Sport & Story Daily January 23, 2024

Stay Ahead of the Game

January 23, 2024

Good morning! 2015 NFL/DirecTV class-action lawsuit gets trial date, and witnesses include Roger Goodell and Jerry Jones

Huge Names. 2M Plaintiffs. Billions at Stake. NFL Sunday Ticket Trial Is Set
NFL Sunday Ticket is undeniably flourishing in its new YouTube home. As Front Office Sports’ Eric Fisher writes, however, “The dust still hasn’t settled for NFL Sunday Ticket at the product’s prior exclusive home, DirecTV, and a lawsuit surrounding the out-of-market game package is now set to involve some of the biggest names in pro football. 

A class-action lawsuit dating to 2015—alleging that the collective and exclusive packaging of teams’ out-of-market rights in NFL Sunday Ticket violates U.S. antitrust law and creates artificially high prices—has slowly made its way through California and federal courts, reaching its current status early last year. A trial is now set to begin Feb. 22, and witness lists filed Friday include NFL commissioner Roger Goodell, Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones, New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft, and outgoing CBS Sports chair Sean McManus.” 
^{frontofficesports.com}

GM Tweaked Its Logo After the Detroit Lions’ Historic Playoff Win
For the first time since 1991, the Detroit Lions are back in the NFC Championship Game—having beaten the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday. General Motors is displaying its Motor City pride with a special version of the logo that popped up Monday morning at Detroit’s Renaissance Center, the home of GM. It features a lion’s tail as part of the design.
^adage.com

Nick Dunlap Becomes 1st Amateur Winner on PGA Tour Since 1991 With Victory at The American Express
As the AP’s Greg Beacham writes, “Nick Dunlap doesn’t possess a false confidence, and he doesn’t project a supernatural calm. The University of Alabama sophomore fully understood just how crazy it was to be fending off a field of professionals Sunday while he tried to become the PGA Tour’s first amateur winner in 33 years.”

“Most nervous I’ve ever been, by far,” Dunlap said. “Just tried to breathe, but also look up and enjoy it a little bit.”
^apnews.com

Super Bowl Ads—What Viewers Want and Don’t Want in 2024 Commercials
As Ad Age’s Erika Wheless writes, “When it comes to Super Bowl ads, laughing is in and crying is out. And viewers want more animals but less cause-based marketing or patriotic flag-waving.

That’s all according to a new Ad Age-Harris Poll survey, which found that 69% of respondents favor funny ads, while only 14% want serious ones. Patriotic themes drew support from only 31% of respondents and purpose-driven ads had 24% support. Heartfelt ads also lagged, getting 32% approval.”
^adage.com

One for the Record Books: Texans at Ravens Delivers Nearly 32 Million Viewers, Becoming ESPN’s Most-Watched NFL Game Ever
ESPN’s NFL Divisional Playoff presentation was a record-shattering showdown for ESPN, marking consecutive years in which the final game of the season was its most-watched NFL game ever, playoffs or regular season, dating back to 1987 when ESPN acquired NFL rights. The record viewership joins Monday Night Football in cementing a landmark season for the NFL on ESPN.

With an audience of 31.8 million – based on Nielsen fast nationals – Houston Texans at Baltimore Ravens (ESPN, ABC, ESPN+ on Saturday, Jan. 20) surpasses the 2023 Super Wild Card Monday night game featuring the Dallas Cowboys at Tampa Bay Buccaneers (January 16, 2023) for ESPN’s top spot. Please note: ESPN’s audience is expected to elevate to more than 32 million when Nielsen reports final numbers this week.
^{espnpressroom.com}

Astros, LHP Josh Hader in Agreement on 5-year, $95 Million Contract: Source
The Athletic is reporting that the Houston Astros and left-handed reliever Josh Hader are in agreement on a five-year, $95 million deal, a league source confirmed.

Hader’s deal reportedly contains a full no-trade clause and no deferred money, according to a league source. It will pay Hader $19 million from 2024 through 2028, making it a record valuation for a closer, given there are no deferrals. There are also no opt-outs or club options in the deal, per a league source.
^{theathletic.com}

Source: Lions Reach Deal With Veteran TE Zach Ertz
The Detroit Lions have agreed to a contract with veteran tight end Zach Ertz, a source confirmed to ESPN.

His addition comes after Lions tight end Brock Wright sustained a forearm injury in Detroit's 31-23 divisional-round victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Wright's injury left Sam LaPorta as the only healthy tight end on the Lions' roster, and coach Dan Campbell said it didn't "look good" for Wright's availability for the NFC Championship Game on Sunday against the San Francisco 49ers.
^espn.com

TaylorMade Trademark Filing Raises Questions Around Possible Tiger Woods Apparel Brand
TaylorMade has been Tiger Woods’ equipment sponsor for six years, and recent trademark filings “make it seem as if the company will have something to do with his apparel, too,” according to Cameron Jourdan of GOLFWEEK.
^{sportsbusinessjournal.com}

Patriots, Jerod Mayo 'Ready to Burn Some Cash' to Help With Rebuild
"We're bringing in talent, 1,000 percent," Mayo said Monday with a touch of humor on sports radio WEEI. "We have a lot of cap space and cash. We're ready to burn some cash!"

