First Spygate lawsuit filed

[bmbmd]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080215/ap_on_sp_fo_ne/fbn_patrioits_sued;_ylt=Al6Tt3NyB7luVwEqfQj8kU0LMxIF

NEW ORLEANS - A lawsuit filed Friday by a former St. Louis Rams player and others seeks millions of dollars in damages from the alleged taping of Rams practices by the New England Patriots before the 2002 Super Bowl.

The Patriots won the game 20-17 in the Superdome.

The $100 million suit, filed on behalf of former Rams player Willie Gary in U.S. District Court in New Orleans, names the Patriots, team owner Robert Kraft and head coach Bill Belichick.

[BOSSHOG]

1. I don't know if this lawsuit has merit

Nor am I happy that it is being pursued, but this is the kind of crap that goes on when people like billichick are put into positions of responsibility. I hope the publicity wreaks for months and months. And I'd love to see billichick run out of town on a rail by true football fans in Boston (if there are any.)

[trotsky]

2. This could lead to some big sticky messes for the NFL.

Players may have a right to damages. Winning a Super Bowl vs. not winning one can make a lot of difference to a player's contract, their status as a starter, etc. If your performance wasn't evaluated properly because your opponent was cheating, dayum, that could lead to some real headaches for the league.

[northzax]

6. You know the really good potential precedent, right?

a blown call. Watch the great Eli manning pass from this year's superbowl, there are two places where offensive holding would have been an easy, unarguable call, as there are on an awful lot of plays. Throw that flag, and Tom Brady has another ring (making it perfectly clear, the Giants won that game free and clear, no question, this is not sour grapes from a pats fan) we want the courts involved? Technically, holding is cheating, that's why it is against the rules.

How about the jeffrey meier catch? Clear fan interference, should have been a ground rule double. Can Cal Ripken sue?

[trotsky]

7. That's such a weak comparison

only a Pats fan could have come up with it.

[TZ]

9. I don't know Trotsky, I think there is some truth in that comparison

I dislike Belichick as much as anyone for his cheating (and other things) but I don't think this lawsuit is justified at this point. It seems like a ploy to get money. I just don't think this should be clogging up the courts with so many real issues.
If this does go to trial I could see the litigant win, however, I could also see a jury being unsympathetic enough with the litgant to award symbolic damages..ie $1. Its certainly happened before.

[trotsky]

10. Oh you bet it's a ploy.

No disputing that. But there is a kernel of validity. So you cheat in a game of monopoly with your brother. Whoop-de-doo. But if you cheat in a professional athletic event, where players' careers often ride on the outcomes, there are serious repercussions. I'm with you on this essentially just clogging up the courts. And it pisses me off that Belicheat taping is more important to Sen. Specter than CIA taping of torture. But, I do think it's a valid issue.

[northzax]

12. well, both show character

but there is a long tradition of cheating in Pro Sports, there is so much money on the line, especially now, that it always happens. the one sport that is most abhorrent to cheating of any sort is golf. Have you ever seen an NFL player call a penalty on themselves? "oops, my bad, Ref, I was totally holding on that play.) didn't think so.

I also disagreed when there was a criminal prosecution of a hockey player a few years back, one ice activity is for the league to manage, not the courts. Now if you go into the stands and hit someone, that is assault and battery, but another player? using legal equipment? nah.

[Awsi Dooger]

8. The Super Bowl was wonderful due to lack of penalties

All game I was waiting for cheap holding or pass interference calls to bail out the Pats. Extreme kudos to that officiating crew, whose top guy had seemingly slipped the past couple of years, but he really redeemed himself two weeks ago.

Lawsuits here are absurd but I want Goodell on the defensive. He's obviously a shill for the owners and he screams as a corporate Republican so I hope Specter puts him to the fire and keeps him there. The info from the former Pats videotape assistant who lives in Hawaii can literally change the historical impression of that team for all time if it's damning enough. Let me emphasize that's not what I'm rooting for, just that I'll be an interested spectator. One loss was plenty.

[ticapnews]

11. Specter is only doing this for one reason

And no, it's not because the Patriots have beaten the Steelers and Eagles in the playoffs.

It's because Senator Magic Bullet is carrying water for the cable companies in their fight with the league over the NFL Network. The NFL has enough strength to win this battle, so Specter is trying to use this to weaken the league to improve the prospects for his campaign contributors.

[northzax]

13. indeed, they swallowed their whistles admirably

and we got a much better game for it. but if they HAD called some of those holds (or the offensive pass interference on Plaxico in the first quarter) no one could have complained those weren't penalties.

and since penalties penalize, well, cheating, there's your can of worms.

[frylock]

15. take away the tuck rule..

and you can argue that brady has ZERO rings.

[ticapnews]

3. I can't wait for the rest of these lawsuits

Batters are going to start suing Clemens for striking them out and pitchers will start suing Barry Bonds for hitting home runs while juiced. And what about all those people Gaylord Perry struck out with an illegal spitball? Mike Greenwell has a good case against Jose Canseco. How much more money would he have earned in his career if he had won the MVP?

I'm hoping some Brooklyn fans get together to sue the Giants for stealing their signs. The Dodgers should have won the pennant and maybe the World Series.

It's a good time to be a lawyer!

[sniffa]

4. I think this is actually the 2nd lawsuit

A week after the Jets game, a Jets season ticket holder filed suit for fraud, and seeking millions of dollars in damages.

[Upton]

5. This is ridiculous

Lets keep sports out of the courtroom. Heck, if you go back in time you can find numerous occasions where possible cheating or a suspicious bad call has changed sports history.

I mean, when's Don Denkinger going to be sued for costing the Cardinals the '85 World Series? Or how about suing the NHL for allowing an illegal Brett Hull goal give the '99 Dallas Stars the Stanley Cup. How many crucial games did Gaylord Perry win by doctoring the baseball, lets sue. My point is, gaining a competitive edge is part of sports, lets keep it there. Otherwise, where will it end?

[bmbmd]

14. Well-now that an actual civil suit has been filed

Walsh and Belichik can be deposed under oath.