League of Fans

Founded by Ralph Nader, League of Fans is a sports reform project working to improve sports by increasing awareness of the sports industry's relationship to society, exposing irresponsible business practices, ensuring accountability to fans, and encouraging the industry to contribute to societal well-being.

Email Alerts

Alerts is League of Fans' email announcements list. Alerts provides news, information, the actions of League of Fans and/or Ralph Nader regarding sports issues, and calls-to-action for subscribers. All email updates are either selected or written by League of Fans.

Actions!

League of Fans is motivated by people, just like you, who are upset with what has become of our sports and would like to make a difference. We work with concerned citizens, sports fans, civic groups and communities to increase awareness of the sports industry's relationship to society, influence a broad range of issues in sports at all levels and encourage the cooperative capacities that make the "sports powers-that-be" capable of helping, not just dominating, our society and culture.

News / Resources

We often think of sports as outside the realm of everyday citizen concern. But the many benefits to society that sports can provide are sometimes undermined by a different set of values, often based on the quest for higher and higher profits at the expense of fans, taxpayers, communities, culture and social justice.

Your Role

Get Involved! Your involvement will improve sports for communities and fans, and encourage the sports industry to better contribute to societal well-being.

Sports Business

Sports Business News Resources

Business of Sport - Financial Times

Front Office Publications

Sportsbiz - CNNmoney

Sports Business Daily

Sports Business - ESPN

Sports Business News

General Sports Business Resources

"Big Business of Summer Basketball" - ESPN's Outside the Lines (July 30, 2000 Transcript)
Explores the abuses of summer basketball where the interest of the NCAA, sneaker companies, college basketball coaches, and talented young players clash.

"Body Billboards" - ESPN's Outside the Lines (March 3, 2002 Transcript)
Considers whether athletes should have the right to wear corporate tattoos for profit.

"The business of baseball" - ESPN's Outside the Lines (July 16, 2000 Transcript)
Discusses whether a report from a blue ribbon panel will alter the competitive balance in Major League Baseball.

"Contraction - Is Less More?" - ESPN's Outside the Lines (November 11, 2001 Transcript)
Examines Major League Baseball's "contraction" proposal.

"Contract Killers?" - ESPN's Outside the Lines (March 4, 2001 Transcript)
Explores the circumstances surrounding baseball mega-contracts that put other top players behind the salary curve.

"Does Character Count in the NFL Draft?" - ESPN's Outside the Lines (April 9, 2000 Transcript)
Explores how NFL teams are judging the character of potential draftees in a time of image problems throughout the league.

"Fields of Green" - ESPN's Outside the Lines (February 18, 2001 Transcript)
Addresses the bidding war between spring training cities encouraged by Major League Baseball teams looking for the best possible deal.

"Final Exam" - ESPN's Outside the Lines (February 25, 2001 Transcript)
Explains the preparation and pressure faced by athletes participating in the NFL scouting combine.

"Inside the Manny Ramirez Deal" - ESPN's Outside the Lines (December 17, 2000 Transcript)
Focuses on the bidding war for free agent MLB player Manny Ramirez.

"Is it That Bad?" - ESPN's Outside the Lines (December 9th, 2001 Transcript)
Considers the questions of baseball's bookkeeping.

"Loyalty in Sports" - ESPN's Outside the Lines (June 18th, 2000 Transcript)
Discusses loyalty in major league sports.

"Making The Leap" - ESPN's Outside the Lines (May 27, 2001 Transcript)
Analyzes the circumstances and raises caution to the pressures when high schoolers make the leap to the NBA.

"Minor Leagues, Major Changes" - ESPN's Outside the Lines (July 22, 2001 Transcript)
Explores the changing face, cities and venues of Minor League Baseball.

"NHL Report Card" - ESPN's Outside the Lines (February 4, 2001 Transcript)
Explains the challenges facing the NHL as it competes for attention against the other major sports.

"The Other Super Bowl" - ESPN's Outside the Lines (January 28, 2001 Transcript)
Examines the commercialization of the Super Bowl.

"Realigning the NFL" - ESPN's Outside the Lines (May 20, 2001 Transcript)
Examines the possibilities of NFL realignment.

"Rush to Judgment" - ESPN's Outside the Lines (June 24, 2001 Transcript)
Addresses basketball's "inner circle" regarding the evaluation of young talent considering early entry into the NBA draft.

"What's The Deal?" - ESPN's Outside the Lines (July 29, 2001 Transcript)
Examines the choices facing professional athletes who must decide whether to stay or to go.

"Who's Got Game" - ESPN's Outside the Lines (February 11, 2001 Transcript)
Considers the challenges facing the NBA as it tries to overcome a cultural and generational divide.

Labor and Sports Business

"Athletes, Dollars and Sense" - ESPN's Outside the Lines (June 2000)
- Scoring big in business
- How to blow $5 million
- Case of mistaken ability?
- Chat Wrap: Sanderson: No guarantees

FindLaw - Agents
(1) Laws Concerning Athlete Agents (2) Organizations and Resources for Agents (3) Athlete Agency Firms (4) Articles and Publications.

"The Lockout" - ESPN's Outside the Lines (September 2, 2001 Transcript, second story)
Addresses the circumstances surrounding the lockout of the NFL's officials by team owners and the use of replacement officials.

"Peddling the Pros: Agents and Athletes" - ESPN's Outside the Lines (April, 1999)
- Agents? Who needs 'em?
- Agent of change
- Chat Day: Step inside their world

Sports Collectibles

"Fair Game" - ESPN's Outside the Lines (December 30, 2001 Transcript)
Explains the situation between two men who claim they rightfully own Barry Bonds' 73rd homerun ball.

"Memorabilia Fraud" - ESPN's Outside the Lines (December 3, 2000 Transcript)
Focuses on the FBI's "Operation Bullpen" and the questioned authenticity of autographed items.

"The Tiger Card" - ESPN's Outside the Lines (August 12, 2001 Transcript)
Examines the field of sports collectibles and the circumstances surrounding the exploding value of an unlikely Tiger Woods card.