Sport & Story Daily February 27, 2024

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February 27, 2024

Good morning! MLB’s loathing of Nike’s new uniforms isn’t going away

The MLB-Nike Uniform Uproar: Finding Transparency and a Good Fit
MLB Spring Training is officially underway, but the league’s dominant story so far has been its new Nike-designed uniforms, which have drawn criticism from players and online mockery from fans.

The critiques range from fit and material, to fabric transparency and tiny lettering. MLB commissioner Rob Manfred has weighed in, as has MLBPA head Tony Clark. The discourse has also ensnared Fanatics, which manufactures the uniforms as part of a three-way agreement with Nike and MLB that dates back to 2018.

Nike has called them the “most advanced” uniforms in MLB history, while Angels outfielder Taylor Ward told The Athletic they “look like a replica.” Phillies infielder Trea Turner told the Associated Press that “everyone hates them.”
^sportico.com

Stephen Ross Looking to Sell Dolphins Stake Amid Surging NFL Team Valuations
Dolphins owner Stephen Ross said that he is “looking to sell a portion” of the team, after the value of NFL teams "surged in recent years,” according to Marques & Tan of BLOOMBERG NEWS. Ross at the FII Priority event in Miami Beach said he is "looking at now to monetize a portion" of the Dolphins, as he "never dreamed we’d be so fast at the valuations that are out there today.” Marques & Tan noted a Dolphins stake sale “could surpass” the $6B a group led by Josh Harris paid for the Commanders.
^{frontofficesports.com}

Anthony Kim Expected to Play LIV Event After 11 years Away
As ESPN’s Mark Schlabach reports, “Anthony Kim, who last played in a professional golf tournament nearly a dozen years ago, will apparently return to competition at this week's LIV Golf League event in Saudi Arabia.

Kim, 38, is expected to play in the LIV Golf Invitational Jeddah tournament, scheduled to start Friday at Royal Greens Golf & Country Club in King Abdullah Economic City. Kim is expected to play as a wild card, meaning he will compete in the individual competition, but his scores won't count in the team event.

LIV Golf League CEO and commissioner Greg Norman teased Kim's comeback in a post to X on Monday, in which he shared a video from LIV Golf's account that appeared to feature Kim walking down a fairway.”
^espn.com

Bryce Harper Has 8 years Left on His Phillies Contract, So Why Does He Want an Extension?
As Yahoo! Sports’ Jake Mintz writes, “Since agreeing to a massive, 13-year, $330 million free-agent deal in March 2019, Harper, now 31, and the Fightins have been a heavenly match: two straight trips to the postseason, a 2022 NL Championship, the 2021 NL MVP award, an adjusted OPS 49% better than league average and the successful recruitment of other established big-league stars.

And so, it has come as a surprise that with eight years and more than $200 million left on his contract, Harper is pining for an extension.”
^{yahoo.sports.com}

Jay Bilas Calls for Court-Stormers to Be Detained After Kyle Filipowski Injury
As New York Post’s Ryan Glasspiegel reports, “[Jay] Bilas, a college basketball analyst and Duke alum, appeared on ESPN’s ‘First Take’ on Monday and effectively said that enough is enough.

‘If they wanted to stop it, they could stop it tomorrow,’ Bilas said.

Although administrators have told Bilas that security experts believe stopping court-storming to be impossible, he believes the solution is relatively simple.

‘One time, all you have to do is once they’re on the court, don’t let them off. Just say, ‘You’re all detained,’ and give them all citations or arrest them if you want to,’ Bilas said.

‘There’s no accountability for this. The fans feel like it’s an entitlement, and the universities like it, and the truth is, [the media] like it.’”
^nypost.com

Enough for Both? White Sox, Bears Ramp Up Push for Stadium Funds
As Front Office Sports’ Eric Fisher writes, “White Sox owner Jerry Reinsdorf made his first extended comments last week on a proposed new ballpark near Chicago’s downtown for the MLB club, telling Crain’s Chicago Business that the project could involve an ask of about $1.1 billion in taxpayer funds, coupled with another $900 million in infrastructure work that has been authorized, but not funded, by a tax-increment financing district. The overall project, also involving adjacent mixed-use development that is increasingly in vogue across the sports industry, could reach $4 billion in total cost.

Reinsdorf has emphasized that the White Sox cannot succeed long-term at Guaranteed Rate Field, citing the ‘completely changed’ economics of baseball.

Despite the hefty price tag for the proposed stadium project, Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson has shown a willingness to discuss the effort and is an ardent advocate of keeping the club in the city—similar to his ongoing stance toward the NFL’s Bears. 

‘As far as public dollars, we haven’t gotten into any of those specifics yet,’ Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson said of the White Sox proposal. ‘But I will say that we’re going to explore all options. We have to make sure that we’re doing right by the people of Chicago. … Everything is on the table here. But again, I want to make sure there is a real commitment to public use and public benefit.’”
^{frontofficesports.com}

Work Already Underway at MetLife Stadium Ahead of 2026 World Cup
FIFA requirements include a playing field larger field than an NFL one, plus five meters of runoff space around the entirety of the field MetLife Stadium. Work is underway at MetLife Stadium to get the 82,500-seat stadium ready for 2026 FIFA Men’s World Cup hosting.
^{sportsbusinessjournal.com}

Veteran NFL Reporter and Columnist Peter King Announces His Retirement
As USA Today’s Steve Gardner reports, “Legendary pro football columnist Peter King has announced his retirement from full-time writing.

King broke the news to readers in his weekly ‘Football Morning in America’ column for NBC Sports, calling himself ‘the luckiest man on the face of the earth.’

King is calling it quits after 44 years as a sportswriter, covering the last 40 Super Bowls and writing his weekly column − which was originally called ‘Monday Morning Quarterback’ when it began at Sports Illustrated − for the past 27 years.”
^usatoday.com

Sources: UMass Set to Become 13th Member of MAC for '25-26 Season
As ESPN’s Pete Thamel reports, “The University of Massachusetts is set to join the MAC in all applicable sports for the 2025-26 school year, sources told ESPN on Monday.

UMass is an independent in football but plays in the Atlantic-10 in basketball and the vast majority of the school's other sports. UMass' hockey program will remain in the Hockey East as the MAC does not have a hockey league.

The MAC presidents voted to invite UMass on Monday, as the school had already formally applied to the league. The timing of an announcement is not known, but UMass is set to accept and finalize the details of the arrangement in the near future. Once a school formally applies in conference realignment, there's usually an understanding that they will be accepted and enter that league.”
^espn.com

Charlie Baker Issues Letter to NCAA Membership Following NIL Preliminary Injunction Decision
“As you may know, we made clear that the NCAA fully supports the rights of student-athletes to benefit from exercising their NIL rights, but expressed concern that granting this preliminary injunction would make what is currently a chaotic environment worse,” Baker wrote on Monday. “You have many questions, and we know you need to hear from us. But given the significance and sweep of this decision, it’s critical that our guidance to you and your colleagues on this ruling be accurate.

“The ruling affects several NCAA bylaws and policies in Division I, and the NCAA is quickly developing guidance on which rules are enjoined by the court order.”
^on3.com

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