The Ball's in Your Court: Tyson, Yankees, D-Wade and 15 Scrappy Sports Lawsuits
This time of year has a lot of NBA action on the court.
It also has been a time of action in the courts.
Over the past few weeks, several high-profile lawsuits have been made public. They have involved such sports teams and personalities as the New York Yankees, Mike Tyson, Charles Oakley, Lenny Dykstra and retired NFL players.
And a lawsuit involving one of the most famous sports anthems ever.
But filing lawsuits and enacting legal battles is not new to sports.
Although some of these situations were or still are serious in nature, some have been head-scratching peculiar.
And a couple have even changed the entire complexity of the games themselves.
Classic Power Forward Gets Outmuscled
1 of 15
Charles Oakley was one of the NBA's all-time toughest power forwards during a 19-year career that included stops in Chicago, New York, Toronto, Washington and Houston.
At 6'9", 245, he was regarded as one of Michael Jordan's "bodyguards" during their early, pre-championship years with the Bulls.
But Oakley, now an assistant coach with Jordan's Charlotte Bobcats, was apparently in need of a bodyguard in 2010.
According to a suit that Oakley filed on May 12, 2011, he was the victim of an assault related to a party he was attending at the Aria Resort & Casino in Las Vegas.
The suit contends that Oakley was a VIP guest when he left and then was prevented from returning.
According to the suit, a verbal altercation led to Oakley being subjected to a "gang-style beat down" by a group of security officers. Paramedics had to take him to a local emergency room.
In the lawsuit, Oakley says the event left him with injuries to his neck, back, head and wrist, "all or some of which may be permanent and disabling."
Back in the day, Karl Malone, Kevin McHale and Charles Barkley accused Oakley of the same thing.
Tyson Tattoo Artist Seeks KO Against "The Hangover 2"
2 of 15
S. Victor Whitmill is an award-winning tattoo artist.
Arguably his most famous work is the "African Tribal" tattoo he applied to the left side of boxer Mike Tyson's face in February 2003.
Whitmill has called it "one of the most distinctive tattoos in the nation."
Which is why Whitmill in April filed a lawsuit against Warner Bros. regarding Stu, a character in The Hangover 2 who appears on-screen with what Whitmill said is an unauthorized copy (pictured).
Tyson appeared as himself in The Hangover in 2009 and reprises his role in the sequel.
No word yet if the boxer-turned-actor, who was once billed as the "baddest man on the planet," plans to exact his own form of revenge.
Lawsuit over Logo Leads Yankees to Look Back
3 of 15
In April, a woman who resides in Yonkers, NY, located just north of The Bronx, filed a lawsuit against the residents of Yankee Stadium.
In her lawsuit, Tanit Buday claims that her uncle, Kenneth Timur, who was a graphic designer, had been commissioned more than 70 years by then team owner Jacob Ruppert to design and produce a logo for the Yankees.
The 1936 season lives in baseball history as the rookie campaign of Joe DiMaggio.
Of greater importance, according to the suit, 1936 was the year that Kenneth Timur designed a Yankees' logo that incorporated a top hat and bat similar to the one still in use.
The Yankees have long contended that the logo was designed in 1947 by iconic sports artist Lon Keller.
Tanit Buday said she wants a World Series-type victory so that her late uncle gets the recognition for one of the most iconic logos in sports history.
This is the second such recent questioning of the origin of the famous logo.
In 2009, the family of sketch artist Sam Friedman said that he showed a top hat and bat design to team owners in the 1940s.
The Yankees do not plan to rewrite their logo history.
.jpg?w=256 "Colts Jaguars Football")
Songwriter Gets Charged Up over Use of His Song
4 of 15
Bobby Kent, 62, is a musician who lives in Coconut Creek, Fla.
He says his most popular work, which is heard countless times during countless sports events every day, is being used without his permission.
In a lawsuit filed in April, Kent said he was music director for the NFL's San Diego Chargers when he composed a song that culminates with a chant that translates into every language and resonates at sporting events from soccer to football.
He called it "Stadium Doodads."
It ends with the famous chant, "Dah-dah-dah-dah-dah-dah . . . Charge!"
Kent said he copyrighted the song in 1980.
On April 7, Kent filed a lawsuit in Miami-Dade Circuit court against a company that negotiated "blanket licenses to hundreds of sports teams without his permission."
His lawyer, Richard Wolfe, said he planned to sue hundreds of pro sports teams "for $150,000 every time they play the song."
Except for the Los Angeles Lakers. Kent said they are the only team that pays him royalties.
Players Hit Replay Button in EA Sports Lawsuits
5 of 15
In April 2011, a group of five retired NFL players, led by former Cleveland Browns DB Bernie Parrish, filed a lawsuit claiming the NFL Players Assn.—which currently is decertified as the NFL CBA situation continues—allowed their images to be used in Madden NFL and elsewhere without their permission.
This was just the latest battle between athletes and EA Sports.
In 2007, a class-action lawsuit on behalf of retired NFL players claimed that the NFL Players Assn. had sold their images to video game makers, in particular EA Sports and its Madden NFL franchise, without their permission.
