Sport & Story Daily February 2, 2024

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February 2, 2024

Good morning! NCAA took in record revenue, but will it be enough to save them?

NCAA Took in Record Revenue in 2022 On Investment Jump
As Daniel Libit and Eben Novy-Williams of Sportico write, “The NCAA ended the 2023 fiscal year with $1.3 billion in revenue and $870 million in net assets, according to a copy of the association’s audited financial statement.  Those record-setting figures were reached on account of the NCAA’s investment portfolio, which enjoyed a reported increase of nearly $63 million in FY23 after losing $72.3 million the previous fiscal year.

Even still, this might not be close to the amount of money necessary to bail college sports’ governing body out of its current predicament.

The NCAA, while being increasingly at odds with the interests of its most powerful members, faces multiple antitrust lawsuits, filed by classes of current and former college players, who are collectively seeking billions of dollars in damages.”
^sportico.com

Super Bowl Alert: NFL Sponsors’ Special Sphere Treatment
Per Ad Age, “The NFL has found a way to deliver another perk to its sponsors—exclusivity for Sphere advertising during Super Bowl week. The arrangement, first reported today by Ad Age, is a collaboration between the league and operators of the giant Las Vegas venue that resulted in sponsors getting first dibs to run ads they operate. So Verizon, which bought one, won’t have to worry about competing with a T-Mobile ad, for instance.”
^adage.com

NHL Sponsor Roster Grows to Record 74 Sponsors with 11 New Brands
The NHL heads into the All-Star break with a record 74 sponsors, reports SBJ's David Broughton. The number of U.S.-only partners stands at 14 (up from six for the 2018-19 campaign), while the league's 21 Canada-only brands is up from eight four seasons ago.
^{sportsbusinessjournal.com}

Will PGA Tour-PIF Deal Get Done? Some Players Say: Don’t Bother
As Front Office Sports’ Eric Fisher writes, “On the heels of the PGA Tour’s landmark investment deal with Fenway Sports Group-led Strategic Sports Group, pegged at up to $3 billion, a pressing and immediate question is now rippling through the golf world: Does the Tour now even need to finish a much-discussed agreement with Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund?

The SSG pact was structured to allow for co-investment from the PIF, and the PGA Tour said there has been “progress in its ongoing negotiations” with the LIV Golf backer, adding that “both parties are working toward an ultimate agreement.” But some players believe such continued effort is no longer necessary.”
^{frontofficesports.com} 

NASCAR Teams Let Charter Negotiation Window Expire, as Talks Set to Run into Season
NASCAR has said it agrees that teams deserve more funding but also wants to look at measures like a budget cap to help teams curb spending. Teams have let their charter negotiating period with NASCAR expire without another extension as frustration builds…
^{sportsbusinessjournal.com}

If Sports Media Asks the ‘Tough Questions,’ Be Prepared for the Blowback
As Barrett Sports Media’s Ryan Brown writes, “I remember Dan Patrick, in his ESPN Radio days, talking about what was the most recent outburst from legendary Indiana basketball coach Bobby Knight. Knight, once again, had exploded at the local media and Patrick shared an interesting theory. He posited that the Knight explosions were a give and take win-win for the coach and the media. For Knight, Patrick pointed out he was able to perpetuate his take no crap image. For the media, they got the red hot content they desired.

Granted, a coach or player blowing up on the media is not always a win-win. The content is almost always appreciated by the media but, if you are the media member on the receiving end of the blow up, you might catch further heat from the fan base.”
^{barrettsportsmedia.com}

Orioles Acquire Corbin Burnes in Blockbuster Trade With Brewers
As SI.com’s Karl Rasmussen reports, “The Baltimore Orioles agreed to a blockbuster trade to acquire starting pitcher Corbin Burnes from the Milwaukee Brewers, the team announced Thursday. 

