Orridge stepping down as CFL Commissioner today; TSN

[paulwoods13]

Great point. I think litigation; ground sweeping, potential game changing litigation in inevitable in most pro sport. Probably not a great era to be a Commissioner in this era of liability? It's only just begun for the NFL and CFL, and Bettman is really going to get it good soon enough. I suspect they'll have no choice but to ban bare knuckle fighting (but that's another topic). Maybe being a Lawyer will be a pre-requisite?

There's no doubt that the CFL's existence could be threatened because of legal action over past concussions. The NFL coughed up $1B to former players -- the CFL would be put out of business if it were ever ordered to pay even a fraction of that. That said, if and when the league has to fight such action in the courts, it will need the services of an expert legal team of labour and litigation specialists. There's little to no chance, IMO, that the league will look to either of those specialized areas of the law for the commissioner role. For one thing, the league has managed to argue successfully (so far, at least) under labour law that retirees have no choice but to pursue grievances through the union. So there's no imminent danger of some massive lawsuit hitting the league.

[Jon Gonzo]

There's no doubt that the CFL's existence could be threatened because of legal action over past concussions. The NFL coughed up $1B to former players -- the CFL would be put out of business if it were ever ordered to pay even a fraction of that. That said, if and when the league has to fight such action in the courts, it will need the services of an expert legal team of labour and litigation specialists. There's little to no chance, IMO, that the league will look to either of those specialized areas of the law for the commissioner role. For one thing, the league has managed to argue successfully (so far, at least) under labour law that retirees have no choice but to pursue grievances through the union. So there's no imminent danger of some massive lawsuit hitting the league.

I would leave that to the lawyers. I have been saying it for a decade; liability and insurance will threaten professional sports to the core. Especially the dumb ones. I think the NHL is cruising for a bruisin.' Bettman is a lawyer, and he won't be able to prevent it, so making a lawyer Commissioner doesn't make it go away, true. It may not be the magic elixir but it just helps with a broad general understanding of the Law. How can this not be helpful. It's for this reason (and many others) that you'll see a man with a legal background, on the short list for this job.

[paulwoods13]

I would leave that to the lawyers. I have been saying it for a decade; liability and insurance will threaten professional sports to the core. Especially the dumb ones. I think the NHL is cruising for a bruisin.' Bettman is a lawyer, and he won't be able to prevent it, so making a lawyer Commissioner doesn't make it go away, true. It may not be the magic elixir but it just helps with a broad general understanding of the Law. How can this not be helpful. It's for this reason (and many others) that you'll see a man with a legal background, on the short list for this job.

The jurisdiction issue is already being handled for the CFL by one of the best management-side labour lawyers in Canada. For a class-action suit to proceed, a court will have to overturn decades of jurisprudence that union members' only recourse to pursue complaints against management is through grievance procedures. So I'm fairly confident this can of worms is not in imminent danger of being opened. Obviously judges can overturn past rulings so anything is possible but ...

As for a broad general understanding of the law, obviously it's not a harm but a broad general understanding of economics and business is far more important IMO. There are tons of great lawyers available to be engaged as needed; how many great leaders who can grow a business are available for a role like this?