Football and a few too many seem unhappy with a range of decisions and lack of consultation by Capital Football, and probably just as unhappy with the Junior Standing committee as an effective means of representing their concerns. For Clubs with juniors, mens and womens teams, teh same can also be said of the Means and Womens standing committees. We campaign our junior representative teams at the National Junior Championships and its all hard work and, despite our coach's best efforts, find our most talented players relegated further down the State / territory team result lists - its seems tobe getting hrader to be competitive - why and can it be fixed? The recent review of the HPP that produced the players for these teams, pointed out that they were not high performance programs. Other States move moved closer to that reality, but not the ACT. By contrast, ACTAS mens have delivered the results, but then, they do have a truly high performance program. The ACTAS womens program is very different in character to the Mens program, the players are often in it for several years, where they have time to mature and develop as players (fantastic outcome). But it has given rise to difficulties with clubs that has as much to do with poor communication, lack of consultation and unnecessary regulation; as it does with the desire of some Womens Premier League Clubs to be competitive and taken new and additional responsibilities for the development of players going forward. Capital Football's involvement in this last matter is not as productive or helpful to Clubs as it might be. And so it goes.........
In Part 1 of this discussion with CEO Capital Football, Heather Reid, we begin with a talk about the prospect of an A League team in Canberra and that $26m of ACT Government funds that went to the AFL. Then we start talking about the Womens Premier League and the ACTAS womens players. Its a good discussion and their should be more of it. Don't say I agree with all I hear, but I appreciate the opportunity to discuss that subject. You form your own views and if you feel inclined, let the NPL know how you feel about what you hear. Better still, talk in your club. If I don’t hear from you, I promise I won't assume you agree!
So sit back, cup of tea to hand and listen. Hope you enjoy.
NPL and CEO Capital Football Discuss Some Football Issues - Part 1
This program was broadcast on 2xxfm (98.3mhz), across the Australian Community Radio Network, Tuesday, 26 April 2011 at 7:00PM.
Download Podcast here:
This is not so much an interview as a Football discussion - with the CEO Capital Football. Always a pleasure to talk to Heather Reid.
This program does not follow a "question / answer" approach,. Its a discussion and discussions generally don't go that way, they tend to be on an "issue' and simply follow their own path. That's communication. It doesn't necessarily mean "agreement" either, but it does enable the issue to be pulled apart from all angles. That's pretty much what happens in "Part 1" of this "discussion" and the "Parts" that will follow.
The NPL has been critical of a number of Capital Football policy and implementation matters in recent times. One of the most persistent complaints by Football Club officials, players and supporters is the proposition that "Capital Football" just doesn't consult effectively with Clubs or the wider football constituency - but particularly with Clubs.
This complaint has substance on several fronts and was clearly acknowledged as a major area of concern /endeavour by the new CF President, Racheal Harrigan, during her address at the recent Annual General Meeting which saw her re-elected to the CF Board. The two new CF Board members also focussed their remarks on the same issue. So too the new Technical Director, who was asked to speak by the CEO at the AGM and who has undertaken to work closely with the Clubs in the ACT region. Indeed, the current CEO, with whom we speak in this program, acknowledges the need to make the "communication" issue a priority.
So there it is - its official - there is a serious communication deficit / problem between Capital Football and Clubs. It would appear, as they say, that there is definately an "elephant in the room"!
So how did it get to the point that it is such a problem? I guess there is a lot going on these days.
Nevertheless, it is a matter which imperils the development and operation of the game in the ACT region.
Nevertheless, it is a matter which imperils the development and operation of the game in the ACT region.
Too often it seems that Capital Football acts as though it is the "client", rather than the Clubs. The current structure both within the Capital Football headquarters and the wider organisational structure, which Clubs are obliged to operate within, does not seem to be well positioned to meet the challenges that surround us today, and certainly not going forward. As one Club President pointed out at the AGM, he was rasing issues at that meeting which he had raised at the last AGM (a year before) and which had from his Club's perspective, got no response from Capital Football.
The Mens and Womens Premier Leagues seem to be very good examples at the present time. Clubs not part of the Premier League which service junior / state league players, or provide teams to Premier League Clubs, and of course the Junior Clubs which focus on players (18 years and under), also have issues with Capital Football. Its easy to see that not all Clubs are configured in the same fashion, that it too say, they service their player / parent constituencies as the need arises and are not always in every player age group or category. Some Premier League Clubs put next to nothing into Junior development, preferring to feed off the work of other clubs. Another tension in the Club mix!