More than 2,000 players from that suit were part of a $26.2 million settlement in 2009.
In 2009, a group of former college football players sued the NCAA and EA Sports for using their likenesses in video games without their permission.
On May 10, 2011, a judge in California dismissed EA Sports from that lawsuit. It still continues against the NCAA and the Collegiate Licensing Co.
In 2010, Tony Davis, a former running back with the Cincinnati Bengals, filed a class-action suit on behalf of about 6,000 retired NFL players. The suit contended that EA Sports used their likenesses without permission for Madden NFL 09.
The suit was dismissed, with the ruling judge saying the game maker's use of the images was protected by the First Amendment.
For D-Wade, D-Court Is in Session
6 of 15
In 2010-11, Dwyane Wade was part of the Miami Heat's Three Amigos, along with LeBron James and Chris Bosh.
In 2009-10, he was on his own, except for his attorneys, facing several lawsuits.
In one situation, two former partners in a failed chain of sports-themed restaurants that used D-Wade's name and likeness sued him for $25 million for what they claimed was a breach of contract.
Wade himself was seeking damages, claiming that his name and likeness were used in ways in which he did not approve.
In another case, Wade faced a lawsuit over memorabilia sales that could have cost him $90 million.
In yet another legal battle, Wade filed a libel suit against another former business partner.
All of this occurred while Wade was dealing with a legal battle involving his estranged wife, Siovaugh, and their two sons.
The restaurant and memorabilia cases were settled, with no dollar amount being revealed.
This past March, a jury in Chicago awarded Wade sole care, custody and control of his sons.
Nails Keeps Getting Nailed
7 of 15
During his time with the New York Mets and Philadelphia Phillies from 1985-1996, Lenny Dykstra had 1,298 hits and played so hard that he earned the nickname "Nails."
Dykstra, who has gone on to become a business entrepreneur, financial advisor and magazine publisher, has been hit and nailed with numerous lawsuits since then.
In 2005 he was sued by an ex-partner in a car wash business.
In 2008, he settled a lawsuit with an accounting firm regarding an unpaid bill.
In 2009 he was sued by four pilots regarding the use of Dykstra's private plane.
In 2009 he was sued by a group of people who helped him to launch his magazine, The Players Club.
That same year, he filed for bankruptcy.
On May 6, 2011, Dykstra was indicted for bankruptcy fraud.
According to prosecutors in Los Angeles, Dykstra either took or destroyed property valued at more than $400,000 from his mansion, which previously had been owned by Wayne Gretzky.
Dykstra said he is pursuing recourse (no pun intended).
Spreewell Becomes an Athlete Named "Sue"
8 of 15
Like Dykstra, Latrell Spreewell is no stranger to lawsuits.
During a Golden State Warriors practice in 1997, Sprewell had an altercation with then head coach P.J. Carlesimo. The situation was so grave that NBA commissioner David Stern suspended Sprewell for 82 games.
The Warriors also acted, initially suspending Sprewell for 10 days before deciding to void the remaining three years and $23.7 million left on his contract.
Sprewell took the case to arbitration and won. The suspension was cut to 68 games and the contract voiding was overturned.
But the games he missed cost Sprewell $6.4 million. So he sued the Warriors and the NBA.
In 1999, after his suspension was completed, he was traded to the New York Knicks. The Knicks became the first No. 8 seed to reach the NBA Finals (losing to the San Antonio Spurs).
Things were relatively calm. But only for a while.
In 2002, Sprewell reported to training camp with a broken shooting hand. The Knicks fined Sprewell $250,000 for not informing the team about his injury.
Sprewell claimed it happened when he slipped on his yacht.
However, the New York Post reported that he broke the hand during a fight on his yacht.
Sprewell subsequently filed a lawsuit against the paper for $40 million, plus the additional $250,000 he had been fined by the team.
A New York Appellate Division dismissed the case in June 2007.
In a reversal of fortune, Sprewell earlier that year was sued for $200 million by the woman who gave birth to four of his children. She claimed he no longer was supporting them despite promises to do so.
That's the Way the Ball (Cart) Bounces
9 of 15
Jeff Ruland was a 6'10" 240 lb. presence in the NBA during the 1980s and 1990s.
But in 1995 he became a presence in the court.
From 1981-86 he played for the then Washington Bullets. After being traded to the Philadelphia 76ers in 1986, on-going problems with his feet led to his retirement.
He attempted a comeback with the 76ers in 1991-92, but played in just 13 games.
Ruland claimed his basketball career was cut short that season due to an incident during a road trip to Boston Gardens.
There, according to Ruland, a Boston Celtics' ball boy pushed a ball cart into his right leg. Ruland claimed he lost $3.8 million in potential wages because of the incident.
In April 1995, Ruland filed legal action against the 76ers for lost wages.
On May 16, 1995, a federal jury in Boston began hearing the case of Ruland versus the Celtics regarding the incident with the ball cart.
