[You Dirty Rats]

Spencer Haywood did NOT sue the NBA. That's an urban legend.

Spencer Haywood signed a contract with the ABA's Denver Rockets after completing two years of NCAA competition. It was the NCAA that sued Haywood, because their four-year rule prohibited a college athlete from turning pro until after they had four years in the NCAA. The courts took about eighteen months to rule that the four-year rule had no basis in law; in other words, the NCAA couldn't interfere with Haywood's right to sign a pro deal with the Rockets.

This situation is completely different from the Haywood case. Clarett has to find a basis in law to overturn the NFL's rules, not the NCAA's rules. That is much more difficult. Antitrust is the best chance, although the USFL case amounted to only $3.

The NBA eventually dropped its age requirement, since after the Haywood case and the later signing of Moses Malone by Utah of the ABA, they didn't want to lose all of the top talent. Legal action had nothing to do with it.

[jonalvy44]

I thought that was part of the ahrdship ruling...remember way back, they had to prove hardship as a result...that eventually went bye-bye. I can't see why Clarrett would lose...He has a right to provide for his family, right to work, etc. It will be interesting. The NFL is private entity, do they get public monies?