My point is that Clubs are a varied group of Football organisations and its only a fool for an administrator that thinks you can speak to them all with one voice, or no voice at all, and at a distance.
Then there is the issue of the funds that all these clubs need to raise each season to make things work, through their all too small army of volunteers. Capital Football is dependent on the money these Clubs initiate through registrations and development programs. On that basis alone, you would think it wise to engage and manage Clubs with care at close range, rather than risk doing it at a distance in a top down, do as you are told fashion. More talk is better than less with community volunteer orgainsations. Talking, communicating and assisting this diverse grouping that is our Football community, requires skill, patience, flexibility and persistance.
Its a long way from a Club issue to the Zone rep to the Standing committees to whom? Capital Football staff? The CEO? The Board? It just doesn't seem to be always working for everyone outside Capital Football headquarters. That must change - and quickly.
The Mens and Womens Premier Leagues seem to be very good examples at the present time. Clubs not part of the Premier League which service junior / state league players, or provide teams to Premier League Clubs, and of course the Junior Clubs which focus on players (18 years and under), also have issues with Capital Football. Its easy to see that not all Clubs are configured in the same fashion, that it too say, they service their player / parent constituencies as the need arises and are not always in every player age group or category. Some Premier League Clubs put next to nothing into Junior development, preferring to feed off the work of other clubs. Another tension in the Club mix!
My point is that Clubs are a varied group of Football organisations and its only a fool for an administrator that thinks you can speak to them all with one voice, or no voice at all, and at a distance.
Then there is the issue of the funds that all these clubs need to raise each season to make things work, through their all too small army of volunteers. Capital Football is dependent on the money these Clubs initiate through registrations and development programs. On that basis alone, you would think it wise to engage and manage Clubs with care at close range, rather than risk doing it at a distance in a top down, do as you are told fashion. More talk is better than less with community volunteer orgainsations. Talking, communicating and assisting this diverse grouping that is our Football community, requires skill, patience, flexibility and persistance.
Its a long way from a Club issue to the Zone rep to the Standing committees to whom? Capital Football staff? The CEO? The Board? It just doesn't seem to be always working for everyone outside Capital Football headquarters. That must change - and quickly.
The issues of concern are beginning to stack up. They are the source of aggravation and resentment to Clubs.
Here's how silly it can get.
Its been suggested to me by one CF person that the lack of complaint to Capital Football staff by Clubs is a clear indication that all are happy in Club land. Just amazing, delusionary and wondrously self serving was my thought at the time. What type of organisation could possibly allow itself to entertain that notion I asked myself. Hmmm! Hard to communicate anything in this sort of environment - harder for Clubs.
Its been suggested to me by one CF person that the lack of complaint to Capital Football staff by Clubs is a clear indication that all are happy in Club land. Just amazing, delusionary and wondrously self serving was my thought at the time. What type of organisation could possibly allow itself to entertain that notion I asked myself. Hmmm! Hard to communicate anything in this sort of environment - harder for Clubs.
It was also pointed out to me that criticism of Capital Football was criticism of the "staff". In some cases, on some issues, that may well be true. In an environment where there is a lack of effective communication with the football constituency, its not surprising to that Clubs conclude that the decisions are made by "Capital Football"! And in these circumstances, CF staff take the brunt of cricitism - sometimes it seems earned, sometimes not. Importantly, Capital Football exists to serve the Clubs and the Football constituency, not the other way around. If staff feel unsettled by this notion - move on. The CEO, not the Clubs have the responsibility of keeping the staff focussed and productive and all lines of communication open in all weather states. On the other side of things, Clubs must be prepared to be active communicators and make the process work for them - not remain silent - even when their best efforts seem to bring little to assist them going forward on issues that matter to them. Anything else just gets in the way.
Clubs float on volunteer efforts, they are people who give their time and money to build, maintain and sustain Clubs and they usually have precious little time to dwell on the unsatisfactory nature of CF decisions - they have a Clubs to run so that people can play the game. In the vast majority of cases these people do not get paid for their work. If Clubs say nothing it’s usually because they feel their views are seldom sort and less frequently acknowledged. When the peak body makes decisions at short notice or gives important advice at short notice, when consultation in advnace was a reasonable expactation at Club level - the outcome does not favour effective communcation. If it’s a choice between making complaint and pursuing the issue with vigour, or, simply doing the ordinary Club business so that players can play – its no contest – do the Club work. That makes Clubs a bit vulnerable, but it does not pave the way for understanding and collaboration.
