Sport & Story Daily November 28, 2023

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November 28, 2023

Good morning! Micro-transactions are a macro-problem for video games, and Sports Illustrated is reportedly publishing articles from AI-generated authors.

Take-Two sued over NBA 2K microtransactions
Game publisher Take-Two Interactive is being accused of "theft" in a new class-action complaint over microtransactions in NBA 2K and the rest of the company's popular sports games. The suit was filed in federal court in California on Nov. 17 by a minor, J.A., who is represented by their mother.
Read more here.

The First Month NBA Power Rankings
What a season it’s been so far. It feels like we’re at a transitional point in the NBA, with young stars like Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Anthony Edwards, and Tyrese Haliburton emerging and old-guard stars like LeBron James, Stephen Curry, and Kevin Durant all still dominating.
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Eagles become fourth team in NFL history to pull off this improbable feat and 13 other wild facts from Week 12
If you want to have your mind blown, just check out these 14 crazy facts from Week 12.
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Sonny Gray signs with Cardinals for three-year, $75 million deal in MLB free agency
The St. Louis Cardinals are once again in the process of dipping into the free agent market to improve their rotation. The Cardinals and American League Cy Young runner-up Sonny Gray have finalized a three-year agreement worth $75 million on Monday, the team announced. The deal also includes a club option for 2027.
Read more here.

Cincinnati midfielder Acosta named MLS Most Valuable Player
FC Cincinnati midfielder Luciano Acosta, who scored 17 goals and set up 14 others this season, was named Major League Soccer's 2023 Most Valuable Player on Monday. The 29-year-old Argentine striker became the first player in league history to claim the MVP award after leading his team to its first MLS award after Cincinnati claimed the Supporters' Shield for the best regular-season record.
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WBD May Be Eyeing an NFL Distribution Partner
Warner Bros. Discovery recently made all its sports programming available to Max customers via a new Bleacher Report branded add-on. The company is flanking its entertainment programming with sports content in hopes of attracting incremental streaming subscribers and younger viewers.

But no sports property drives fan engagement like the NFL, and Warner Bros. Discovery does not control any of its six rights packages. With none becoming available again before the start of the next decade, and WBD CEO David Zaslav having recently stated the company would be an active player in the M&A space over the next year or two, some industry insiders suspect the media conglomerate may be eyeing one of the league’s existing distribution partners.

“Putting those pieces together, we feel that’s either the direction they actively are considering or should be considering,” Mike Morris (senior managing director, Guggenheim Securities) said.

FOX and Paramount are the two rights holders viewed as viable takedown candidates.

Read more at JohnWallStreet >>>

YouTuber MrBeast signs two-day contract with Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Popular YouTuber MrBeast signed an unconventional two-day, $10 million contract with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers back in Week 7. But no, the viral sensation didn't just become an athlete overnight, this was all part of one of his latest videos.

MrBeast, whose real name is James Donaldson, ran out of the tunnel with the team when they took on the Atlanta Falcons last month. He didn't see any playing time, but he did put in some work behind the scenes.
futurist.com

Sports Illustrated Reportedly Published Articles by Fake, AI-Generated Writers
There was nothing in Drew Ortiz's author biography at Sports Illustrated to suggest that he was anything other than human.

"Drew has spent much of his life outdoors, and is excited to guide you through his never-ending list of the best products to keep you from falling to the perils of nature," it read. "Nowadays, there is rarely a weekend that goes by where Drew isn't out camping, hiking, or just back on his parents' farm."

The only problem? Outside of Sports Illustrated, Drew Ortiz doesn't seem to exist. He has no social media presence and no publishing history. And even more strangely, his profile photo on Sports Illustrated is for sale on a website that sells AI-generated headshots, where he's described as "neutral white young-adult male with short brown hair and blue eyes."
futurist.com

Why would Aaron Rodgers return this season? There might actually be a good reason
With the death rattle for the New York Jets’ 2023 season looming, the question put to head coach Robert Saleh on Friday night was unavoidable, if not entirely predictable. The quarterback spot without Aaron Rodgers is a mess. The offensive line is a wasteland of injury. The defense is frustrated. And the franchise's immediate future is looking hauntingly familiar to last season, when the same issues cascaded into what is becoming an annual carbon copy of failure and bewilderment. And with it, the one question that will stalk Saleh and general manager Joe Douglas for the next six weeks. The query was aimed directly at the head coach Friday night, after a 34-13 loss to the Miami Dolphins.
yahoo.com

Bill Belichick Is on the Verge of Becoming the NFL’s Biggest Loser
When the New England Patriots routinely churned out double-digit win seasons, Bill Belichick’s march toward becoming the NFL’s winningest coach ever seemed like an inevitability. But the team’s recent nosedive has put him on the verge of a less desirable record: most all-time losses.
wsj.com

Frank Reich talks Panthers firing, says 'probably the final chapter' in NFL career
Not long ago, Frank Reich looked like a good NFL head coach. Now he might be finished in the NFL.

Reich was fired by the Carolina Panthers on Monday after a 1-10 start. He has now been fired during each of the past two seasons, a rare and unwelcome accomplishment. He was fired by the Indianapolis Colts during last season.

Scott Fowler of the Charlotte Observer got the first interview with Reich after he was fired, and Reich wouldn't tell Fowler he was done with coaching. However, he did say, “This is probably the final chapter of my NFL journey.”

Reich, however, didn't blame Panthers owner David Tepper for what went wrong during this horrible season.
yahoo.com

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