BU Now » Frank Shorr

Yankees owner George Steinbrenner dies

Kira Jastive — Tue, 13 Jul 2010 15:31:06 +0000

George Steinbrenner, long-time owner of the New York Yankees, died today in Tampa, FL at the age of 80 after suffering a heart attack.

Boston University Professor of Sports Journalism Frank Shorr reacts to the passing of the baseball icon calling Steinbrenner a “lightning rod” who made the sport better:

“He was a lightning rod certainly, but always had the best interest of his team in mind. He never failed to make the Yankees better and, in turn, baseball better. Sure, he spent a lot of money, but he filled ballparks, albeit with teams you often loved to hate.”

Contact: Frank Shorr, fshorr@bu.edu or 617-353-5163.

SCOTUS slaps down NFL

Dick Taffe — Mon, 24 May 2010 21:30:46 +0000

In a unanimous vote, the Supreme Court denied the National Football League its goal of broad protection from antitrust suits. The high court ruled on a case involving a license for making souvenir caps and sent to back to a lower court to further consideration allegations by a smaller company that challenged the league’s 10-year exclusive deal with Reebok. Law Professor Keith Hylton, an authority on antitrust law, says it is understandable that the court would be reluctant to expand the “single entity” concept to include the NFL. Meantime, Sports Journalism Professor Frank Shorr says this could be the “watershed moment.”

Keith Hylton:

“‘Single entity’ status implies exemption from Section 1 of the Sherman Act, and the Court is reluctant to create broad exemptions to Section 1 when the effects may not be entirely clear.”

Contact: Keith Hylton, 617-353-8959, knhylton@bu.edu

Frank Shorr:

“It will be interesting to see if the court now expands it’s view of the National Football League’s long-standing policies. Today it’s hats. Tomorrow, who knows — uniforms, helmets, wrist bands — anything that they can make a profit on and not have to share. We could be looking back on this decision in the not-to-distant future and saying, that was the watershed moment.”

Contact: Frank Shorr, 617-353-5163, fshorr@bu.edu

Tiger’s Return

Kira Jastive — Tue, 06 Apr 2010 18:57:29 +0000

As Tiger Woods readies for his return to golf on Thursday (his tee time is 1:42 p.m. to be exact), Boston University Professor of Sports Journalism Frank Shorr talks to BU Now about what Tiger can expect from fans and the media, and the impact of his presence at Augusta on the rest of the tournament field.

Contact: Frank Shorr, 617-353-5163, fshorr@bu.edu