Clubs that do pursue issues with vigour, risk being perceived as troublemakers at Capital Football and that makes then go a bit quite, but the issues are not forgotten. Capital Football must work very , very hard to achieve effective and continuous communication with Clubs - not just talk to itself about it, nor allow itself to become insulated by a succession of seemingly bureaucratic layers of organisational structure (zone reps, standing committees). Its would be a massive mistake by Capital Football to conclude that silence from Clubs indicates satisfaction or agreement. Where that does occur, they deny access to a wealth of talented people in the Football community. Clubs already know they do not proposer under these arrangements.
Clubs that do pursue issues with vigour, risk being perceived as troublemakers at Capital Football and that makes then go a bit quite, but the issues are not forgotten. Capital Football must work very , very hard to achieve effective and continuous communication with Clubs - not just talk to itself about it, nor allow itself to become insulated by a succession of seemingly bureaucratic layers of organisational structure (zone reps, standing committees). Its would be a massive mistake by Capital Football to conclude that silence from Clubs indicates satisfaction or agreement. Where that does occur, they deny access to a wealth of talented people in the Football community. Clubs already know they do not proposer under these arrangements.
The new President of Capital Football is correct to identify the need to communicate with the Football constituency as a top priority. Every other part of the organisational structure (including Clubs) should follow her example.
Just look at some of the range of issues that sit on the table in ACT Football at the moment. You can't fix this lot without Club particpation, mobilising a lot more of the football community's talented / capable / thoughtful / experienced people that reside in all these Clubs, than is available on a daily basis at Capital Football. You have to work to get their engagement and then you have to keep it:
Just look at some of the range of issues that sit on the table in ACT Football at the moment. You can't fix this lot without Club particpation, mobilising a lot more of the football community's talented / capable / thoughtful / experienced people that reside in all these Clubs, than is available on a daily basis at Capital Football. You have to work to get their engagement and then you have to keep it:
The game has been progressing very quickly in recent years, particularly so since the FFA's release of the National Football Curriculum and National Development Plan. To that, add a root and branch reworking of Coach Education and Training, so vital to the successful implementation of the curriculum and development plans and a process that reaches down to the youngest playing level in our game. The Premier League Clubs in the ACT region are leaping ahead in their thinking about what it means to be in a "premier league" as they struggle to find the scarce dollars and volunteers to make it a reality. Their thinking seems to be well ahead of Capital Football. The whole "player development" sphere of operations, centred as it is on the Junior Club base, is galloping ahead and probably without much meaningful input from Capital Football to Junior Clubs. The talented player stream has been reviewed to death here in the ACT and by some very smart Football people and what is left now is "action". So what is the plan - in detail? The deficit (that tragic vacant space") in player development post ACTAS haunts the Mens game, while the Womens game enjoys the W League. Problem identified but no solution for the talented young men - yet. Junior Clubs are the real player / parent powerhouse in Football and a few too many seem unhappy with a range of decisions and lack of consultation by Capital Football, and probably just as unhappy with the Junior Standing committee as an effective means of representing their concerns. For Clubs with juniors, mens and womens teams, teh same can also be said of the Means and Womens standing committees. We campaign our junior representative teams at the National Junior Championships and its all hard work and, despite our coach's best efforts, find our most talented players relegated further down the State / territory team result lists - its seems tobe getting hrader to be competitive - why and can it be fixed? The recent review of the HPP that produced the players for these teams, pointed out that they were not high performance programs. Other States move moved closer to that reality, but not the ACT. By contrast, ACTAS mens have delivered the results, but then, they do have a truly high performance program. The ACTAS womens program is very different in character to the Mens program, the players are often in it for several years, where they have time to mature and develop as players (fantastic outcome). But it has given rise to difficulties with clubs that has as much to do with poor communication, lack of consultation and unnecessary regulation; as it does with the desire of some Womens Premier League Clubs to be competitive and taken new and additional responsibilities for the development of players going forward. Capital Football's involvement in this last matter is not as productive or helpful to Clubs as it might be. And so it goes.........
