There’s Barely Room for Sports in Sports Sections These Days

A New York jury, finding the NFL owners guilty of a conspiracy to violate the antitrust laws, awards the United States Football League $3 in damages.

After the expiration of collective bargaining agreements, divisive labor strikes cripple major league baseball and pro football.

The Los Angeles Coliseum, L.A. Raiders and Al Davis win a multimillion-dollar jury verdict for antitrust violations committed by Pete Rozelle and the National Football League.

The U.S. Supreme Court, finding that due process of law does not apply to the NCAA, reverses an injunction obtained by Jerry Tarkanian prohibiting the NCAA from enforcing sanctions for rule violations.

Gene Klein wins a jury verdict of $10 million in a malicious prosecution action against Al Davis, later reduced by the trial judge to $2 million, and subsequently completely reversed on appeal.

Sports agents Lloyd Bloom and Norby Walters are sentenced to prison and ordered to pay hundreds of thousands of dollars of fines after being convicted of fraud in signing college athletes and others to illegal contracts.

A New York Supreme Court judge strips Dennis Conner and the San Diego Yacht Club of (the) America’s Cup, awarding it instead to Michael Fay and New Zealand.

And finally, a Cincinnati judge issues a temporary restraining order precluding the commissioner of baseball, Bart Giamatti, from holding a hearing regarding allegations that Pete Rose bet on major league baseball, in general, and the Cincinnati Reds, in particular.

Now I remember why I went to law school--so that I could understand the sports page.

TOM LALLAS

Los Angeles