Sports Law Society goes to bat for youth academy
The student-run Tulane Sports Law Society added some spin to this year’s National Baseball Arbitration Competition. In addition to hosting competitors on the Tulane University uptown campus from dozens of law schools across the country to argue baseball salaries before industry pros, the society invited young members of Major League Baseball’s New Orleans Urban Youth Academy to the arbitration finals on Jan. 22.
The Tulane Sports Law Program last year partnered with the academy to introduce young students to opportunities in the business off the field.
But Alfred Ripoll IV and Andreas Palmer weren’t just in the audience to listen to teams from the University of Virginia and St. John’s University law schools compete for the championship. Through a raffle of autographed balls and other baseball memorabilia, including tickets to the 2016 MLB All-Star Game, the Sports Law Society raised more than $700 for the Urban Youth Academy.
Law student Alexandra Triana, one of the organizers of the 2016 competition, said “it was an easy choice” to host the fundraiser.
“UYA not only provides kids with professional training in baseball, they also expose them to all different areas of the game,” she said. “Sports Law Society members know firsthand that there are other careers in sports even if you don’t make it as a professional player.”
The University of Virginia won this year’s ninth annual competition, which provides participants with the opportunity to sharpen their oral and written advocacy skills and is modeled closely on the procedures used by Major League Baseball.
The 15 guest arbitrators who judged the contest included Tulane Law School alumni Alex Winsberg, director of legal affairs and risk management for the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, and player agent Marc Kligman.
Other guest arbitrators were Paloma Ahmadi, Major League Baseball counsel, labor relations; Dave Prouty, MLB Players Association general counsel; front-office representatives from the Washington Nationals, Cincinnati Reds and Milwaukee Brewers; and attorneys and agents from across the United States.
Linda P. Campbell is Tulane Law School’s director of communications.
