Sport & Story Daily April 30, 2024

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April 30, 2024

Good morning! Mexico Makes MLB + Soccer News

MLB Sells Out Both Mexico City Series Games
Both games of this year's MLB Mexico City Series between the Astros and Rockies were announced as sellouts, with crowds of 19,934 and 19,841, respectively, this weekend at Estadio Alfredo Harp Helú. Per SBJ, the Astros "found a warm welcome" in town during the two-game series, as many of their players were "complimenting the environment and experience" of their first international series in five years. For MLB's second regular-season series in Mexico City, the Astros "appeared a popular participant, reflecting their relative proximity and a roster that features star Latino players."
^{Sports Business Journal}

As Detroit Put on Epic Party, Lions GM Brad Holmes Reminded NFL Draft Experts Why He and Lions Have Reason to Gloat
“Did you win the draft because you drafted those positions?” Holmes asked while wearing a sweatshirt with the words “Positional Villain” and the picture of a lion. “We're trying to draft football players that make us a better football team.”
^{The Athletic}

Formula 1: Miami Grand Prix Sends Cease and Desist Letter to Prevent Donald Trump Fundraiser During Race
“It has come to our attention that you may be using your Paddock Club Rooftop Suite for a political purpose, namely raising money for a federal election at $250,000 per ticket, which clearly violates the Formula 1 Crypto.com Miami Grand Prix suite license agreement,” read the letter, which was obtained by The Washington Post. “If this is true, we regret to inform you that your suite license will be revoked, you will not be allowed to attend the race at any time, and we will refund you in full.”
^{Yahoo! Sports}

Reynolds, McElhenney Bring Wrexham Playbook to Club Necaxa
As Sportico’s Eben Novy-Williams reports, “[Eva] Longoria helped bring [Ryan] Reynolds and [Rob] McElhenney into Necaxa, Variety reported. The report says the partnership could include a docu-series about the Mexican club similar to the award-winning Welcome to Wrexham, which details the revitalization of the Welsh club. Longoria (Hyphenate Media), Reynolds (Maximum Effort) and McElhenney (More Better) all have production companies that could possibly be involved.”
^Sportico

First Round of 2024 NFL Draft Averages 12.1M Viewers
As FOS’ Michael McCarthy writes, “The NFL and TV partners ESPN and NFL Network know quarterback-driven NFL drafts spell TV ratings gold. That dynamic played out again Thursday night as a record six quarterbacks were selected in the first 12 picks of the 2024 NFL draft. With NFL franchises going QB-crazy, Thursday’s first-round coverage drew an average audience of 12.1 million across ABC, ESPN, and the NFL’s linear and digital platforms. That’s higher than the average viewership for the 2023 NBA Finals, World Series, and Stanley Cup Final, and up 6% for the comparable 11.4 million during the ‘23 draft. The total unduplicated audience of 34.3 million viewers was the highest since 2021.”
^{Front Office Sports}

Phil Simms, Boomer Esiason Out, Matt Ryan in on CBS’ ‘The NFL Today’ Pregame Show: Sources
Per SBJ, Longtime NFL analyst stalwarts Phil Simms and Boomer Esiason are out, while Matt Ryan is in on the network’s pregame show, according to sources briefed on the move and Esiason, who announced his news Monday morning. Ryan will be joined on set by host James Brown, Nate Burleson and Bill Cowher, with J.J. Watt on a part-time basis. Burleson and Cowher also had expiring contracts.
^{The Athletic}

Texas has Flipped the Script on its NFL Draft Woes and Doesn’t Look to Be Slowing Down
As The Athletic’s Sam Khan Jr writes, “On Saturday, Texas enjoyed life near the opposite end of the leaderboard. Eleven Longhorns were selected in the 2024 NFL Draft, the most UT has had since the draft moved to a seven-round format in 1994. The school’s all-time high (17 selections in 1984) came when the draft was still 12 rounds. Only one program had more players drafted this year than Texas: national champion Michigan, with 13.
^{The Athletic}

2024 NFL Draft grades: Falcons Earn Year's Worst Grade, While Eagles Strengthen and Bears Build Bright Outlook
Charles McDonald of Yahoo! Sports writes, “The 2024 NFL Draft is in the books, and it's time to put our way-too-early spin on what happened over those three days in Detroit. Here’s the breakdown of the AFC draft classes, including favorite picks, least favorite picks and an overall grade for each team…”
^{Yahoo! Sports}

WNBA Franchises Look to Build and Strengthen Chemistry During Camp in Their Hunt for Championships
As the AP’s Doug Fineberg writes, “The New York Liberty know how tough it is to put together a talented roster, have players jell in their first year together and win a title. They fell just short last year, losing to the Las Vegas Aces in the WNBA Finals. As training camp opened Sunday, New York’s starting five from last season was healthy and practicing. That wasn’t the case a year ago.

“‘We know what happened last year and the fact we didn’t achieve our goal will motivate us, but it’s not what we’re thinking about the entire season,’ Breanna Stewart said. ‘I’m really excited to get things going with a new and old group and build the chemistry.’”
^{Associated Press}

Phoenix Suns to Evaluate Coaching Situation Following First-Round Exit: Sources
Per The Athletic, the Phoenix Suns will take a hard look at making a full coaching change or discuss adjustments to coach Frank Vogel’s staff after being swept in the first round of the playoffs by the Minnesota Timberwolves on Sunday, sources briefed on the situation told The Athletic.
^{The Athletic}

What Happened to Deion Sanders’ Colorado Castoffs? Revisiting a Record-Setting Exodus
Deion Sanders, given his Power 5 head coaching shot in December 2022 after three successful years at Jackson State, had promised to clean house. He vowed talented transfers were on the way to replace anyone unprepared to play for him. And less than 24 hours after the Buffaloes’ ballyhooed ESPN-televised spring showcase, Sanders informed 20 scholarship players they were moving on…First-year coaches running off underperforming players are commonplace in college football. Dumping 20 in one day is not.”
^{The Athletic}

UAB Becomes 1st Division I Football Team to Join Players Association
UAB football players say their entire roster has signed up for Athletes.org, making them the first Division I football team to publicly join the players' association. They were introduced to the group by an unexpected source: their head coach.

"They're going to have a seat at the table," Trent Dilfer told ESPN. "I wanted to make sure I helped pour gasoline on something that is going to happen no matter what. I might as well use my influence to help it happen faster on behalf of our players."
^ESPN

The Expanded 12-Team College Football Playoff is Here — And It Already Has Problems
As Yahoo! Sports’ Ross Dellenger writes, “Gathered around a table, the FBS commissioners and Notre Dame’s athletic director projected a 12-team playoff bracket by applying the 2022 rankings. Eight months away from a historic 2024 CFP selection day — the inaugural expanded playoff — the bracketing exercise commenced as a way to show executives the matchups, trends and perhaps even issues (we’ll get to that later) produced with a new format.

“First-round matchups — at on-campus sites of the better seed — included No. 8 seed Tennessee hosting No. 9 Kansas State, No. 12 seed Tulane at No. 5 TCU, No. 10 Southern Cal at No. 7 Alabama and … No. 11 Penn State at No. 6 Ohio State. The latter is a rematch. That’s Problem No. 1: As it stands now, there is no CFP protocol on avoiding first-round rematches…”
^{Yahoo! Sports}

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