Ten days later, Ruland lost his lawsuit. The jury sided with the Celtics' insurance company, which told them it was a degenerated Achilles' tendon that ended Ruland's career.
Ruland has since had a successful career as a coach with Iona College and now with the University of the District of Columbia.
Trump, USFL Trump NFL—Not
10 of 15
In the mid-1980s, the fledgling United States Football League attempted to make inroads against the NFL.
The financially challenged league played its 1983, 1984 and 1985 seasons in the spring, specifically to avoid conflict with the NFL.
But a proposed switch to a fall schedule for 1986 hastened the league's demise.
When it became clear that the USFL would not survive, Donald Trump, owner of the USFL's New Jersey Generals, took the lead in suing the NFL.
The USFL claimed the NFL had established a monopoly regarding the all-important broadcast rights in the fall as well as in other areas.
In July 1986, a jury agreed with Trump and the USFL.
But they lost nonetheless.
The USFL was awarded $1 in damages, which was trebled to $3 as an anti-trust penalty, plus 76¢ in interest. The league never played another game.
The USFL lives on in infamy. As part of its "30 for 30" series, ESPN aired in October 2009 the documentary, Small Potatoes: Who Killed the USFL?
Needless to say, The Donald plays a prominent role.
Aren't Golfers Supposed To Have Handicaps?
11 of 15
In 1997, pro golfer Casey Martin sued the PGA Tour.
A birth defect in his right leg known as Klippel Trenaunay Weber syndrome made it difficult and painful for him to walk from hole to hole.
The use of a golf cart alleviated many of the problems and enabled him to continue his career.
However, PGA Tour rules required all golfers to walk between shots. They argued that this policy constituted an important aspect of the game of golf.
Martin won a decision in lower federal courts and under a judge's order started to use a golf cart while the PGA Tour appealed.
In 2001, after much legal wrangling, the U.S. Supreme Court voted 7-2 in Martin's favor, stating that the PGA Tour was required to adhere to the Americans with Disabilities Act.
Martin played professionally until May 2006, when he was named head coach of the University of Oregon's men's golf team.
Barkley Gambles, Wynn Wins Decision
12 of 15
In 2008, Wynn Resorts sued Charles Barkley over a $400,000 gambling debt the company said he racked up at their Las Vegas location.
Barkley settled the debt a short time after.
However, that was just a drop in the proverbial bucket for the NBA Hall of Famer and current TNT commentator.
During a 2006 interview with ESPN, Barkley estimated his total gambling losses to that point at about $10 million.
To Play on the Court, Player Takes the USTA to Court
13 of 15
Richard Raskin was born in 1934.
Renee Richards was reborn in 1975 following a transgender operation.
Raskin played tennis in college and then on the pro level, even reaching the finals of the 1972 men's national 35-and-over championships.
After emerging in a new life, Richards was barred by the U.S. Tennis Assn. from participating in the 1976 U.S. Open unless she submitted to chromosomal testing.
Richards sued the USTA for her rights to play without being tested.
In 1977, the New York Supreme Court ruled in her favor.
Richards returned to the court and played until 1981, then went on to coach Martina Navratilova to a pair of Wimbledon titles.
Be Like Mike but Don't Look Like Mike
14 of 15
A classic Gatorade campaign with Michael Jordan encouraged consumers to "be like Mike."
In 2006, Allen Heckard filed a lawsuit because of problems he said he encountered by looking like Mike.
The $835 million suit was filed against Jordan and Phil Knight, the founder of Nike. It included as reasons defamation and permanent injury and emotional pain and suffering.
But even Heckard wasn't totally convinced.
"Don't get me wrong," he said at the time. "It's definitely a positive thing because Michael, like I say, is one of the best ball players that I've known to play the game. But then again, that's Michael and I'm me. So I want to be recognized as me just like Michael's being recognized as Michael."
Heckard dropped the lawsuit later that year. Although some observers surmised that a financial payment had been made, Nike never acknowledged as much.
"[Heckard] finally realized he would end up paying our court costs if the lawsuit went to trial," a Nike spokesperson speculated.
Lawsuit Opens the Free Agency Flood Gates
15 of 15
Curt Flood was an all-star with the St. Louis Cardinals when in October 1969 he was traded to the Philadelphia Phillies.
Flood rejected the trade not so much because of the Phillies but much more because he wanted the opportunity to field other offers.
"The trade] violated the logic and integrity of my existence. I was not a consignment of goods," he said.
With the support of Marvin Miller, the executive director of the Major League Baseball Players Assn., he sued MLB.
As Flood missed games, the case went through the legal system. In June 1972, the U.S. Supreme Court, Flood's final option, upheld lower court decisions and ruled against him.
But the case inspired Miller to fight the system that had been established by MLB.
In December 1974, the New York Yankees signed pitcher Jim "Catfish" Hunter.
Hunter had been declared a free agent from the Oakland A's when an arbitrator ruled that team owner Charles Finley had not fulfilled provisions in Hunter's contract.
Hunter received a then-record five-year, $3 million deal.
.jpg?w=480 "Colts Jaguars Football")
