Sport & Story Daily January 18, 2024

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January 18, 2024

Good morning! Bankrupt Diamond Sports Group strikes deal with Amazon, leaving MLB in the dark

Diamond Sports Group Secures Lifeline With Amazon Deal
The bankrupt Diamond Sports Group has given itself a significant lifeline by restructuring much of its debt, striking a major investment and content distribution deal with Amazon, and settling a thorny legal dispute with corporate parent Sinclair Inc. 

But just as some questions are being answered, more are emerging….The restructuring agreements are predicated in part on undoing recent deals DSG struck with the NBA and NHL that would return local media rights to those leagues after the 2023-24 season—pacts based on a prior assumption that DSG would be ceasing operations.

“All of this came as a surprise, we knew nothing about it,” said Jim Bromley, a lawyer for MLB, in Wednesday’s court hearing.
^{frontofficesports.com}

2024 NFL Coach Hiring Predictions, Candidates for Open Jobs
As ESPN’s Dan Graziano writes, “A week and a half into the 2024 NFL offseason coaching cycle, seven head coach jobs remain open. In fact, the only one that has been filled is in New England, where Jerod Mayo was appointed to the unenviable task of succeeding Bill Belichick.

It has been a wild cycle already, with longtime, successful coaches such as Belichick, Pete Carroll and Mike Vrabel being let go. And the chatter swirling around in places like Pittsburgh, Dallas and Philadelphia make it sound as though the high-level turnover isn't done.

Let's pick some landing spots for the top coach candidates, starting with Atlanta.”
^espn.com

Man United Reports Record Revenue, But On-Field Losses Hurt Forecast
Man United released its first-quarter earnings for the three months ending Sept 30, which reported that revenue increased 9.3% to £157 million ($200 million based on current exchange rates). It was the highest first-quarter earnings in the history of the club, driven by record matchday and commercial revenue—the previous high was £143 million ($182 million) set in 2017.

Yet, the poor play on the field will dent the team’s financial results for the rest of the year. United was bounced from the UEFA Champions League during group stage play, and the company cited the early exit and related reduction in broadcast revenue for a lower fiscal 2024 forecast.
^sportico.com

NFL Welcomes the Return Of ‘Origins: An NFL Collection’ Ahead Super Bowl LVIII in Las Vegas
The National Football League today announced the third installment of Origins: An NFL Collection for the Super Bowl featuring three local Las Vegas brands: FEATURE, Love, Hand & Heart and Urban Necessities.​

Origins: An NFL Collection is an ongoing merchandise collaboration program that provides an opportunity for local designers in NFL event host cities to create and sell Super Bowl-themed merchandise that highlights their creative prowess and connection to the community.
^{nflcommunications.com}

Your Vision Insights: Where You’ll Find the NFL Fans of Tomorrow, Today

With an exciting NFL playoff season upon us filled with upsets and intrigue, we look into the Decoder crystal ball to see which teams are cultivating the next generation of fans right now. In this analysis, we measured the percentage of each team’s national fan base (US-based) that falls between the ages of 13-17. Looking at data collected in Decoder from January through November of 2023, we see that the Titans, Cowboys, and Seahawks have the highest proportion of national fans that are aged 13-17.

Learfield, Colorado Extend Multimedia Rights Deal Through 2035
Colorado has become an increasingly hot commodity, given the buzz driven by new football coach Deion Sanders, despite a 4-8 debut season. Learfield and Colorado Athletics have agreed to a 10-year extension that will run through 2035, continuing a partnership that began in 2001.
^{sportsbusinessjournal.com}

For Bill Belichick To Succeed in Broadcasting, the Teacher Must Become the Student
Barrett Sports Media’s Mark Kreidler writes, “Belichick could be a network’s dream — if (and only if) that network is ready to create a role that plays to his considerable strengths, and then be willing to coach the coach. I’d gladly watch the result, if only because it would so confound the folks who think they know Belichick from watching his pre- and post-game pressers.”
^{barrettsportsmedia.com}

Peacock’s NFL Debut and the Viability of Streaming-Only Sports
Matt [Belloni] is joined by Bloomberg’s Lucas Shaw to discuss the NFL’s first streaming-exclusive playoff game, which featured the Miami Dolphins and the Kansas City Chiefs on Peacock. They break down why this should largely be considered a success for Peacock, how to retain the influx of new subscribers, and whether the streaming-exclusive sporting event is the right path forward.
^{theringer.com}

It’s All Facts, No Brakes For Keyshawn Johnson at FOX Sports
Johnson’s new podcast is titled Undisputed Presents: All Facts No Brakes with Keyshawn Johnson, joining the portfolio of original digital series at FOX Sports. The show will post new episodes twice per week and provide his opinions on a variety of topics both in and out of sports.

