Fever Prez Seeks "Bold" Change

Indiana Fever Seeks New Direction; More Coaching Unrest at All Levels

October 29, 2024

Good morning! Indiana Fever’s president of biz ops wants to take team in “bold” direction

Caitlin Clark, Indiana Fever Championship Timeline Accelerated by Sudden Coaching Change
Kelly Krauskopf, the recently hired Fever president of basketball operations, said after the firing of head coach Christie Sides, “It is also imperative that we remain bold and assertive in the pursuit of our goals, which includes maximizing our talent and bringing another WNBA championship back to Indiana.”

The Athletic’s Ben Pickman writes, “The Fever are led by Clark. But with Sunday’s decision, they are Krauskopf’s franchise, too. Krauskopf initially led the team from 2000 until 2018, when she left to become the Pacers assistant general manager and the first woman in NBA history to hold an executive basketball management role.”
^{Sports Business Journal}

Oklahoma State AD, Chad Weiberg, Joins On the Fly Podcast to Discuss the Super League, House Settlement, and More
Oklahoma State University Director of Athletics Chad Weiberg sat down with On the Fly podcast host Gene DeFilippo this week to discuss the ever-changing landscape regarding conference realignment (the university’s move to the Big 12), the “Super League” proposals, and the House Settlement implications.

As for the latter, Weiberg said, “We don’t end the year with $20 million that we haven’t spent … so the first question is, ‘Where does that [shared revenue] come from?’”

Weiberg goes on to discuss the pressure that puts on donors and the athletic departments, also pointing out that roster limits are another issue that gets overshadowed by the financial piece.

In wartime Ukraine, Soccer Fans Bury Rivalries and Find a Moment of Calm at Matches
AP News’ Alex Babenko and Derek Gatopoulos write, “At soccer games in Ukraine, crowd sizes are determined by the capacity of the nearest bomb shelter.

“For the first time since the full-scale war began in 2022, the Ukrainian Premier League is holding a full season with fans present, as martial-law bans on public gatherings have been eased. Despite the constant threat of airstrikes, Dynamo Kyiv supporters eagerly snap up the 1,700 tickets available for each home game at the 16,000-seat Valeriy Lobanovskyi Stadium.”
^{AP News}

Jared McCain Highlights Jordan Brand's 2024 Rookie Signees
76ers rookie G Jared McCain leads a group of four NBA rookies that have signed a footwear and apparel deal with Jordan Brand, according to Ariel Simpson of the PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER via the SBJ. When he is not hooping, the former Duke standout is "entertaining his 3.8 million followers" on TikTok, and he could be seen "sporting his latest Jordan gear and footwear while he connects with fans going forward."
^{Sports Business Journal}

Kyle Busch Disappointed to Be Left Out of NASCAR’s Netflix Series Yet Again
Two-time NASCAR Cup Series champion Kyle Busch won’t be featured in the second season of Full Speed, the Netflix docuseries chronicling the sport’s drivers and teams in a fashion similar to Formula One’s Drive to Survive.

“No, they didn’t ask me,” Busch said in an interview with Front Office Sports. “Maybe it comes down to that you must be in the playoffs to be on video.” 
^{Front Office Sports}

Gary Neville Reacts to Man Utd Sacking Erik ten Hag and the Moment He Knew it Was All Over
The Independent’s Jack Rathborn writes via Yahoo Sports, “Gary Neville insists the beginning of the end for Erik ten Hag at Manchester United came after the humbling defeat to Tottenham last month.

“The Dutch coach was sacked on Monday with the Red Devils languishing in 14th place in the Premier League table following a damaging defeat at West Ham. And Neville has claimed the decision may have been ultimately made after the 3-0 loss to Spurs at Old Trafford.”
^{Yahoo! Sports}

Randy Ambrosie to End Term as CFL Commissioner After Grey Cup
CFL commissioner Randy Ambrosie will reportedly hand off the Grey Cup for the final time in November. Ambrosie surprised everyone by announcing Saturday that he'll retire in 2025. The 61-year-old Winnipeg native will formally step down once his successor has been found.

Ambrosie, who played nine seasons (1985-93) as an offensive lineman with Calgary, Toronto and Edmonton, became the league's 14th commissioner July 5, 2017, succeeding Jeffrey Orridge. His seven-plus year tenure is the second-longest ever behind the late Jake Gaudaur (1968-84).
^Sportsnet

Titans are Off to Their Worst Start Since 2015 and Looking for Answers With a 1st-Year Coach
As the AP News notes, the Tennessee Titans spent a lot in free agency and draft capital to give first-year coach Brian Callahan plenty of help.

“It’s a production-based business and a results-based business. We’re 1-6, and that is what it is,” Callahan said. “But I do have faith in where we’re headed, and I do have faith in how we go about our business here and what that’s going to bring for us.”
^{AP News}

Subaru Park Getting Premium Upgrades as Union Looks to Keep Pace
Subaru Park was built with minimal premium seating, which wasn’t as critical to MLS clubs’ business 14 years ago. That shortage will be addressed this offseason in a multimillion-dollar renovation, designed by Gensler and built by BPGS, that will add three new premium areas to the 18,500-capacity stadium and be ready by next spring. Two of the additions -- a high-end speakeasy called 2010 North and a British pub-style bar called The Commodore -- will replace maintenance and storage spaces, swapping mower housing for (at least) $1.2 million in new ticketing revenue.
^{Sports Business Journal}

USWNT Players Support Nashville as Potential NWSL Expansion
Current USWNT players are “warming to the idea” of Nashville becoming the NWSL’s 16th franchise, according to Jacob Shames of the Nashville TENNESSEAN via the SBJ. The NWSL currently has 14 teams and will expand to 16 in 2026 with the addition of BOS Nation FC and another expansion team and Nashville is one of five reported finalists for that franchise.
^{Sports Business Journal}

For New Stanford Coach Kate Paye, Following Tara VanDerveer is a Tall Task
“I think that we did everything at Stanford that we could do to transition smoothly for the players,” VanDerveer said. “We want the train to keep going down the tracks. Kate with her staff, Kate having Stanford connections within the staff, it is a new landscape so the fewer variables you have I think in some ways – not that it’s easy, it’s not easy at all – it’s easier.”
^{AP News}

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