Sport & Story Daily June 17, 2024

Sport & Story Daily June 17, 2024

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June 17, 2024

Good morning! Barkley Bids Adieu to TV

Getty Images

Barkley to Retire From TV After 2024-25 Season
“You know there's been a lot of noise around our network the last few months, and I just want to say I've talked to all the other networks, but I ain't going nowhere other than TNT," said Barkley, who has been with Turner for 24 years. “But I have made the decision myself, no matter what happens, next year is going to be my last year on television, and I just want to say thank you to my NBA family. You guys have been great to me. My heart is full with joy and gratitude."
Sports Business Journal

Pro Football Focus’s Dysfunction Comes at the Worst Possible Time
“Some [NFL] teams are already looking for an alternative,” one source told FOS. “PFF doesn’t seem to realize that there are competitors out there. At first blush, PFF seems to be in a good position. As the incumbent company, they have good relationships with teams and are responsive to their needs. But PFF has lost so much talent that they may not be able to outcompete.”
Front Office Sports

Serena Williams Has Advice For Caitlin Clark
At the Tribeca Festival premiere of her intimate new docuseries, “In the Arena: Serena Williams,” the former tennis champ talks about becoming the subject of so much media attention at an early age, as WNBA rookie Caitlin Clark is now experiencing.
AP News

CLIVE BRUNSKILL/GETTY IMAGES

Alcaraz Signs Nike Extension, Will Get Custom Logo
World No. 2 men's tennis player Carlos Alcaraz has signed "a massive contract extension" with Nike that will see him placed "in rare air along his tennis heroes" -- getting his own custom logo. The deal, first reported by Spanish outlet Relevo, is valued at $15-$20M annually and will see Nike "develop Alcaraz's own unique brand logo, which is reportedly being designed now," as Nike did with Rafael Nadal's iconic bull logo and the Roger Federer "RF" logo.
Sports Business Journal

Celtics Paid Up to Win. Can They Afford to Keep Paying?
Per Sportico’s Lev Akabas, “The Boston Celtics are one game away from becoming the latest in a long line of big spenders to lift the Larry O’Brien Trophy. With a payroll of $184.2 million for the 2023-24 season, per Spotrac, Boston was well over the luxury tax threshold of $165.3 million. As a result, owner Wyc Grousbeck will foot an estimated $41.4 million bill based on how the luxury tax is computed. It is the fifth highest tax bill in the NBA and will be distributed among all non-tax paying franchises.”
Sportico

Bryson Dechambeau Wins Second U.S. Open, Record $4.3M Prize
Per Sportico, Bryson DeChambeau won his second career U.S. Open by a single stroke over Rory McIlroy on Sunday. He’ll take home a major championship record $4.3 million for his victory. 

The total purse for the event was $21.5 million, up from $20 million last year. McIlroy, who ended the tournament at 5-under par, snagged $2.32 million for finishing in second place, while Patrick Cantlay and Tony Finau tied at 4-under for the third place prize of $1.23 million. Everyone inside the top 10 earned at least $500,000.
Sportico

TIM NWACHUKWU/GETTY IMAGES


Phillies’ Hot Start Delivering For TV Partners With Audience Spikes
The Phillies have the best record in the NL heading into the weekend at 46-22, and local television audiences are "up 30% over last year's numbers," according to Rob Tornoe of the PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER. NBC Sports Philadelphia and WCAU-NBC through Tuesday are averaging more than 360,000 viewers per game across television and streaming.
Sports Business Journal

College World Series: Record Crowds and TV Viewership Anticipated
As FOS’ David Rumsey writes, “College World Series media rights are tied to ESPN through 2032, thanks to the network’s recent eight-year, $920 million extension for NCAA championships. Last year’s CWS was the most-watched ever on ESPN, with an average audience of 1.65 million viewers. That figure was up 48% from ’22. The final eight teams enter with plenty of momentum already. Super Regional games averaged 501,000 viewers on ESPN, representing the most-watched round since 2009 and up 22% from last season.”
Front Office Sports

AP Photo/Reed Hoffman

Kansas Lawmakers Poised to Lure Kansas City Chiefs From Missouri, Despite Economists’ Concerns
As AP News’ John Hanna writes, “A 170-year-old rivalry is flaring up as Kansas lawmakers try to snatch the Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs away from Missouri…

“The Kansas Legislature’s top leaders endorsed helping the Chiefs and professional baseball’s Kansas City Royals finance new stadiums in Kansas ahead of a special session set to convene Tuesday. The plan would authorize state bonds for stadium construction and pay them off with revenues from sports betting, the Kansas Lottery and additional tax dollars generated in and around the new venues. The states’ border runs through the metropolitan area of about 2.3 million people, and the teams would move only about 25 miles (40 kilometers) west.”
AP News

AP Photo/Ian Walton

Ten Hag Says He Knew Manchester United Spoke to Other Managers Before Deciding to Keep Him
Erik ten Hag says he was aware that Manchester United had spoken to other managers before the Premier League club decided to stick with the Dutchman after a difficult season.

“As in any organization, it is wise to evaluate,” ten Hag said. “Manchester United did that too. The new owner (Jim Ratcliffe) is new to football, he has taken his time.”
AP News

The Best Year Ever For NC State Athletics? A Look at the Wolfpack’s Accomplishments
The Athletic proposes: “Is this the best all-around athletics year in NC State history?

“The gut, visceral reaction is … no way. How could it be? Considering NC State’s legitimate national championship pedigree — the Wolfpack remain one of just 15 schools with multiple men’s basketball titles — it’s a tough claim to make when neither the men’s or women’s basketball teams nor the football team hung a national championship banner.

“But then you see the list of the Wolfpack’s accomplishments — and suddenly, the whole seems greater than its parts…”
The Athletic

The Big 12 Needs More Money, Fast. Is Allstate or Private Equity Investment a Good Fix?
As The Athletic reports, “Countless stadiums, arenas, golf tournaments and bowl games have sponsors in their titles. The world’s most prestigious soccer league was named the Barclays Premier League until 2016. Private equity firms currently hold ownership stakes in more than 60 North American sports franchises, according to Pitchbook, as well as many of the top soccer clubs in Europe.

“But when news broke Thursday that the Big 12 is entertaining both a potential title sponsorship deal with insurance giant Allstate and a $1 billion private equity partnership, you could almost hear the collective reaction: ‘How dare they?!’”
The Athletic

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