What has happened so far?

Well, Mr. Alinghi won the 32nd America's Cup, fair and square. Great boat, great sailing, great teamwork. Thanks to Ernesto Bertarelli's passion, and Brad Butterworth's canny skill, Switzerland defends the America's Cup, yet again. All kudos to them.

There was one cheap, pathetic, and unfortunate note. It was Alinghi's arrogance, self-absorption and lack of sportsmanship. They refused to invite Emirates Team New Zealand join them on the winners podium, receive kudos for their own valiant efforts, and enjoy the festivities of the best America's Cup in history, probably one of the greatest sporting events ever. The Kiwis weren't invited and weren't even congratulated. It's a totally self-focused Alinghi affair.

Nobody liked this, not even some Alinghi team members. Then, after the festivities, all hell breaks loose. Mr. Alinghi's captive companions, the Geneva Yacht Club and the America's Cup management authority (a Bertarelli property), announce the new 33rd America's Cup protocol. Lo and behold, it's an Alinghi affair. In the next America's Cup, Alinghi decides everything. No challenger involvement in the protocol. No say in the design of the boats. No role in the competition of the challenger series. Everything belongs to Alinghi.

Alinghi annoints a Challenger of Record, a yacht club in Valencia that didn't exist the day before the final of the America's Cup, built around Desafio Espagnol, the Spanish challenger in AC32. Not only had this club never existed before, but it never held a regatta ever, of any kind, anywhere. All of this in violation of the Deed of Gift, the ancient document that defines the honor and integrity of the America's Cup.

For the 33rd America's Cup, Alinghi decides it can do anything it wants, at any time, about anything, and decide any detail, large or small, without input from anyone, and without debate. They can even dismiss any challenger, for any reason whatsoever, without explanation, whenever they feel like it, without any opportunity for the challenger to protest.

There will be no independent race and rules committees, either. These will be Alinghi appointees. In fact, there's nothing for anyone except Alinghi. It's all about Alinghi.

This was a shocker, but expected, according to the cynics.

Then the next expected thing happens.

Oracle goes litigious.