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BCS: Justice Department antitrust attorneys want to meet with us
Posted on 6/3/11 at 8:07 am
Posted on 6/3/11 at 8:07 am
(CNN) -- Attorneys at the Department of Justice's Antitrust Division are requesting a "background briefing" on how the Bowl Championship Series operates, BCS Executive Director Bill Hancock said Thursday.
The request comes after the Justice Department said last month in a letter to the National Collegiate Athletic Association that "serious questions" continue to arise suggesting the current BCS system "may not be conducted consistent with the competition principles expressed in federal antitrust laws."
"Late last week, staff attorneys ... contacted me to request a voluntary background briefing" on BCS operations, Hancock said in a statement. "I told them I would be happy to provide it."
The briefing will likely take place this summer, he said, although no date has been set.
In the NCAA letter released in May, the Justice Department said it had received several requests for an antitrust investigation into the current BCS system and wanted information to help it decide what to do.
The controversial system makes it difficult for teams in some athletic conferences to qualify for major football bowl games, potentially costing millions of dollars in revenue to teams not chosen.
The decision to release the letter came after U.S. Sen. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, a major opponent of the current system, demanded further consideration of the BCS system in a face-to-face conversation with Attorney General Eric Holder at a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing.
Holder responded by disclosing the Justice Department had sent the letter to the NCAA on the issue.
In the letter, Assistant Attorney General Christine Varney asked NCAA President Mark Emmert to explain why college football does not have a playoff when so many other college sports do. She also asked what steps, if any, the NCAA has taken to create a playoff, and whether the NCAA has determined that there are aspects of the BCS system that do not serve the interests of fans, colleges, universities and players... LINK
About freaking time!
The request comes after the Justice Department said last month in a letter to the National Collegiate Athletic Association that "serious questions" continue to arise suggesting the current BCS system "may not be conducted consistent with the competition principles expressed in federal antitrust laws."
"Late last week, staff attorneys ... contacted me to request a voluntary background briefing" on BCS operations, Hancock said in a statement. "I told them I would be happy to provide it."
The briefing will likely take place this summer, he said, although no date has been set.
In the NCAA letter released in May, the Justice Department said it had received several requests for an antitrust investigation into the current BCS system and wanted information to help it decide what to do.
The controversial system makes it difficult for teams in some athletic conferences to qualify for major football bowl games, potentially costing millions of dollars in revenue to teams not chosen.
The decision to release the letter came after U.S. Sen. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, a major opponent of the current system, demanded further consideration of the BCS system in a face-to-face conversation with Attorney General Eric Holder at a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing.
Holder responded by disclosing the Justice Department had sent the letter to the NCAA on the issue.
In the letter, Assistant Attorney General Christine Varney asked NCAA President Mark Emmert to explain why college football does not have a playoff when so many other college sports do. She also asked what steps, if any, the NCAA has taken to create a playoff, and whether the NCAA has determined that there are aspects of the BCS system that do not serve the interests of fans, colleges, universities and players... LINK
About freaking time!
6
Posted on 6/3/11 at 8:14 am to Trojan Ace
quote:
About freaking time!
yeah, our justice department couldn't be doing anything better than fricking with parties who willingly entered into an agreement with each other
Posted on 6/3/11 at 8:21 am to SlowFlowPro
And you wonder what the powers that be at USC have been up to...
And I'm not talking about the University itself, but the people who have the ears and access to the powerful players in DC.
And I'm not talking about the University itself, but the people who have the ears and access to the powerful players in DC.
Posted on 6/3/11 at 8:25 am to SlowFlowPro
quote:
yeah, our justice department couldn't be doing anything better than fricking with parties who willingly entered into an agreement with each other
When parties who willingly entire into an agreement that violates antitrust laws, the justice department steps in. That's why they have an antitrust division.
Posted on 6/3/11 at 8:26 am to Trojan Ace
quote:
And you wonder what the powers that be at USC have been up to...
