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Should MLB enjoy an anti-trust exemption?

Should Major League Baseball (MLB) enjoy an anti-trust exemption?


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radcen

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Should Major League Baseball (MLB) enjoy an anti-trust exemption?

I say "Not no, but hell no!"

Yes, we know the exemption was granted by the SC back in the 1920s, and reaffirmed by Congress in 1998. The reasons are still specious, at best. They didn't make any sense then, and they make even less sense now. IMO, it is simply big business cronyism at its most disgusting.

Essentially, the American people, via Congress and the courts, are allowing a private business to not follow the law of the land, in this case anti-trust laws. Baseball, while my favorite game, is certainly not critical, so that's not a reason to have the exemption. There's nothing special about baseball that makes it different than any other sport, business-wise.

So, if the American people are going give a break to a private business, and allow them to run counter to the law of the land, shouldn't the people get something of value in return? For anyone who might feel the desire to defend the anti-trust exemption, please explain what the American people get of value in return.

Also, here is a website that gives a very good thumbnail sketch of the issue: Baseball should be stripped of antitrust exemption One can delve very deep into this issue if one wants to, but this website does a good job of getting the gist of it.

Note: I am putting this in the poll forum instead of the sports forum because, even though baseball is part of the issue, the real issue is business, politics, and fairness to the citizen.
 
Should Major League Baseball (MLB) enjoy an anti-trust exemption?

I say "Not no, but hell no!"

Yes, we know the exemption was granted by the SC back in the 1920s, and reaffirmed by Congress in 1998. The reasons are still specious, at best. They didn't make any sense then, and they make even less sense now. IMO, it is simply big business cronyism at its most disgusting.

Essentially, the American people, via Congress and the courts, are allowing a private business to not follow the law of the land, in this case anti-trust laws. Baseball, while my favorite game, is certainly not critical, so that's not a reason to have the exemption. There's nothing special about baseball that makes it different than any other sport, business-wise.

So, if the American people are going give a break to a private business, and allow them to run counter to the law of the land, shouldn't the people get something of value in return? For anyone who might feel the desire to defend the anti-trust exemption, please explain what the American people get of value in return.

Also, here is a website that gives a very good thumbnail sketch of the issue: Baseball should be stripped of antitrust exemption One can delve very deep into this issue if one wants to, but this website does a good job of getting the gist of it.

Note: I am putting this in the poll forum instead of the sports forum because, even though baseball is part of the issue, the real issue is business, politics, and fairness to the citizen.

Please clarify, how is this different from the NFL?
 
How long would a league last if the 2-4 biggest markets were able to buy up all the top pitchers?
 
Should Major League Baseball (MLB) enjoy an anti-trust exemption?

I say "Not no, but hell no!"

Yes, we know the exemption was granted by the SC back in the 1920s, and reaffirmed by Congress in 1998. The reasons are still specious, at best. They didn't make any sense then, and they make even less sense now. IMO, it is simply big business cronyism at its most disgusting.

Essentially, the American people, via Congress and the courts, are allowing a private business to not follow the law of the land, in this case anti-trust laws. Baseball, while my favorite game, is certainly not critical, so that's not a reason to have the exemption. There's nothing special about baseball that makes it different than any other sport, business-wise.

So, if the American people are going give a break to a private business, and allow them to run counter to the law of the land, shouldn't the people get something of value in return? For anyone who might feel the desire to defend the anti-trust exemption, please explain what the American people get of value in return.

Also, here is a website that gives a very good thumbnail sketch of the issue: Baseball should be stripped of antitrust exemption One can delve very deep into this issue if one wants to, but this website does a good job of getting the gist of it.

Note: I am putting this in the poll forum instead of the sports forum because, even though baseball is part of the issue, the real issue is business, politics, and fairness to the citizen.

the law of the land is not properly used when applied to an athletic league
 
How long would a league last if the 2-4 biggest markets were able to buy up all the top pitchers?
They could do that now, if they wanted to. They've survived quite well.


the law of the land is not properly used when applied to an athletic league
Please elaborate.
 
They could do that now, if they wanted to. They've survived quite well.



Please elaborate.

the reason for anti trust legislation has nothing to do with professional sports leagues
 
the reason for anti trust legislation has nothing to do with professional sports leagues
Ok... and?

MLB is the only sport that has a literal exemption. Why them, and not others?

For that matter why baseball, at all? What makes a sports league special and apart from any other business?
 
Ok... and?

MLB is the only sport that has a literal exemption. Why them, and not others?

For that matter why baseball, at all? What makes a sports league special and apart from any other business?

in sports leagues, the anti trust exemption creates the competition that the public desires. In other businesses its the other way around
 
in sports leagues, the anti trust exemption creates the competition that the public desires. In other businesses its the other way around
Sounds like MLB spin. I call BS. (You make the claim, but don't back it up with examples.) The NFL doesn't have an exemption, and they do just fine. Same with the NBA, the NHL... and so on. A sports league is like any other business, it comes down to quality of product, marketing, and business sense.
 
Sounds like MLB spin. I call BS. (You make the claim, but don't back it up with examples.) The NFL doesn't have an exemption, and they do just fine. Same with the NBA, the NHL... and so on. A sports league is like any other business, it comes down to quality of product, marketing, and business sense.

why don't you tell me why its a bad idea an explain what it does

you must have a hard on for this issue given you started the thread

BTW I find baseball a snoozefest
 
Isn't that what we have now?

LOL, the Reds (sucked this year) probably had the second best guy in the majors. he got very little run support and still won 20 games plus we have the hardest thrower-perhaps in history (Chapman) though he did almost get killed with a line drive to his face early in the season
 
LOL, the Reds (sucked this year) probably had the second best guy in the majors. he got very little run support and still won 20 games plus we have the hardest thrower-perhaps in history (Chapman) though he did almost get killed with a line drive to his face early in the season

I was born a Reds fan..... its hard to see what they are going through..... I had a born again experience as a Rockies fan. I think that is a bigger curse.
 
Should Major League Baseball (MLB) enjoy an anti-trust exemption?

Hey!!!
I'm a Giants fan......3 trips to the World Series in the last 5 years.
If it ain't broke, don't fix it.
 
Go, Giants, 2014 National League Champions!!! :2dance::2party:
 
Go, Giants, 2014 National League Champions!!! :2dance::2party:

Look at you!
Spreading joy and happiness to all possible threads.
 
Look at you!
Spreading joy and happiness to all possible threads.

Hey, man, I didn't expect it this year, so I'm stoked! Gotta take our victories when we can... 'cause I still remember 2013!! :lol:
 
Hey, man, I didn't expect it this year, so I'm stoked! Gotta take our victories when we can... 'cause I still remember 2013!! :lol:

Well, we seem to be able to gather our strength every other year and make it to the World Series.
As a long, long, long time Giants fan, I'm thrilled by our performance over the last 5 years.
This makes up for decades wandering in the desert.
Go Giants.
 
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why don't you tell me why its a bad idea an explain what it does

you must have a hard on for this issue given you started the thread

BTW I find baseball a snoozefest
You got nothin'. Instead of explaining your point, you deflect, criticize, and run. I get it.
 
How long would a league last if the 2-4 biggest markets were able to buy up all the top pitchers?

Communist (jk)

It works quite well in European soccer, the major clubs can buy up the talent paying tens of millions in transfer fees to the smaller clubs for the top players
 
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