The Patriots have a projected $65 million in salary cap space, according to ESPN's Roster Management System. It is a fluid total that currently ranks fourth in the NFL.
^espn.com

Three-Time Olympic Champion Aly Raisman Joins ESPN as Gymnastics Analyst
Three-time Olympic gold medalist and two-time U.S. Olympian Aly Raisman joins ESPN this season as a gymnastics analyst, her first foray into television commentary. Raisman’s first meet will be alongside fellow U.S. Olympian John Roethlisberger on Friday, Jan. 19, when No. 6 Kentucky and No. 8 LSU tumble into action on SEC Network at 9 p.m. ET.

“I’m excited to be part of the ESPN gymnastics team and share my passion and love for the sport in a new way,” Raisman said. “It’s been so fun to watch these incredible athletes and see how much gymnastics continues to grow. I’m looking forward to this next chapter and the opportunity to try something different within the sort.”
^{espnpressroom.com}

Erika Ayers and Spike Eskin Led Barstool Sports and WFAN to Success But Their Exits Raise Questions
As Barrett Sports Media’s Jason Barrett writes, “There were two big management moves last week that have sports media folks talking. First was Erika Ayers Badan announcing her exit from Barstool Sports as the brand’s CEO. Second was the news of Spike Eskin returning to Sportsradio WIP and exiting his role as the VP of Programming for WFAN and CBS Sports Radio.
^{barrettsportsmedia.com}

Brady’s Studio Adds Ex-Barstool Exec to Lead Unscripted Content
As Sportico’s Jacob Feldman writes, “The company recently hired Kelly Martin Walsh to be its new head of talent relations and unscripted content. Martin Walsh was previously the head of talent relations at Barstool Sports, where she’d worked since 2018.”

“Kelly’s experience working with talent, defining content strategies and helping to grow some of the biggest podcasts in the world make her a perfect fit for where we are headed as a company,” Shadow Lion managing director Gilad Haas said in a statement.
^sportico.com

Lions' Hamp, Campbell Praised With Franchise Reaching Rarefied Air
Since taking over the Lions in 2020, owner Sheila Ford Hamp is responsible for the turnaround Kirthmon F. Dozier/USA TODAY NETWORK The Lions are in the NFL Championship game for the first time in 32 years, and Lions owner Sheila Ford Hamp is the person that is “so responsible”…
^{sportsbusinessjournal.com}

Sources: Ron Rivera to Interview for Eagles' DC Job
As ESPN’s Tim McManus writes, “Former Commanders head coach Ron Rivera is interviewing with the Eagles for their defensive coordinator position, sources told ESPN's Jeremy Fowler.

Meanwhile, signs are pointing to Nick Sirianni returning for a fourth season as head coach of the Eagles. The team announced that Sirianni and general manager Howie Roseman will hold their end-of-season news conference Wednesday.”
^espn.com

Cowboys’ Dan Quinn Set for Three Follow-Up Interviews for Head Coaching Jobs, per Source
As SI.com’s Joseph Salvador writes, “Dallas Cowboys defensive coordinator Dan Quinn is slated to have second interviews with the Tennessee Titans, Seattle Seahawks and Washington Commanders for their open head coaching positions, a source tells Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer. Quinn is set to meet with the Titans on Wednesday, the Seahawks on Thursday and the Commanders on Sunday, with all of the interviews slated to take place in person.”
^si.com

Houston Texans/Former Ohio State QB CJ Stroud Has Donated Between $50-100K to THE Foundation to Support OSU’s NIL Efforts
The Ohio State Foundation tweeted, “Proud that CJ Stroud is our first former student athlete partner to become a major donor and “pay it forward” as he paves the way for those to come next. Thanks so much for your support of THE Foundation CJ. You are truly a Buckeye for life!”
^twitter.com

AD Dave Heeke Will No Longer Lead the Wildcats After Seven Years at the Helm
University of Arizona President Robert Robbins: "He helped get out men's and women's basketball programs and our football program on a strong trajectory, oversaw the success of several of our sports teams and greatly enhanced the student-athlete experience. Dave always displayed the highest integrity, and I am appreciative of his partnership and dedication." Former Softball HC Mike Candrea will serve as Interim AD.
^twitter.com

DePaul Has Parted Ways With Men’s Basketball HC Tony Stubblefield
As Jeff Goodman writes on Twitter, “DePaul is dead last in the Big East in NIL, per source, at below $500K per year while six schools in the league are at around or in excess of $2 million per year.

One of the reasons DePaul made the move now was because it was nearly impossible to raise NIL while Tony Stubblefield was head coach and program was floundering (even worse than usual). It’s a lot easier to raise NIL for a new coach than it is for someone few really believe can get the job done.”
^twitter.com

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