“I’m as level-headed across the board as everything because if you get into this business in general, whether it’s a podcast or Undisputed or an NFL Countdown for FOX on Sunday, whatever it is, and you can’t be objective, then you’re probably in the wrong business.”
^{barrettsportsmedia.com}

Jerry and Susan Roth Make Significant Gift Commitment For UCF Football
Jerry and Susan Roth, long-time advocates and leadership donors to UCF Athletics, recently made a significant cash commitment in support of UCF Football for the future construction of the Hagle Football Gateway project, which includes McNamara Cove, a new Football Operations building, a renovated Wayne Densch Sports Center, Nicholson Plaza and an enhanced football practice complex. 
^{ucfknights.com}

Toledo Athletics Partners With Vu Technologies to Unveil Cutting Edge Virtual Production Studio
The studio is equipped with Vu One LED display technology and powered by the Virtual Studio suite of generative creative tools. This innovative all-in-one space redefines the Rockets' storytelling possibilities, offering a dynamic platform for content creation and film-making, a tool for recruiting and retaining student-athletes, an accessible location for NIL sponsorship activations, an interactive display for special events, and a captivating visual centerpiece in the Savage Arena lobby offering an immersive experience for student-athletes, fans and sponsors alike.
^{utrockets.com}

Sources: Alabama Adds Maurice Linguist as Co-Defensive Coordinator
Kalen DeBoer is adding a second sitting FBS head coach to his Alabama coaching staff, with Buffalo's Maurice Linguist agreeing to take a job on the Crimson Tide's defensive staff, sources told ESPN on Tuesday.

Linguist will be Alabama's co-defensive coordinator and also will coach defensive backs, a source said.
^espn.com

Harvard Football Coach Tim Murphy Announces Retirement
Longtime Harvard head football coach Tim Murphy announced his retirement on Wednesday after 30 years with the football program, the school announced.

The 67-year-old Murphy took over Harvard’s football program prior to the 1994 season. In 30 years with the Crimson, he went 200–89 with 10 Ivy League championships. 
^si.com

Harbaugh’s Potential Contract Carveout Tests NCAA
According to Dan Wetzel of Yahoo Sports, Harbaugh demands language that would “grant him immunity from termination from any finding or sanction that could arise from multiple current NCAA investigations into the football program.”

As Sportico’s Michael McCann writes, “If Michigan grants such language to Harbaugh—who recently led the Wolverines to a national championship and is being courted by NFL teams with head coach openings—it would be a departure from typical termination-for-cause provisions.”
^sportico.com

Dannen Took Everyone Behind the Scenes in UW Hiring of Jedd Fisch
"Believe it or not, I had an inkling around Thanksgiving," Danne said. "We put a pretty good contract offer on the table and, when we couldn't get it signed, that gave me some pause."

On Thursday, three days following the national championship game and within 24 hours of Nick Saban announcing his Alabama retirement, Dannen, who’d only been on the job 108 days, learned the SEC school wanted to speak to his football coach, prompting what he called "full-bore, lockdown search mode" that resulted in a list of 10 replacement coaching candidates.
^si.com

ACC Court Filing Accuses FSU of Breach of Contract, Seeks Damages
As ESPN’s Pete Thamel writes of the sure-to-be-ongoing case, “The ACC filing on Tuesday includes six claims, including FSU breaching its contract with the ACC, breaching confidentiality in the media rights agreement and breaching fiduciary obligations and obligations of good faith.

The complaint includes a new claim for potentially ‘substantial’ damages from alleged contract breaches: ‘The Conference have and recover of Florida State damages for its breach of the ACC Constitution and Bylaws in an amount to be proven at trial but which the Conference believes will be substantial.’”
^espn.com

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