Introduction to Sport Law Tapa dura - 2009

John O. Spengler, JD, PhD, is an associate professor in the College of Health and Human Performance at the University of Florida at Gainesville. Spengler received his law degree from the University of Toledo in 1992 and his doctorate in recreation administration from Indiana University in 1999. Using his experience and education in both of these fields, Spengler has written, taught, and consulted on all aspects of legal issues in sport and recreation safety, risk management, and recreation and sport. He has published numerous articles in scholarly and practitioner journals and three textbooks on sport and recreation legal issues, including a sport law casebook.

Spengler is a member of the American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance (AAHPERD) and serves as chair of the AAHPERD, AAPAR Safety, and Risk Management Council. He is also a member of the National Recreation and Park Association, American College of Sports Medicine, and the Sport and Recreation Law Association.

In 2002, Spengler became a research fellow for AAHPERD. He was also named Teacher of the Year in 2003 by the College of Health and Human Performance at the University of Florida and was twice recognized in Who's Who Among America's Teachers.

Spengler resides in Gainesville. He enjoys many sports and outdoor activities.

Paul M. Anderson, JD, is the associate director of the National Sports Law Institute of Marquette University Law School in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Anderson is also associate director and professor in the sports law program of Marquette University Law School, the most comprehensive and advanced sport law program in the world. He has taught, written, and consulted on all areas of sport law for the past 15 years.

As part of his role in the National Sports Law Institute, Anderson researches all areas of sport law and coordinates newsletters and annual surveys devoted to developments in the field. He has written numerous books, book chapters, articles, and other publications related to various areas of sport law. In his law practice, Anderson has also represented many clients within the sport industry.

Anderson is the editor of the Journal of Legal Aspects of Sport and serves as faculty advisor to the Marquette Sports Law Review. He is also past chair of the Sports & Entertainment Law section of the State Bar of Wisconsin. Anderson is a member of the Sport and Recreation Law Association, the Sports Lawyers Association, American Bar Association's Forum on the Entertainment and Sports Law Industries, and the International Association of Sports Lawyers.

In 2008, Anderson received the Faculty Advisor of the Year Award from the Marquette Moot Court Association. He also received the President's Award from the Sport and Recreation Law Association in 2005 and was awarded the Sports Law Alumnus of the Year Award from the Sports Law Alumni Association of Marquette University Law School in 2003. In 2002 he received a Leadership Award from the Society for the Study of the Legal Aspects of Sport and Physical Activity.

In his free time, Anderson enjoys reading science fiction, writing, and walking. He and his wife, Kerri, reside in Milwaukee.

Daniel P. Connaughton, EdD, is an associate professor in the College of Health and Human Performance at the University of Florida at Gainesville, where he conducts research and teaches in the area of sport law and risk management. He has written two sport law textbooks in addition to numerous publications on sport and recreation safety, risk management, and associated legal issues.

With an educational background in exercise and sport sciences, Connaughton also holds advanced degrees in recreational studies (University of Florida), physical education (Bridgewater State College), and sport management (Florida State University). In addition to his educational experiences, Connaughton has held management positions in campus and public recreation departments, aquatic facilities, and health and fitness programs. He is a licensed emergency medical technician and frequently serves as a consultant and expert witness in exercise- and sport-related lawsuits.

Connaughton is a member of the American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance (AAHPERD): National Strength and Conditioning Association; American Red Cross; American College of Sports Medicine; and the Sport and Recreation Law Association.

In 2004, he received the Teacher of the Year Award from the University of Florida's College of Health and Human Performance. He was named an AAHPERD research fellow in 2001.

In his free time, Connaughton enjoys cycling, running, and traveling. He resides in Gainesville.

Thomas A. Baker III, JD, PhD, is an assistant professor in the department of kinesiology in the College of Education at the University of Georgia, where he conducts research and teaches in the area of sport law. He has written two textbooks on the subject of sport and recreation law and has numerous publications on sport law and risk management.

Baker holds advanced degrees in law (Loyola University), sport management (University of Florida), and communications (University of Southern Mississippi). He also completed a comparative law program at the University of Vienna in Austria.

At the University of Florida, Baker was a Charles W. LaPradd PhD fellow. Baker graduated from his law school with honors and in the top 10 percent of his class, earning the distinction of William L. Crowe, Sr., Scholar.

Baker's legal experience consists of clerking with two federal judges and the Constitutional Defense Department at the Alabama Attorney General's Office and practicing commercial litigation at a civil defense firm in New Orleans, Louisiana. He is a member of the Louisiana Bar Association.

In his free time, Baker enjoys watching sports, attending concerts, exercising, and cooking. He and his wife, Susana, reside in Georgia.