And I'm not talking about the University itself, but the people who have the ears and access to the powerful players in DC.
Posted on 6/3/11 at 8:29 am to Sophandros
quote:
When parties who willingly entire into an agreement that violates antitrust laws,
i just don't see it
the BCS is basically a television deal for exhibition games, and the money is insignificant in terms of total revenue
the governing body of all the institutions doesn't recognize the champion, so that argument is out
if the BCS conferences got together and had these games in the beginning of the season, would you call it an antitrust violation?
what about things like the SEC-Big10 shootout in basketball?
and non-BCS conferences make more money now than they did prior to the BCS, so i can't even see how they're damaged at all
This post was edited on 6/3/11 at 8:30 am
Posted on 6/3/11 at 8:35 am to SlowFlowPro
quote:
the BCS is basically a television deal for exhibition games, and the money is insignificant in terms of total revenue
If you really believe that then I have some oceanfront property in Iowa to sell you.
Posted on 6/3/11 at 8:38 am to Sophandros
which part?
the revenue per team really is not that big
the BCS has 5 games, 4 are PURE exhibitions no matter how you want to slice it
then you have the title game, which 1 of the 2 major polls agrees to be bound to when deciding their champ
this title game is accepted by teh public, but is not acknowledged by the governing body
the revenue per team really is not that big
the BCS has 5 games, 4 are PURE exhibitions no matter how you want to slice it
then you have the title game, which 1 of the 2 major polls agrees to be bound to when deciding their champ
this title game is accepted by teh public, but is not acknowledged by the governing body
Posted on 6/3/11 at 8:41 am to SlowFlowPro
quote:
the revenue per team really is not that big
If it's not that big then the teams in the BCS conferences should have no problem ensuring that all members of 1-A receive equal revenue.
quote:
the BCS has 5 games, 4 are PURE exhibitions no matter how you want to slice it
Which lends credence to the playoff argument that you would have more games that actually mean something. I didn't know that you switched over to the pro-playoff side. Good to have you with us.
Posted on 6/3/11 at 8:43 am to Sophandros
quote:
If it's not that big then the teams in the BCS conferences should have no problem ensuring that all members of 1-A receive equal revenue.
whoa. just because it isn't a large part of revenue doesn't mean everyone in 1A deserves equal revenue
the big conferences produce the interest in the games that get the big tv deal. they should get the lion's share of revenue
that's how live works
if all conferences produced the interest necessary for these deals, then they would have their own deals, or a seat at the table in negotiations when it comes down to split
quote:
Which lends credence to the playoff argument that you would have more games that actually mean something.
just because the current system may not be maximizing revenue doesn't really mean anything
we have to judge the system as it is, not what it could be
this isn't an argument about BCS v. playoffs
Posted on 6/3/11 at 8:46 am to SlowFlowPro
quote:
whoa. just because it isn't a large part of revenue doesn't mean everyone in 1A deserves equal revenue
the big conferences produce the interest in the games that get the big tv deal. they should get the lion's share of revenue
that's how live works
if all conferences produced the interest necessary for these deals, then they would have their own deals, or a seat at the table in negotiations when it comes down to split
So Duke Football produces more than Boise State Football. RIIIIIIIGHT.
quote:
just because the current system may not be maximizing revenue doesn't really mean anything
Umm, yes it does. That's the point of having these games.
quote:
we have to judge the system as it is, not what it could be
And what the system is and has always been is a fraud and a sham.
quote:
this isn't an argument about BCS v. playoffs
You don't want it to be an argument of BCS v. Playoffs because you know that your precious BCS would lose.
Posted on 6/3/11 at 8:49 am to Sophandros
quote:What does any of that have to do with anti trust violations?
Sophandros
Posted on 6/3/11 at 8:51 am to Sophandros
quote:
When parties who willingly entire into an agreement that violates antitrust laws, the justice department steps in. That's why they have an antitrust division.
