A few weeks after Sports Law Blog contributor Mike McCann spoke at a conference at Case Western Reserve School of law pertaining to eligibility rules in pro sports, leaders of several sport governing bodies convened in at the W Hotel in New York City for the same reason. The title of the forum was "Professional Athlete Forum of Phenoms to Professions: Successful Transitions." Speakers included (from left): NBA Deputy Commissioner Russ Granik, NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman, LPGA Tour Commissioner Carolyn Bivens, WTA Tour head Larry Scott, and MLS chief Don Garber.Although I wasn't able to attend, I did read a great summary of the event penned by Bob Seligman, a correspondent for the Sports Business Daily. Among other things, the conference attendees discussed the timely issue of Morgan Pressel, a promising 17-year-old golfer seeking a waiver from the LPGA's minimum age rule requiring that all full-time players be at least 18. Shortly after the forum (or perhaps it was decided beforehand), the LPGA Tour granted Pressel full membership on tour for 2006.
In my previous life as a lowly law student, I published an article on this issue in the Sports Lawyers Journal, a publication out of Tulane University School of Law. With two high-profile conferences in a single month, it is apparent that the issue of age eligibility issues in pro sports is a timely one. In 2006, it will be interesting to see if a "perfect plaintiff" emerges to challenge an age rule. Stay tuned...