Usher Says That USFL Needs Help From Court

In an emotional appeal from the witness stand, USFL Commissioner Harry Usher said Monday that his league would be in “very grave shape” without help from the court in its antitrust suit against the NFL.

During his testimony in the $1.5-billion suit in U.S. District Court in Manhattan, Usher said Roone Arledge, then head of ABC Sports, told him ABC “had had negative reaction from the NFL” for broadcasting the USFL in its first three spring seasons.

The USFL contends in its suit that the NFL exerted pressure on ABC, which also carries Monday night telecasts of NFL games, to drop its USFL telecasts.

“Because the efforts of the National Football League with respect to the ABC contract have had a devastating effect, we have shrunk to eight teams and are geographically skewed,” Usher said. “We’re going to be in very grave shape if we don’t have help from this court.”