I proudly introduce to you the latest addition to my staff. In his own words, Shawn Grady:
You know what the NBA stands for in some corner offices around the world? Nothing But Attorneys. Of course, every major sport employs its fair share of attorneys. Any billion dollar revenue generating franchise requires expensive legal services to maintain its business. In this regard, the NBA is no exception.
However, the NBA is exceptional because its king, visionary and sometimes dictator is a lawyer. The Commish was a practicing attorney before he became general counsel of the NBA and then its leader in 1984. It’s no coincidence that the salary cap was instituted when David Stern became commissioner. Leave it to a lawyer to complicate things with a complex web of rules filled with endless exceptions that require people to write, interpret and understand those rules and exceptions like… you guessed it… more lawyers.
I don’t actually know if the NBA employs more lawyers than the NFL, MLB, NHL and MLS. I planned on researching the numbers but my studies for the Texas bar exam have taken over my life. In any case, I don’t think the numbers are as important as the influence.
In the past three and a half years, law school has made me appreciate David Stern and his army of attorneys. I supplemented my law school courses with an NBA legal education. I’ve always been a fan of NBA basketball but learning the law gave me a new perspective, a legal perspective of the NBA. Beyond the salary cap and the Trade Machine, the NBA offers legal stories in almost every area of the law. I cut my teeth on contracts law by closely following Seattle’s legal struggle with Clay Bennett over the Sonics anticipated breach of its lease to Key Arena. I began to read Lester Munson articles with awe. Rafer Alston alone provided an almost comprehensive education of criminal law.
I have been employed by Red94 to share my legal outlook on the NBA… yet another attorney feeding at the trough. As I fight through my bar exam preparation, I’ll be writing on various current legal NBA topics like Dan Gilbert’s recruitment of a law firm to investigate Lebron’s tampering during last summer’s free agency. And maybe I’ll write some remixes like recounting the previous history of CBA negotiations leading up to the predicted monolith approaching this year. Finally, I’ll provide commentary on any current event with a legal edge regarding your Houston Rockets.
Good stuff! I’m looking forward to your next post!
Sounds awesome. Looking forward to seeing your posts.
This is pretty awesome.
I mean no offense to this guy or lawyers, but this seems kind of retarded… Honestly, who really wants to hear from the point of view of the lawyer… except well… other lawyers… This place is going to start becoming bloated in all the wrong places… 🙁
You don’t have to read every post, man.
great addition! looking forward to it
You should be prosecuted. I’m Looking foward to this.
Hang on, did he say “YOUR Rockets”?
Rahat, did you hire a non Rockets fan to write? Ballet move if so, hopefully we can turn him in time 😉
This 1L offers no objection. In fact, I am excited. But I must know more about this NBA legal education supplement.
I completely agree. Free speech is the stupidest thing I’ve ever heard of. *removes tongue from cheek*
Save your heroics for when it’s really needed. He might have the right to express himself but that alone doesn’t make his expression inherently good. My comment was more of an innocent pun than a literal attack.
So as fans can we sue Jared Jeffries for the mental anguish of watching him miss lay-up after lay-up 😉
Man im just teasing all the lawyers here…. You all will be fine
did you fail in july?
I was trying to make a law joke… Apparently, it did not do well.
its a tough crowd… (grabs at shirt collar to release steam)
Where did you go to law school?
Can’t wait for your insight, Shawn!