Will Your NCAA Tournament Bracket Be Legal in the State of Michigan?
Will Your NCAA Tournament Bracket Be Legal in the State of Michigan?

Saying that the NCAA Tournament and bracket pools do not go together is like saying that I-75 and "10mph over the posted speed limit" do not go together. We know it happens. Law enforcement knows it is the norm. We may or may not realize it stretches legal limits. We do it anyway.

The recent hype over the legality of daily fantasy sports is directing a lot of attention toward relevant state and federal law. With respect to Michigan's point of view on the matter, it gets a little risque. I have written on Michigan's stance on daily fantasy sports as of 2015, but making brackets is a different type of simulation that is also forced to live under an outdated rule.

How does Michigan law view your March Madness tourney bracket?

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Jaime, NCAA, Sports BettingJaime MiettinenMarch Madness, NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament, Michigan, bracketology, Sproat-Temple Theater Co. v. Colonial Theatrical Enters., Sports Gambling Comment
A Little Ditty on Naming Rights for the New Detroit Red Wings Arena

Olympia Entertainment admitted that it selected a buyer for the Detroit Red Wings' new arena in The District Detroit 50-block area renovation project. Who is it? Who knows! Chris Ilitch, owner Mike Ilitch's son and president and C.E.O. of Ilitch Holdings, disclosed that the formal announcement could come within the next month or so. In the meantime, it may be good to know how naming rights operate so when the announcement is made, we can discuss the deal in an educated fashion and form an opinion on whether it was a smart decision overall.

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Jaime, Contracts, NHL, Property, TrademarksJaime MiettinenDetroit Red Wings, The District Detroit, Joe Louis Arena, Quicken Loans, Stryker, Hockeytown, Little Caesars, Motown, Motor City, Olympia EntertainmentComment
The NFL's Rooney Rule Will Apply To Women Now, Sort Of
The NFL's Rooney Rule Will Apply To Women Now, Sort Of

As many people heard last week, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell stated last week at a conference before Super Bowl 50 that the NFL is creating a Rooney Rule for women. Yes, this is a long overdue step, and intentions are good. I, personally, was thrilled to hear that the League wants to commit to having diversity at the organization, but something seemed off. What real effect is the Rooney Rule likely to have? Breaking it down and putting it in context may give us an idea.

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Jaime MiettinenComment
There Is More On The Line Than Jameis Winston's Reputation
There Is More On The Line Than Jameis Winston's Reputation

If you are not following the Erica Kinsman lawsuit against former Heisman winner and current Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Jameis Winston, you should be. It does not matter whether you are a football fan or whether you know how to follow a case or whether you believe her story. If you are a living human being, you can learn a lot about the legal system and the sports industry's stigma of sexual assault from what is going down and what could go down. Here are four reasons why.

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Jaime, NCAA, NFL, CivilJaime MiettinenJameis Winston, Erica Kinsman, sexual assault, defamationComment
Michigan High Schools Are Participating In A Pilot Baseline Concussion Test, & It Could Be Game-Changing
Michigan High Schools Are Participating In A Pilot Baseline Concussion Test, & It Could Be Game-Changing

Where We Are Now: No state law requires baseline testing of high school athletes.

Where We Can Go: Somewhere a lot better than the "now."

Back in 2013, Michigan became the thirty-ninth state to enact legislation governing sports concussions and return to activity. It requires that coaches, employees, and other adults involved in youth sports programs complete online concussion awareness training. It also requires that when an athlete is suspected to have a concussion, that athlete must be removed immediately and can only return with a health professional's written clearance. All states have some form of laws addressing concussions in high school sports, but many are quite feeble because they are reactive rather than proactive. Sports concussion law does improve young athletes' safety, but honestly, more should be done so we can understand brain trauma in sports to better prevent it from happening in the first place.

This is where Michigan may be onto something!

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Jaime, High SchoolJaime MiettinenConcussion, MHSAA, High School Football Comments