Dana White has refused to issue press credentials to some MMA journalists

Media rights, broadcasting and press credentials can be unpredictable subjects. Not only do you have to go through many different mediums to gain the rights for all three but some come with heavy legal liabilities. In sports everybody is trying to gain admission to events or properly portray and broadcast their own clubs/teams.

On April 10, 2011 two notably reporters, Loretta Hunt of CBS and Josh Gross of ESPN and Jeff Sherwood of Sherdog.com were denied credentials for an MMA event. They were denied press credentials and have been refused access to all UFC events in recent years. This occurred after some written stories President Dana White seemingly consider not worthy of his company's PR clip file ruled out their appearance. According to Sports Illustrated the media members were required to fill out an application to receive media access for the Strikeforce event and theirs were rejected.

This stunt by the MMA may have impacted the future broadcasting of MMA events through CBS and Showtime networks. Although owner Dana White has issues with some reporters of the press it does not mean that they should be ruled out for coverage of the event. The crazy part about the situation is that CBS shares ownership with Showtime, which televised the event. One of the reporters represented the network and couldn’t cover the event. That’s bound to create some division between the MMA and the network. It seems that the relationship with ESPN is still in tact; ESPN still had coverage of the event through MMA lives Franklin McNiel. A word to the owner of the MMA, don’t allow you emotions and dislike for an individual affect your business.

http://mmapayout.com/2011/04/zuffa-media-policy-excludes-notable-mma-journalists-for-strikeforce-event/

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2011/writers/jeff_wagenheim/04/13/credentials/index.html

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NHL Labor Dispute Can Be Classified As The Biggest Controversy in The Last Five Years

In the world of professional sports labor disputes are never surprising. Owners are always trying to figure out ways to increase their revenue and save their bottom line. The players are always trying to increase their salary and benefits. This is and has been the trend of the Sports Industry, as we know it. There is this perception that owners are businessmen and should be greedy and the players should just be grateful they’re getting paid. These labor situations should be viewed as a form war, a war between millionaires fighting with billionaires. The disputes between the league and its players are all too familiar.

The National Hockey League (NHL) knows this better than any other. The league was forced to cancel the 2004-2005 season due to labor disputes. It became the first North American sport to cancel a season due to labor problems. The players and owners lose millions of dollars and caused thousands of people on the sideline of the league to lose incredible amounts of money as well. The bases of the dispute was surrounded around the leagues want to impose a salary cap on the players earning and link there earning to the leagues revenue. The NHLPA was opposed to this proposal stating that the cap would limit the amount of money the players could make. The back and forth offers and counter offers went on throughout what was suppose to be the 2004-2005 season. Finally on July 22, 2005 the NHLPA agreed to a 24% salary cap roll back limiting team spending to $39M on salaries for a season and putting caps on individual salaries. This depended on length of service and the rest of the team’s salary makeup.

The after effect of the NHL lockout is what makes this the biggest labor dispute of the last five years. With an already limited appeal in the United States the NHL lockout disappointed a lot fridge fans driving them away from the sport. The long-term effects that the 2004-2005 lockout has had on the NHL are still evident. The league has never regained its following in the United States. Television broadcasting has dropped and the small market teams are constantly struggling to fill stadium. The lockout almost eliminated the National Hockey League in the U.S.

http://theondeckcircle.net/2008/04/12/a-look-back-at-the-nhl-lockout/

http://www.usatoday.com/sports/hockey/nhl/2005-07-13-lockout-chronology_x.htm

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A Look at The New Orleans Saints "WHO DAT" Controversy

The New Orleans Saints were riding high the 2009-2010 NFL season. After making it all the way to Superbowl 44 the coined phrase "WHO DAT" by Saints fans was making media headlines. The full phrase "who dat said they gonna beat them saints" had become a city and nation wide battle cry for all saints everywhere. Fans were becoming addictive to the saying which started the production of  the apparel. The "WHO DAT" merchandise stirred up controversy with the NFL and the Saints organization. NFL Government Relations and Public Policy Vice President Jeffrey Mille advise those manufacturing the "Who DAT" apparel  to discontinue their operations or face trademark infringement. The NFL was concerned with the brand of the Saints football organization as well as their own, so they say.  

The NFL came under heavy scrutiny from the fans and the city of New Orleans due the lawsuits against. This lead to the Leagues dismissal and approval of the phrase, which they never controlled in the first place. In my opinion the NFL was just after more money, go figure. This is so common of them to try taking every piece of the pie that they can get their hands on. The only legitimate argument that the NFL had in my opinion was the fact that some shirts seem closely associated with NFL owned apparel. When the controversy first broke they tried to banned the use of the "WHO DAT"phrase stating that somehow it was NFL owned, Yea Right! What the NFL is trying to do here is almost disgusting. Taking a phrase made up by the people and fans of New Orleans and trying to Trademark it as there own to make money is just greedy. 

http://www.wwltv.com/news/title-here-83090032.html

http://www.nola.com/saints/index.ssf/2010/01/post_140.html

http://www.nola.com/politics/index.ssf/2010/01/vitter_to_nfl_back_of_who_dat.html

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