Law Commons^™

The Green Bay Packers are an oft-misunderstood organization — not in the decisions that the Packers make, but in their legal status and structure. Scholars, commentators, and even the general public refer to the Packers as “community-owned.” While this characterization is true — to a degree — the specifics of this unique ownership structure in professional sports have never been comprehensively documented and analyzed. Perhaps this is the reason that some political pundits have termed the Packers “socialists.” However, such commentators also seem to not fully appreciate the historical development, and contemporary understanding, of this social, economic, and political ideology. …

This article examines how professional sports leagues address (apparently increasing) criminal activity by players off of the field or court. It analyzes the power of professional sports leagues and, in particular, the commissioners of those leagues, to discipline wayward athletes. Such discipline is often met with great controversy - from players’ unions and commentators alike - especially when a commissioner invokes the “in the best interest of the sport” clause of the professional sports league’s constitution and bylaws. The article then contextualizes such league discipline in criminal punishment theory - juxtaposing punishment norms in public law with incentives and rationales …