Sport & Story Daily August 22, 2024

Okay With the Pay

August 22, 2024

Good morning! From Athlete to Entrepreneur

Bills' Josh Allen explains why he has 'no problem' being underpaid as QB salaries continue to skyrocket
Josh Allen is the quarterback for the Buffalo Bills and is the 13th highest-paid quarterback in the league in terms of annual salary. He is in the middle of a six-year, $258 million contract extension that he signed in August of 2021. Pay for quarterbacks has gone up in recent years, but Allen isn’t worried about his pay.
"Listen, everyone's gonna have their day," Allen said, via News 4 Buffalo. "I'm happy everyone's getting what they're worth. I think that, as the game progresses and guys keep getting paid, the market is the market. I've got no problem with where I'm at right now.”
^{CBS Sports}

Disney-Reliance US$8.5bn Hotstar and Viacom18 merger stalls as watchdog raises cricket rights concerns
Disney and Reliance Industries planned merger of their Indian television and streaming operations has suffered a setback after the country’s antitrust body reportedly expressed concerns over the proposed $8.5 billion deal. The deal would let Reliance own 63% of the joint venture, and Disney control the remaining 37%. The Competition Commission of India has shared its concerns with Disney and Reliance about their hold over rights to broadcast cricket. Worries include pricing power and a grip over advertisers.
^{SportsPro Media}

Cristiano Ronaldo Launches YouTube Channel
Cristiano Ronaldo is the most followed person on social media, with 917 million followers across various platforms. Now, he is launching his own YouTube channel. It is called UR and was launched yesterday. He discusses his great passion for soccer as well as family, wellness, nutrition, preparation, recovery, education and business.
^Sportico

NBC testing commercial-free NASCAR format
NBC is committed to showing only split-screen commercials while the action is taking place on the track for NASCAR. There will be no full-screen commercials during green-flag action at some upcoming events.
^{Sports Business Journal}

ESPN taps Riddick to replace RGIII on CFB coverage
ESPN added Louis Riddick to the ESPN and ABC college football crew. He will replace analyst Robert Griffin III. Riddick will still call select Monday Night Football Games.
^{Sports Business Journal}

NWSL Expansion Talks Include Cincinnati, Cleveland, Denver
Cleveland, Cincinnati and Denver presented their offerings to the NWSL. NWSL commissioner Jessica Berman said she planned to select the 16th team by the beginning of Q4 of this year, which would mean in October. The team would begin play in 2026, along with Boston, which was selected in 2023.
^Sportico

Las Vegas, Seattle NBA Expansion Fees May Soar As Team Values Climb
The NBA is hoping for the sale price of the Boston Celtics to hit $6 billion so it becomes the new benchmark for expansion fees. And no, Jeff Bezos has no plans to bid on the Celtics. NBA commissioner Adam Silver is looking toward expansion to Las Vegas and Seattle. Bloomberg reported that expansion fees could be somewhere between $4 billion and $5 billion.
^{Front Office Sports}

Dartmouth Men’s Basketball Players Say School ‘Refuses’ to Bargain 
Dartmouth men’s basketball continues to fight for the right to formally unionize. Representatives for the players filed an unfair labor practice charge with the National Labor Relations Board, alleging the school refuses to enter collective bargaining conversations with athletes.
^{Front Office Sports}

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