That's not necessarily true. Pro sports CBA's routinely violate antitrust laws, but since it is collectively agreed upon it is not subject to the law.
Posted on 6/3/11 at 8:55 am to Sophandros
quote:
So Duke Football produces more than Boise State Football. RIIIIIIIGHT.
where did i say that?
where did i bring up individual teams?
quote:
Umm, yes it does. That's the point of having these games.
it is the choice of the conferences how they decide to maximize revenue or protect their brand
we cannot speak for them
quote:
And what the system is and has always been is a fraud and a sham.
i don't see how it is a fraud
more popular teams generate more tv ratings and get better tv deals. that's life
but yes, if a cartel exists, it existed LONG before the BCS was created
quote:
You don't want it to be an argument of BCS v. Playoffs because you know that your precious BCS would lose.
no b/c i don't want a 25 page thread to kick off right now, so i'm focusing on the issue at hand
Posted on 6/3/11 at 9:03 am to WDE24
quote:
What does any of that have to do with anti trust violations?
SloFlo brought those issues up, and I responded to them.
The bottom line is that the Justice Department is investigating whether or not the BCS violates antitrust laws. SloFlo hasn't provided any reasons that it DOESN'T.
Let the investigation take place, and we'll see what the verdict is.
Posted on 6/3/11 at 9:07 am to SlowFlowPro
quote:
where did i say that?
where did i bring up individual teams?
You said "producers" v. "nonproducers". Duke and Northwestern receive benefits from the BCS that Boise and Central Florida don't, due purely to conference affiliation.
quote:
it is the choice of the conferences how they decide to maximize revenue or protect their brand
we cannot speak for them
And they choose not to maximize their revenue because they erroneously think that their brand will be hurt by leveling the playing field.
quote:
i don't see how it is a fraud
It doesn't do what it claims to do, and its methods are tragically flawed.
quote:
but yes, if a cartel exists, it existed LONG before the BCS was created
The BCS is the offspring of this cartel. I think we can agree on that.
quote:
no b/c i don't want a 25 page thread to kick off right now, so i'm focusing on the issue at hand
OK, we can agree on that, too.Posted on 6/3/11 at 9:07 am to Sophandros
Oh and SFP thanks for the props.
Sid and Sougent can do the same.
Sid and Sougent can do the same.
Posted on 6/3/11 at 9:39 am to Sophandros
quote:
You said "producers" v. "nonproducers"
conference producers
not individual teams
conferences choose their members, and only they have control over that
quote:
Duke and Northwestern receive benefits from the BCS that Boise and Central Florida don't, due purely to conference affiliation.
and?
haven't BSU and UCF changed conferences in the past 10 years? they're playing the game like everyone else
quote:
And they choose not to maximize their revenue because they erroneously think that their brand will be hurt by leveling the playing field.
i don't think this is true
i don't think their brand will be affected
NOTHING will "level the playing field" outside of fan interest/involvement
the big conferences will always make more money, and i believe this would become exponentially greater with playoffs
quote:
It doesn't do what it claims to do, and its methods are tragically flawed.
it is about exhibition games and ratings, and it does a good job of that
quote:
The BCS is the offspring of this cartel. I think we can agree on that.
nothing government does will change the playing field
"the cartel" is based off fan interest/support
nothing short of that will change the system
Posted on 6/3/11 at 9:51 am to SlowFlowPro
quote:
this isn't an argument about BCS v. playoffs
That's an understatement, looks like some of the mid-majors might be cutting off their nose to spite their face.
quote:
"But if the conferences are prohibited from coming together to create a BCS, then they likely would also be prohibited from creating anything else, such as a playoff," Hancock added. "So if the BCS goes away, then the most likely scenario is a return to the old bowl system where there's not a guarantee of a meeting between the No. 1 and No. 2 teams."
ESPN
Posted on 6/3/11 at 9:55 am to TigerintheNO
They need to just scrap the entire freaking system and start from scratch or make a playoff. Now, only if it were as simple as that...
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