Sport & Story Daily July 10, 2024

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July 9, 2024

Good morning! From Athlete to Entrepreneur

Bobby Wagner Eyes NFL Future Far Beyond the Playing Field
“A lot of athletes want to learn business and go into different spaces, but it’s also important to learn the business that you are in every single day,” Wagner said in a video interview. “There’s so much that goes into the business side that athletes don’t understand.”
^Sportico

NFL Begins Work to Overturn ‘Sunday Ticket’ Verdict
SBJ’s Ben Fischer reports: “The motion, filed July 3, asks Judge Philip Gutierrez to throw out the verdict, reduce it to $1 or order a new trial entirely. But NFL lawyers also argued the jury foreperson was biased, and that Gutierrez gave improper instructions to the jury and allowed plaintiffs to change their whole theory of the case at the last minute.

“If those arguments are persuasive with Gutierrez, the NFL could see relief in a matter of weeks. But the motion also contains the seeds of an effort to bring this case to a business-friendly U.S. Supreme Court, which would take years: An argument that the NFL cannot be held liable for antitrust violations in this case because ‘Sunday Ticket’ buyers were customers of DirecTV, not the NFL, and that NFL teams are allowed to pool media rights.”
^{Sports Business Journal}

Florida State to Announce 10-year MMR Partnership With Legends
SBJ’s Ben Portnoy reports: “Legends has made significant plays in the college space in recent years, including MMR partnerships with Notre Dame, Miami and Georgia Tech. The FSU deal will be an expansion of an existing relationship between the two sides. The company supports premium seating for the $260 million renovation of Doak Campbell Stadium and manages hospitality for FSU athletics. The new deal will also include 10-12 staffers just in sponsorships -- nearly double what previously existed.”
^{Sports Business Journal}

Marney Gellner Becomes First Woman to Call Play-By-Play for Twins
On Monday, Bally Sports North's Marney Gellner became the "first woman to call play-by-play for a regular-season Twins game in club history," according to Do-Hyoung Park of MLB.com via SBJ. Gellner, in Monday's Twins-White Sox game, began her "three-game stint filling in for play-by-play man Cory Provus" on Bally Sports North.
^{Sports Business Journal}

Joe Tessitore to Join WWE as Play-By-Play Voice, Team With Corey Graves, Wade Barrett
"Whether it’s a world title fight that’s got the globe buzzing or a college football rivalry that’s grabbed the nation’s attention, Joe’s voice provides that big event feel each time he is behind the microphone,” WWE Chief Content Officer Paul “Triple H” Levesque said in a statement. "We’re excited for Joe to join legendary WWE broadcaster Michael Cole and our esteemed announce team, bringing his signature energy and meticulous preparation to our WWE telecasts each week."
^{USA Today}

Alabama Coach Kalen DeBoer Embraces 'Privilege' of Following Nick Saban. Don't Expect Him to Wilt
“Embracing the moment is a privilege that you get that comes along with being at a place like Alabama,” DeBoer, Alabama’s first-year coach, told me recently during an exclusive interview. “So, enjoy it.”
^{USA Today}

MSG Sports Promotes Jamaal Lesane to COO
Madison Square Garden Sports has promoted EVP and General Counsel Jamaal Lesane to COO. Lesane had served as interim COO following the departure of David Hopkinson in April, but will move into the role on a permanent basis. Lesane—who joined MSG in 2008 and over time has served as team counsel for the Knicks, Rangers and NBA G League Westchester Knicks—will now guide business operations for MSG teams such as the Knicks and Rangers, which include strategic planning, marketing, ticketing, in-arena experience and both community and fan development.
^{Sports Business Journal}

Will Caleb Williams and the Bears Actually Challenge for the NFC North Title?
Yahoo Sports’ Charles McDonald writes, “A new era has started in Chicago. After biding their time and collecting assets, the Bears found themselves with the No. 1 pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, which they used on a potential superstar quarterback — USC’s Caleb Williams.

“Williams has high expectations considering his pedigree as a prospect and finds himself in an unusually advantageous situation for a rookie quarterback. The defense should be among one of the better units in the league, the offensive line is passable and the Bears have a trio of wide receivers for this season that most teams would love to have. All of this positive energy and a renewed core for the Bears has their fans, and NFL observers at large, wondering if this might actually be the year the Bears get back to the top of the NFC North.”
^{Yahoo! Sports}

Commissioner Brett Yormark Says Big 12 Has Solidified Itself as One of Nation’s Top 3 Conferences
AP News’ Stephen Hawkins writes, “Brett Yormark believes the Big 12 has clearly solidified itself as one of the nation’s top three conferences in a period of drastic change in college athletics, and the commissioner said the expanding league is more relevant than it has ever been in its nearly three-decades history.

“‘We are truly a national conference in 10 states, four time zones, and all eyes are now on the Big 12 for all the right reasons,’ Yormark said at the start of league’s football media days Tuesday in Las Vegas.”
^{AP News}

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