In Part 1 of this discussion with CEO Capital Football, Heather Reid, we begin with a talk about the prospect of an A League team in Canberra and that $26m of ACT Government funds that went to the AFL. Then we start talking about the Womens Premier League and the ACTAS womens players. Its a good discussion and their should be more of it. Don't say I agree with all I hear, but I appreciate the opportunity to discuss that subject. You form your own views and if you feel inclined, let the NPL know how you feel about what you hear. Better still, talk in your club. If I don’t hear from you, I promise I won't assume you agree!
So sit back, cup of tea to hand and listen. Hope you enjoy.
Champions League Semifinals - Third El Clasico
The Champions League finalist are starting to shape up with ManU’s 2-0 win away at Schalke gives them the upper hand in the return leg on 4 May at Old Trafford. While tomorrow’s third El Clasico has been predicted by Iker (the Octopus) for Real Madrid to win the first leg at the Bernabeu. So far, with Iker’s predictions in the recent Clasicos came out with good outcome and is a perfect 2 out of 2 correct results. He may have predicted correctly the previous two games but tomorrow’s game is a different story.
Barcelona would slug it out again after losing in the Copa del Rey finals at the Mestalla but they struggled in beating Osasuna in their La Liga game last Saturday. While archrival Real Madrid hammered Valencia 6-3 at their own turf when they came back in the Mestalla after winning the Copa del Rey three days earlier.
The Copa del Rey win was the first silverware for Madrid under Mourinho. It is also their first win against Barcelona in seven attempts. Losing to Barcelona came to a halt after a 1-1 draw at the Bernabeu for the first of four El Clasicos. And they are hoping that tomorrow’s third Clasico will roll on the winning ways against their archrival. I want to see the Merengues in the Champions League finals at Wembley Stadium but the Blaugranas are trying to do the same. Or I would say, take revenge for they were eliminated by Mourinho (with Inter) in the same stage last season.
New Sports Illustrated Column: How does NFL Ruling Impact the NBA and NBA Players?
In a new SI column, I write the potential impact of Judge Nelson's order in favor of NFL players on the NBA and NBA players, two groups which are headed for a similar labor crisis this summer and possibly into next season.Here's an excerpt:
• NBA players may be less able to show irreparable harm caused by a lockout.
Another factor in a trial judge's decision to grant a preliminary injunction is whether the plaintiffs -- be they NFL players or NBA players -- would suffer irreparable harm if the injunction is denied. Irreparable harm refers to a harm that cannot be adequately remedied by money damages.
Nelson, in relying on numerous affidavits, including from such prominent player agents as Neil Cornich and Tom Condon, determined that NFL players would suffer irreparable harm if they missed the 2011 season. During that time, players would age, and given that NFL players are usually in their 20s or early 30s and usually only play a few seasons, missing just one year of football might be akin to the typical person, who normally works decades in his/her lifetime, missing many years of work. Players would also lose out on conditioning and training opportunities. And as Nelson ruled, free agents are hurt even before a missed 2011 season since they cannot sign with teams during a locked out off season. She also found that 2011 rookies would be particularly hurt by a lockout since they would return in 2012 after missing a year of football -- in both the pros and college -- and then be expected to compete with 2012 rookies, who would be fresh off playing in college.
Most of Nelson's logic holds true for NBA players, as well. In fact, to advance her reasoning on irreparable harm, she cited Spencer Haywood's successful antitrust suit against the NBA in 1971. Haywood, one of the best players in the rival American Basketball Association and then a signee of the Seattle SuperSonics, was barred from entering the NBA until four years after his high-school graduation. The NBA's restriction had not been collectively bargained and was thus subject to antitrust law. A court found that he would suffer irreparable harm by missing four years of playing in the NBA.
The presence of alternative employment opportunities in pro basketball, however, could sway a different judge, particularly one who is more inclined than Nelson to favor the league's views. Indeed, if the NBA instituted a lockout, some players would likely seek and obtain comparable employment in Europe and elsewhere. While those leagues impose restrictions on the number of U.S. players allowed on rosters, the restrictions could be changed in the event of the supply of available NBA players suddenly surges on July 1. The NBA would argue that irreparable harm should not be found if players can pursue comparable opportunities elsewhere.
In response, however, NBA players would likely cite the Haywood case: even though Haywood could play professionally in the ABA, a court nonetheless found that he suffered irreparable harm by not being able to play in the NBA. NBA players would probably also charge that playing and living abroad should not constitute an equivalent employment opportunity to playing in the NBA and living in one's home country.
