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Originally Posted by abothebear
I wonder if the major sports leagues' exemptions are nearly over. The stuff happening in college football is going to eventually lead to lawsuits and probably a successful competing league one of these days. The last attempt came close but they ran out of money and covid happened before they had quite enough inertia. In basketball, there is already enough talent to support a robust lower-level league. The NBA and NCAA are trying their best to maintain control over it with the one-and-dones and the G-league. Regional independent leagues in the major sports are primed for a level of success, but the anti-trust exemption, the near-sighted unions, and collusion with the NCAA is a hurdle. But it is one that may be successfully dismantled soon. The changes in how we get our TV may play a role in this as well.
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If I remember correctly, MLB's court confirmed anti-trust exemption was finalized via a SCOTUS ruling in 1921, from a case brought by the Federal League against MLB that originated back in 1914. And the federal judge who presided over that initial case was none other than Landis himself. He was supposedly biased for MLB and did everything to delay the original case and make sure the Federal League was out of business and lost the case, which they did. It took until 1921 before the final appeal was also found in favor of MLB. Have always felt his later appointment as baseball's first Commissoner was blatant payback for his help to MLB in the anti-trust case, and that the timing of his appointment and the Supreme Court's final decision on the appeal of that case in favor of MLB wasn't wholly coincidental, especially given the esteem, respect, and influence he was supposed to have had throughout the entire federal court system.
Had also heard/read somewhere that in the past few months a few members of Congress were looking to bring forward a challenge against MLB's anti-trust exemption, despite the pandemic. Haven't heard anything new about this since then.