Move Over, Mint Juleps

Kendall-Jackson and La Crema wines are deemed ‘preferred’ partners at this year's Kentucky Derby, along with a dozen sponsors.

May 2, 2025

Call to the Post: Kentucky Derby Runs With a Dozen Sponsors
SBJ’s David Broughton reports: “Kendall-Jackson and La Crema, both from Jackson Family Wines, are deemed ‘preferred’ partners (vs. official sponsor).

“Churchill Downs announced last week in a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission that it ‘has decided to pause’ much of the $920 million multiyear renovation that was announced in February. However, the 25 million-$30 million upgrades of the existing 15 Finish Line Suites and The Mansion are still expected to be completed by next year’s race.”
^{Sports Business Journal}

‘We’ve Been Aggressive’: WNBPA Director on CBA Negotiations
“We’ve been aggressive in terms of our discussions, our proposals—plural—and our meeting schedule,” WNBPA executive director Terri Carmichael Jackson said. “It’s a group project. We’re doing our part of it, and we’re just hopeful that the league sees the opportunity to have those milestones in place, work towards significant progress—it’s not just a catchphrase—by the halfway point, and work towards completion by October 31.” 
^{Front Office Sports}

Rory McIlroy Dives Deeper Into Private Equity
The New York Times’ Lauren Hirsch and Andrew Ross Sorkin write, “Fresh off finally securing a career grand slam with a thrilling win at the Masters, Rory McIlroy, the world’s second-ranked golfer, is rounding out another corner of his life: investing.

“Mr. McIlroy’s investment firm, Symphony Ventures, is teaming up with the private equity firm TPG to start TPG Sports, an investment fund that will place bets on businesses across the sports industry.”
^{New York Times}

MLBPA Agent Chris Leible Launches Baseball Agency
Former Rep1 Baseball VP Chris Leible is launching Smooth Baseball, an agency that will represent collegiate and professional baseball talent. Leible is launching the agency with the help of lawyers Matthew Blit and Russell Moriarty acting as partners as well as an advisory board comprised of former MLB talent. The agency launches without any outside investors or any active clients as Leible said he is starting the agency from scratch.
^{Sports Business Journal}

Longtime New York Rangers Analyst Joe Micheletti Retiring From Broadcast Booth
The Athletic’s Andrew Marchand writes, “After nearly two decades in MSG Networks’ Rangers booth, Micheletti, 70, decided to call it a career, the network announced.

“Kenny Albert, the Rangers’ longtime radio voice and TNT’s Stanley Cup play-by-play announcer, has already been promoted to replace Rosen. Albert’s radio partner, Dave Maloney, figures to be a top candidate to succeed Micheletti, while ESPN’s Ryan Callahan could emerge as another possibility.”
^{The Athletic}

NBA TV Unsolved Mysteries
Puck’s John Ourand writes, “Like other league-owned channels, the 26-year-old NBA TV was ravaged by cord-cutting, and left with little bargaining power in a bundled and streaming world. Now, without any exclusive games of its own, its future is a mystery.

“The Celtics’ decisive 31-point win over the Magic on Tuesday night marked the end of a sports media era, and I’m not talking about the Banchero-Suggs-Franz Little Three. Instead, it will go down as NBA TV’s final live playoff game, and maybe even the last exclusive NBA game to ever appear on the cable channel.”
^Puck

Suns Promote Brian Gregory to General Manager, Shaking Up Front Office After Disappointing Season
“Brian has been a valuable member of our front office, playing an integral role in drafting and developing our young players,” Phoenix Suns owner Mat Ishbia said in a statement. “I am excited for him to step in to the role of general manager. He is a brilliant basketball mind, and he will transform and elevate our team.”

Gregory joined the Suns in 2023 and was most recently the vice president of player programming. He had a major role in the Suns selecting Ryan Dunn and Oso Ighodaro in last year’s draft and both had promising moments during their rookie seasons.
^{AP News}

NHLPA Taps Ex-NFL Players Inc. Boss as CCO
The NHLPA has hired former NFL Players Inc. President Steve Scebelo to serve as its Chief Commercial Officer, a new role in which he will report to Exec Dir Marty Walsh and lead the union’s efforts to expand its licensing and sponsorship business, particularly in the U.S.
^{Sports Business Journal}

Manchester United Leadership Duo Expected to Leave in Latest Club Redundancies
The Athletic’s Laurie Whitwell reports: “Two members of Manchester United’s senior leadership team are expected to leave the club as part of Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s second round of redundancies, which is stepping up this week.

“Richard Hawkins, director of football insights and innovations, and David Harrison, director of football operations, have both been informed that they will no longer have roles in the future and exit terms are being discussed.”
^{The Athletic}

Alan Haller Out as Michigan State University Athletic Director After 3+ Years
Haller has been relieved of his duties, ending the tenure of the 54-year-old Lansing native and former Spartan and NFL football player after 3½ years.

Haller's last day will be May 11, and Guskiewicz said the university plans to begin a search for a new athletic director in the coming weeks. Jen Smith, MSU’s deputy athletic director and senior women's administrator/compliance, and men's basketball coach Tom Izzo will reportedly serve as co-interim athletic director in the meantime.
^{Detroit Free Press}

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Brazilians Getting Impatient as Soccer Federation Negotiates With Ancelotti to Become Next Coach
AP News’ Mauricio Savarese writes, “Brazil is hoping to have a new national team coach in place this month ahead of its next two World Cup qualifiers but fans are growing impatient as negotiations with Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti drag on.

“Two sources at Brazil’s soccer federation, CBF, confirmed to The Associated Press that negotiations with Ancelotti are ongoing but complicated by the fact that he has another season left on his Madrid contract. Both spoke on condition of anonymity because they weren’t authorized to discuss the issue publicly.”
^{AP News}

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