PEP GUARDIOLA - JOSE MOURINHO LOCK HORNS PRE CHAMPIONS LEAGUE SEMIS
Tense pre-Champions League press conference this afternoon just 24 hours before REAL MADRID & FC BARECLONA play the 1ºst leg semi final in the "Santiago Bernabeu Stadium". That Real Madrid Coach Mourinho makes comments & sly insinuations is not a surprise, its part of his psychological warfare to rattle the oppostion. What is news, is that Barça Coach Josep Guardiola explodes in response in a
Water For Elephants Trumpets Cornell
Posted by Donald F. Smith, Cornell University
April 26, 2011
A half century ago, Norman Rockwell painted an image of a young veterinarian examining a little boy’s dog. Partly obscured in the background is a Cornell University diploma. The year, 1963, was the centennial of the American Veterinary Medical Association. On the threshold of the AVMA’s 150th anniversary, another veterinary image has emerged in American pop culture and, once again, Cornell University is featured.
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| Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine Photo provided by Cornell. |
The movie follows Sara Gruen’s novel by the same title, including about 20 direct references to Cornell University and the Ivy League. For Cornellians everywhere―and especially for the 4,000 DVMs scattered across the country and around the world―there is great pride in seeing our college depicted on the big screen.
But how accurate is that depiction? The following questions should test your knowledge of veterinary medicine at Cornell during the Depression. (Answers follow)
1. Jacob Jankowski was forced to leave Cornell because his father (also a veterinarian) had mortgaged the family business to pay for his son’s tuition. How much was tuition during the Depression?
2. How many women were in Jacob’s class? The movie highlights one who sits next to Jacob during his final examination, and appears to depict at least one other. In the novel, author Sara Gruen says there were four.
3. A picture was seen for a fleeting second on the wall of the examination room when Jacob was leaving the room to learn of his parents’ death? Was it the portrait of university founder Ezra Cornell or President Herbert Hoover?
4. Did it take six years to become a veterinarian?
5. Is the movie correct in describing the veterinary degree as Doctor of Veterinary Science?
6. When did Cornell become part of the Ivy League?
7. Would Jacob have lived with his parents while attending college?
Answers:
1. Because of the land grant agreement, there was no tuition for New York State students until the 1960s. This challenges the movie’s central premise that the Jankowski family lost everything because of tuition payments?
2. Though Cornell’s first woman veterinarian graduated in 1910, most classes in the next 30 years -- including Jacob's class -- had none. The Class of 1940 was the first to have four women.
3. Though not an exact depiction, it appears to be an image of the veterinary college’s first professor and dean (principal), James Law.
4. It did not: four years after high school was the prescribed length at that time. The youngest member of the Class of 1931 was the recently deceased Dr. Lawrence Waitz. He entered Cornell at age 16 and graduated at 20.
5. Except for the period before 1896 when the degree was Bachelor of Veterinary Science (in the British tradition), the Cornell veterinary degree has always been Doctor of Veterinary Medicine.
6. The Ivy League was not established until 1954.
7. Almost certainly not. Most students were poor, living in modest single rooms near campus.
Enjoy the movie!
Dr. Smith welcomes comments at dfs6@cornell.edu
Ok, I'm finally posting a Rob Bell video
I'm probably one of the only bloggers in the Christian blogosphere who hasn't posted something about the whole "Is Gandhi in hell?" controversy. Personally, I like his take on that issue. This is a video on a different topic, though: resurrection.
New Sports Illustrated Column: NFL Players Secure Big Victory before Judge Nelson
Judge Nelson granted the players the injunctive relief they were seeking -- but an appeal may make it a short-term success. I have an SI column on the ruling and what it means. Here's an excerpt:
8. What effect, if any, does Judge Nelson's ruling have on the NBA?
The collective bargaining agreement between the NBA and the National Basketball Players' Association (NBPA) will expire on June 30. Just like we saw last month with the NFLPA and the NFL, the NBPA is poised to decertify and the NBA is poised to institute a lockout.
On one hand, Judge Nelson's ruling sends a warning to the NBA and its owners that, at least in her view, antitrust law holds a dim view of lockouts and that judges should not wait for the NLRB to decide on unfair labor complaints.
On the other hand, the NBA is in a very different situation.
