ERIC Number: EJ1473599
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2024
Pages: N/A
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0031-8981
EISSN: EISSN-2160-1682
Available Date: 0000-00-00
The Clash of Sports Officials and Fans: When Free Speech Borders Harassment
Alina Cioletti; Leeann M. Lower-Hoppe
Physical Educator, v81 n3 2024
In the case of "Higgins v. Kentucky Sports Radio LLC" (2020), John Higgins was officiating an Elite Eight March Madness game in 2017 where the University of Kentucky (UK) was facing the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (UNC). After UK lost the game, Kentucky fans were upset and blamed Higgins for the loss. Two of these fans included Matthew Jones and Drew Franklin, a host and writer for Kentucky Sports Radio. Following the loss, Jones and Franklin criticized Higgins and his personal roofing business through their radio station. His business was bombarded with calls, death threats, and negative reviews. Higgins sought damages in excess of $75,000 from Kentucky Sports Radio for inflicting harm through their commentary. The purpose of this law review is to examine the rights of sports officials and fans, summarize the case facts and court decision, and determine how the ruling impacts sports officials broadly.
Descriptors: College Athletics, Team Sports, Conflict, Decision Making, Audiences, Radio, Civil Rights, Court Litigation, Libel and Slander
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Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Evaluative
Education Level: Higher Education; Postsecondary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A
Author Affiliations: N/A