In exchange for Burnes, the Brewers are set to receive standout prospect Joey Ortiz and left-handed pitcher DL Hall, Mark Feinsand of MLB.com reports. Ortiz, an infielder, ranked as the No. 99 prospect in MLB Pipeline’s Top 100 in 2023, and Hall was Baltimore’s No. 5 prospect as recently as ’22. Additionally, the Orioles will receive the No. 34 pick in the 2024 MLB draft, a Competitive Balance Round A selection.”
^si.com

Commanders to Hire Cowboys DC Dan Quinn as Head Coach, per Sources
The Washington Commanders have hired Dan Quinn as their next head coach, sources told Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer on Thursday morning. 

Quinn has served as defensive coordinator for the Dallas Cowboys for the past three seasons. He will get his second head coaching opportunity in Washington after previously serving as the Atlanta Falcons’ head coach from the 2015 season through 2020, finishing with a 43—42 record.
^si.com

Raiders to Hire Kliff Kingsbury As Offensive Coordinator, per Report
Per SI.com’s Madison Williams, The Las Vegas Raiders are expected to hire former Arizona Cardinals coach Kliff Kingsbury as their new offensive coordinator, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported on Thursday night.

Having spent the last season working at USC as a senior offensive analyst, Kingsbury will join coach Antonio Pierce in Las Vegas for the 2024 NFL season.

Former Raiders offensive coordinator Mick Lombardi was fired in November following the firings of coach Josh McDaniels and general manager Dave Ziegler.
^si.com

College football’s Best and Toughest Schedules in 2024, Plus 3 Questions with Bama’s GM
The Athletic’s Jayna Bardahl breaks it all down…
^{theathletic.com}

Arizona State Making Progress in Negotiated Resolution With NCAA Over Alleged Recruiting Violations
As CBS Sports’ Dennis Dodd reports, “Arizona State and the NCAA are seeking to conclude negotiations on a resolution that would end a 2 ½-year investigation into alleged football recruiting violations within the Sun Devils program, multiple sources tell CBS Sports.

The school is expected to agree to findings of major violations in the case, which revolves around recruits being brought on campus during the COVID-19 recruiting dead period in violation of NCAA rules. A further postseason ban is not expected to be among those penalties..”
^{cbssports.com}

Former Alabama Baseball Head Coach Violated Wagering, Ethical Conduct Rules
"Integrity of games is of the utmost importance to NCAA members, and the panel is deeply troubled by Bohannon's unethical behavior," said Vince Nicastro, deputy commissioner and chief operating officer of the Big East and chief hearing officer for the panel.

"Coaches, student-athletes and administrators have access to information deemed valuable to those involved in betting. Improperly sharing that information for purposes of sports betting cuts to the heart of the honesty and sportsmanship we expect of our members and is particularly egregious when shared by those who have the ability to influence the outcome of games."
^ncaa.org

Teel: Jim Phillips on Three Years Leading ACC and League's Legal Battle with FSU
“We will have to see where this goes, as we know it’s a process that could be lengthy. With that said, I can share that we will make every effort for our Florida State student-athletes, coaches, teams, and other administrators that have nothing to do with the legal elements to have a first-class experience as a member of this incredible conference. I’ve been really adamant with my staff about that. The reality is we have this legal issue going on, and we’ll deal with that and provide the necessary resources to make sure the ACC is protected and positioned to defend what we believe is right, and then on the other side of it, those kids deserve to have a really good experience in the ACC, and we are committed to making that happen, as we do year in and year out for all our schools.” -ACC Commissioner Jim Phillips
^richmond.com

U of A's Robbins: Crisis 'Happened on my Watch,' 'I Fully Intend' to Solve It
“I think we should have probably tried to prospectively address the misinformation that, you know, we didn’t lose $240M. There’s no fraud, there’s no financial malfeasance. I would have probably done a better job of doing communications around that.” - University of Arizona President Robert Robbins
^tucson.com

Tennessee AD Makes Formal Statement
“After reviewing thousands of Tennessee coach and personnel phone records, NCAA investigators didn’t find a single NIL violation, so they moved the goalpost to fit a predetermined outcome. They are stating that the nebulous, contradictory NIL guidelines (written by the NCAA, not the membership) don’t matter and applying the old booster bylaws to collectives. If that’s the case, then 100% of the major programs in college athletics have significant violations.” - Tennessee AD Danny White
^twitter.com

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