Sport & Story Daily January 2, 2024

Stay Ahead of the Game

January 2, 2024

Good morning! From Deion Sanders to Shohei Ohtani, FOS lists 2023’s biggest stories

The Year’s Biggest Headlines in the Business of Sports
The Front Office Sports staff writes, “It was a transformational year. Deion Sanders turned Boulder into Hollywood. Las Vegas emerged as the next sports capital, and its newest attraction became its most fascinating landmark. Taylor Swift entered the NFL consciousness, and Lionel Messi made MLS matter.”

Other things of note: Saudia Arabia’s involvement in sports, Netflix and other streaming juggernauts getting into live games, Shohei Ohtani’s history-making deal, and the destruction of the Pac-12.
^{frontofficesports.com}

NBC to Add Snoop Dogg as Reporter for Paris Olympics Coverage
Ahead of the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris, NBC is turning to an unlikely source to provide commentary—Snoop Dogg.

“I grew up watching the Olympics and am thrilled to see the incredible athletes bring their A-game to Paris. It’s a celebration of skill, dedication, and the pursuit of greatness,” the rapper said in a statement.
^si.com

2024 NFL Draft Order: Bears Clinch No. 1 Overall Pick; Commanders Move Into No. 2 Slot
As NFL.com’s Chad Reuter writes, “Chicago clinched the No. 1 pick on Sunday, giving them plenty to think about in the coming months. Whether the Bears take a quarterback here or instead decide to continue building around Justin Fields, they must also improve the interior of their offensive line. Nate Davis has been solid when healthy and is under contract through 2025, but Lucas Patrick and Dan Feeney are free agents, and Cody Whitehair could be a cap casualty.
^nfl.com

XFL and USFL Merger Announces New League Name, Spring Launch Date and More
The XFL and USFL have unveiled key details of the merged football franchise that will debut next March.

On Sunday, the two formerly competing leagues officially confirmed their new name and logo as the United Football League. Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson and Dany Garcia, who resurrected the XFL back in 2020, revealed the plans on Fox’s NFL pregame show.

“We wanted to join forces for a few reasons,” Johnson said on air. “I think number one to grow the game of football. It’s a game that we all love, and create opportunities for players and we all know how important that is. And also, deliver for the fans.”

Russell Westbrook And Utah Jazz Defeat Heckling Fan On Appeal
As Sportico’s Michael McCann writes, “It’s been nearly five years since Utah Jazz fan Shane Keisel and then-Oklahoma City Thunder guard Russell Westbrook exchanged insults during a game at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City, but the litigation from the incident lives on.” A judge ruled that Keisel and his wife’s contention that the encounter caused emotional distress fell short.
^sportico.com

Sources: Paramount, Comcast Agree on New Carriage Deal
Just days before a New Year’s Eve deadline, Paramount and Comcast reached a renewal on their carriage agreement, per sources close to the cable company. This means Comcast’s Xfinity subscribers will not have any disruptions to the end of the NFL regular season or the start of the playoff season.
^{sportsbusinessjournal.com}

PGA Tour-LIV Golf Deadline Passes With No Merger Agreement
The merger of the commercial interests of the PGA Tour, DP World Tour, and LIV Golf with backing from Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) passed without an agreement between golf’s main professional tours, as the deadline was Dec. 31. However, PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan issued a memo to players that described negotiations as “active and productive” with plans to extend the deadline.
^sportico.com

Six Predictions for Sports Media in 2024
Last year, Front Office Sports made some sports media predictions, and they were right about Shannon Sharpe joining Stephen A. Smith on ESPN’s First Take after six years as Skip Bayless’s sparring partner at FS1’s Undisputed. They also called Smith grooming Sharpe as his successor if he leaves for late-night TV or entertainment. It’ll be interesting to see where their 2024 predictions land.
^{frontofficesports.com}

Cris Collinsworth is Cementing His Legacy on Sunday Night Football
As Barrett Sports Media’s Derek Futterman writes, “While teams are able to accurately prognosticate parts of the game, real-time adjustments and other factors can engender unpredictable occurrences and outcomes. Collinsworth knows this well, unexpectedly stepping into the Sunday Night Football booth two years after returning to NBC Sports. Fifteen seasons later, he has been on the call for five Super Bowl championships and is the longest-tenured analyst in the history of an NFL prime-time television broadcast package.”
^{barrettsportsmedia.com}

Jess Sims Expands ESPN Role as Men’s College Basketball Saturday Prime Game Reporter
ESPN has expanded the role of reporter Jess Sims, who will join men’s college basketball coverage as a sideline reporter for ESPN Saturday Primetime games for the 2023-24 season. The former collegiate basketball player and current fitness instructor phenom will tip off her new role in the new year on January 13 on ESPN.
^{espnpressroom.com}

Panthers Owner David Tepper Appears to Toss Drink at Fans
Carolina Panthers owner David Tepper was caught on video during Sunday's 26-0 loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars allegedly throwing a drink in the direction of Jaguars fans from his open-air suite at EverBank Stadium.
^espn.com

FAMU Coach Willie Simmons Leaves to Be Duke's RBs Coach
Florida A&M coach Willie Simmons, who guided the Rattlers to a 12-1 record and a Celebration Bowl championship this season, is leaving to become running backs coach at Duke. Simmons is 45-13 in five seasons at Florida A&M and 66-24 overall as a college coach.
^espn.com

‘These Are Cries For Help;’ Players Allege Idaho Women’s Volleyball Coach Chris Gonzalez Regularly Bullied Them
“He physically pushed a player,” said Travel Morris, an Idaho middle blocker who participated in the drill. “Like physically in a very, bullying way, he literally told her to move and then pushed her and she fell to the floor.”

The incident is part of a pattern of alleged abuse by Gonzalez, a former U.S. national team coach, outlined to the Southern California News Group by six Idaho players on the 2023 roster, three former players, and a university employee.
^{ocregister.com}

Excellence In Motion With Chicago State’s Monique Carroll
Chicago State Vice President & Director of Intercollegiate Athletics Dr. Monique Carroll sits down with Baylor Deputy AD for External Affairs/Chief Revenue Officer Jovan Overshown at the 2023 Women Leaders Convention to discuss being an “agent for change” to further the University’s “Excellence In Motion” mission. The conversation covered the consideration of the addition of football at Chicago State.
^{athleticdirectoru.com}

College Basketball Rankings: 2024 Could Be a Great Year for Chris Beard, Who is Undefeated at Ole Miss
As CBS Sports’s Gary Parrish writes of Ole Miss’ success, “It should only be surprising that Chris Beard is already overachieving at Ole Miss if you forget that this is Chris Beard we're talking about. History shows this is exactly the kind of stuff he's capable of doing, and it'll be fascinating to see if he can keep it going as the Rebels prepare to open the SEC portion of their schedule on Saturday at Tennessee.
^{cbssports.com}

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