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On the eve of Opening Day, the new nation-wide Confederated Baseball Leagues (CBL) is shocked with a lawsuit from the regional Valley Baseball League (VBL) over its appropriation of talent and charges of illegal privileges from the national government. The VBL claims that Umnyuupian tradition shows deference to regional and local entities and that the new nationwide league is an illegal monopoly. The CBL claims existing employment contracts between the leagues and players are limited from competition to other regional baseball leagues, not a national league. They argue that without the nation's best talent competing against the best talent, the national team's championship chances will suffer.

Some of the larger VBL clubs, notably the Purkullu Dragons and Trini Steza Angels, refused the offer of the CBL to join the nationwide league. The rejections have left the CBL frustrated over the huge gap in the map and the challenge to their national ambitions. In an effort to close the gap, the CBL granted a club license to Koder Kesh and its woefully inadequate stadium and a second club in the northeast. Koder Kesh has been able to stock what was an also-ran into a potential CBL contender with some of VBL's top talent. The introduction of a official lawsuit introduces fresh wounds into a long off-season battle.

No official statement has been issued whether the Peninsula League will or will not join the lawsuit. Putjep Yellow Sox are notably upset they lost their [b]Coastal League franchise, top players and identity to the new Ghosanje Purple Sox club.

Tomorrow's Opening Day games - broadcast over national radio throughout the day - will be played as scheduled, but without the enthusiasm the CBL had hoped for.

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To those unfamiliar with Umnyuupia's political system, the VBL is correct in stating a tradition of deference to the largely autonomous states. The courts have a history of rulings from Distributionist judges that may support a ruling against a monopoly. However, legal scholars suggest that such tradition hasn't always been followed by the courts and that ultimately the democratically elected Justice Committee has the responsibility to review the courts' decisions.


A overview of the political system:

The national government is represented by:
Chief Minister: An elected member of the legislature, the Chief Minister is chosen by his fellow legislators to the role (three yrs - three term limit). The role is limited to figurehead ceremonial honors as well as appointing international diplomats (requiring Foreign Affairs committee approval) and regional judges (requiring Justice committee approval), and serving as a member of National Emergency Council (with the Security and Police department heads).
The legislature is composed of 29 ministers (one per state, staggered six yr terms, no term limit). It is separated into four committees of seven members (The Chief may not serve): Foreign Affairs (oversight over the Security Dept.), Interior (oversight over the local regions), Justice (oversight over the Police Dept. and regional courts), Finance (oversight over the Research Dept.). The legislature act more as judges than politicians because no new laws can be formed. They review regional and department initiatives and legal decisions, issuing strongly-worded recommendations to national and local entities. They can seemingly enforce compliance over the national entities when they set confirm or deny their budgets.
National entities include:
- the Security Department, which is responsible for military defense and foreign intelligence as well as domestic and international service missions. All citizens between ages 16-24 are required to serve a 2 year commitment to either the military or a service mission.
- the Research Department: a catch all for national responsibilities including currency, national statistics, financial analysis and archives.
- the Police Department: administers national prison and provides for national government security

Regional governments (9 of them in total):
Government: Each region may be different, but they all have a Governor (6 yr) and legislature (3 yr) drawn from city precincts. There are political party caucuses (many in fact), but largely irrelevant at this level because committees appointed by Governor, not caucuses allying to form majorities in the legislature. Also, because political parties are restricted from funding campaigns, their power over their members is basically unenforceable. The regional governments have supporting departments, i.e. energy regulation, in charge of various responsibilities.
Courts: Justices rule on cases relating to national and regional laws and on appeals from state/local courts. They are appointed at the national level (Chief Minister and Justice committee) and accountable to national Justice committee reviews and recommendations.

State (29) and local (many) governments:
Government: Each may be different, but basically: A Mayor (3 yrs) and legislature (3 yrs) are drawn from neighborhood precincts. Political party caucuses are more influential at this level as legislatures may award committee roles by majority vote, however, they still not may not privilege or punish their candidates with campaign funding support. The regional governments have supporting departments, i.e. the local police, in charge of various responsibilities.
Courts: Justices rule on cases relating to national, regional and local laws. They are appointed at the regional level (Governor and either the full legislature or a committee) and accountable to national Justice committee reviews and recommendations.