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University Daily Kansan
Friday, May 12. 1961
Congress May Act On Antitrust Rule
WASHINGTON—(UPI)—Congress has been urged to equalize the antitrust restrictions on professional baseball, football, basketball and hockey and clarify confusion caused by conflicting court decisions on the sports.
Sens. Kenneth B. Keating, R-N.Y., and Philip A. Hart, D-Mich., introduced a bill yesterday to end pro baseball's special exempt status under federal antitrust laws. It also would legalize the controversial reserve player clause and pro football's player draft.
THE SUPREME COURT HAS RULED THAT, without a congressional decision, baseball is exempt from antitrust prosecution on the theory that it is a sport, rather than a business.
Other major professional sports have been omitted from the immunity given baseball.
Congress has debated the issue during the past several sessions, but has not passed a bill, although the House approved a measure close to the Keating-Hart Bill last year.
Chairman Estes Kefauver, D-Tenn., of the Senate Antitrust Subcommittee has introduced a tougher measure. Whether Congress would pass either remained problematical, although the bipartisan sponsorship of the new bill was viewed as increasing its chances.
THE BILL SPECIFICALLYWOULD EXEMPTpractices designed to equalize competitive playing strengths,including college draft procedures of pro football and basketball.
It also would protect practices relating to employment, selection and eligibility of players—such as the baseball reserve clause and the option clauses of other sports contracts and procedures for contract transfers.
Also recognized would be certain territorial rights of established teams, allowing them some regulation over telecasting their games; and guarantee the right of players to join union type associations. Kooting and Hart said, in a joint statement:
Keating and Hart said, in a joint statement:
"THE NEED FOR ENACTMENT OF LEGISLATION by Congress to exempt the playing aspects of professional team sports from application of the antitrust laws has become increasingly apparent."
They said Congress should not give the sports "complete immunity," but that they were "unique" among businesses because the nature of their job is to promote, rather than restrict, competition
They also said, "Further study of the television provision of our bill will be necessary to assure full protection for minor league baseball." This section has been at the heart of the trouble faced by previous bills.
The Jayhawk Sports Car Club will present its final rallye of the season Sunday. It will cover 150 miles and will be less than four hours duration.
Sports Car Club To Have Last Rallye
The "Mo-Kan" will be a time-rate-distance event starting from the Malls Shopping Center at 1:30 p.m.
Big Eight Standings
W L Pct. GB
Oklahoma State 13 0 1.000
Missouri 10 3 .769 3
Colorado 6 6 .500 $_{6}^{2}$
Oklahoma 6 7 .462 7
Kansas State 5 9 .357 $_{8}^{2}$
Iowa State 3 8 .273 9
Kansas 2 6 .250 $_{8}^{2}$
Nebraska 3 9 .250 8
Kansas Two-Mile Is Best
One Kansas relay combine and one individual top the national collegiate lists on the latest NCAA track and field report. The Jayhawkers' record two-mile flight of 7:28.6, engineered by Kirk Hagan, Gordon Davis, Bill Thornton and Bill Dotson at Drake, displaced the 7:30.0's posted by Fordham and Drake a week earlier.
SUA Bridge Tournament
Wednesday, May 17th
At 7:00 p.m.
in
The Jayhawker Room of the Union
Refreshments Served Trophies Awarded
SENIORS, don't forget ...
BIG SENIOR PICNIC
Tomorrow, Saturday, May 13
at the
BIG BARN
Go west on Highway 40 (6th St.) Pass the Virginia Inn Motel and turn left (south) at the schoolhouse. Then just go about 2 miles south and you're there
★ LOTS OF FRIED CHICKEN
★ ALL THE REFRESHMENTS YOU CAN DRINK
★ MUSIC BY JAY McSHANN
Admission by Senior IDs or $1.50
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