For one, the NFL's legal argument has been hampered by the fact that not one NFL team can show that it is losing money. The inability of a team to do so suggests that enjoining the NFL lockout would not force an NFL team to lose money. The NBA, in contrast, asserts that 22 of its 30 teams will lose money in the 2010-11 season, and the league is willing to open the books to prove it. A court decision to lift a lockout instituted by the NBA would therefore subject NBA teams to losing money in the 2011-12 season. Such a consequence could motivate a judge reviewing an NBA lockout to be less willing than Judge Nelson to lift the lockout.
Second, irreparable harm may be more difficult for NBA players to show, since unlike NFL players who can play nowhere else and earn an NFL-quality income, some NBA players would be able to secure lucrative contracts in Europe and elsewhere during a lockout. If NBA players can't show irreparable harm, they would not be able to convince a judge to enjoin an NBA lockout.
Third, Judge Nelson's decision would not bind a court that reviews the NBA lockout. In fact, it is likely that such a court would be in New York, where both the NBA and NBPA are located. The NFL and NFLPA are litigating the lockout in Minnesota because the parties choose to do so in their collective bargaining agreement.
Bottom line: while Judge Nelson's ruling likely caused some concern for NBA teams, the NBA is in a very different situation and a lockout may be viewed more favorably by a court.
Water for Elephants is Not Enough: The Disease that is Killing Baby Elephants
Posted by Donald F. Smith, Cornell University
April 25, 2011
Like millions of other movie-goers, I watched Water For Elephants on opening weekend. As remarkable as the story and the acting by Reese Witherspoon, Robert Pattinson, Christoph Waltz and supporting cast was, it was elephant Rosie’s performance that was totally captivating. Her grace and elegance, her ability to collapse, expand and trumpet that 9,000-pound frame was nothing short of breath taking.
April 25, 2011
Like millions of other movie-goers, I watched Water For Elephants on opening weekend. As remarkable as the story and the acting by Reese Witherspoon, Robert Pattinson, Christoph Waltz and supporting cast was, it was elephant Rosie’s performance that was totally captivating. Her grace and elegance, her ability to collapse, expand and trumpet that 9,000-pound frame was nothing short of breath taking.
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| Foreground: Tai, who stars as Rosie in "Water for Elephants", and her nephew, JP, who succumbed to a devastating Herpes viral infection in February, 2011. Please consider donating to the research efforts to stomp out this killer. Photo provided by Kari and Gary Johnson, Have Trunk Will Travel. |
As Rosie’s veterinarian, Dr. Linda Peddie told me when I interviewed her in February, “Tai (who plays Rosie) is the best-trained and most mature elephant in the world.”
Some people watching the movie were horrified by the images of animal cruelty depicted towards Rosie. However, Gary and Kari Johnson, the husband-and-wife owners and trainers of Tai, were absolutely adamant that nothing harm her, either physically or emotionally. For example, during the depiction of Waltz’s most severe beating of Rosie, the handlers gently moved Tai out of harm’s way. Again Dr. Peddie, “Because Tai has never known mistreatment, she does not view the flailing rampage as anything more than some imbecile beating the air."
Even though there is superb care, veterinary attention, and humane treatment of Tai and the other five elephants at the Johnsons' ranch Have Trunk Will Travel, they have been affected by a devastating and unseen virus that kills elephants worldwide. It is a relatively new viral disease called Elephant Endotheliotropic Herpes Virus (EEHV), and it affects baby elephants in both captivity and in the wild with devastating results. Tai’s “nephew”, a 3½ year-old baby named JP―named in honor of veterinarian Dr. Jim Peddie―died in February, 2011. As is typical of babies with EEHV, the uncontrollable hemorrhaging disease killed JP in less than 48 hours.
JP’s death represented another tragic loss in the elephant world, not only because of the personal anguish at the Have Trunk Will Travel Ranch, but also because it highlights the sad reality that there is as yet neither a cure, nor a vaccine, for this deadly virus.
Research to prevent, manage and treat EEVH is being led by a consortium of veterinarians and biomedical researchers at the following institutions:
· Smithsonian’s National Zoo
· Baylor College of Medicine
· Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine
· Johns Hopkins University
Please consider Donating!
To support research to stomp out the disease that is responsible for the deaths of about 25% of the baby elephants born in the United States in the last three decades, please donate to:
The International Elephant Foundation (IEF), a 501 C (3) non-profit organization. http://www.elephantconservation.org/elephant-endotheliotropic-herpes-virus/.
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