Rebel With a Controversial Cause

UNLV AD Erick Harper's Pac-12 slight has raised some eyebrows

August 28, 2025

Canzano: UNLV's Slap at the Pac-12 Raises Eyebrows
UNLV AD Erick Harper made the following statement:

For one thing, the Pac-12 is no longer what it once was. It’s the same logo but without USC, UCLA, Oregon, Washington, Utah, it’s not the same conference. And that’s no disrespect to those schools that are in the Pac-12 right now. Also, there’s going to be another conference realignment — everybody knows that. What that’s going to look like, who knows? If anyone tells you they know exactly how everything is going to shake out, they’re absolutely full of it.

John Canzano reacts: “Who’s calling the shots at UNLV?

“Were the Rebels fools — or wise — to turn their backs on the Pac-12?

“One well-placed source in Las Vegas told me on Wednesday: ‘Don’t think anyone in Vegas or in the alumni group is that happy with the current UNLV administration.’”
^{John Canzano}

USTA Enters U.S. Open With Near-Record Cash Ahead of $800M Project
Sportico’s Eben Novy-Williams writes, “The U.S. Tennis Association reported $623.8 million in revenue in 2024, with the vast majority coming from one event: the U.S. Open.

“The strength of the U.S. Open’s business—that’s a profit margin of more than 49%—has given the organization freedom to pursue the largest investment in the tournament’s 145-year history. In May, the USTA announced an $800 million overhaul of the U.S. Open’s New York City venue that includes a renovation of its main stadium and a new player performance venue next door.”
^Sportico

Why McLaren F1 Finally Said Yes to Mastercard After a Decade Without a Title Sponsor
The Athletic’s Luke Smith reports: “The team’s official name will become ‘McLaren Mastercard Formula 1 Team’ from next season. The Mastercard deal is estimated to be in the region of $100 million per season, sources with knowledge of the matter disclosed to The Athletic on condition of anonymity. It is a long-term agreement that is understood to run through to the mid-2030s.

“It is also believed to stand as the biggest title sponsorship agreement on the F1 grid, and is the largest commercial deal in McLaren’s history.”
^{The Athletic}

Mark Cuban Wishes He Had Put Mavs on Open Market
In a wide-ranging interview on the DLLS Mavs Podcast with longtime Mavericks reporters Marc Stein and Tim Cato, Cuban touched on a range of topics including the state of the NBA, the origin of his relationship with Miriam Adelson, and what he would have done differently in selling the team to the casino magnate. 
^{Front Office Sports}

Travis Kelce Launches Co-Branded Apparel Collection With American Eagle
Chiefs TE Travis Kelce is partnering with American Eagle Outfitters on a “special limited-edition collaboration” between the retailer and his Tru Kolors sports and lifestyle brand, according to Jean Palmieri of WOMEN’S WEAR DAILY. Called “AE x Tru Kolors by Travis Kelce,” the collection “blends fashion, sports and culture.” American Eagle in July tapped actress Sydney Sweeney to be the “face of its fall denim campaign,” but the ads “led to a backlash on social media.” However, that did not “dissuade American Eagle from embracing this new celebrity partnership.”
^{Women’s Wear Daily via Sports Business Journal}

Pac-12 Adds The CW to Still-Under-Construction TV Deal, Including 13 Football Games in 2026
The Athletic’s Chris Vannini reports: “Beginning in 2026, The CW will show 13 regular-season Pac-12 football games, 35 regular-season men’s basketball games, 15 regular-season women’s basketball games and the women’s basketball tournament semifinal and final.

“The CW joins CBS, which was announced as the league’s primary TV partner in June and will broadcast the Pac-12’s football and men’s basketball championship games. The free over-the-air CW network currently broadcasts most Oregon State and Washington State home football games, along with ACC football, NASCAR’s Xfinity Series, WWE NXT, LIV Golf and more.”
^{The Athletic}

NHL Adds 23 National TV Windows in U.S. for 2025-26 Season
The NHL will receive a big boost in national TV coverage in the U.S. this season, with a total of 132 regular-season games slated to appear across TNT, ESPN and ABC. That’s 23 more windows than the league’s broadcast partners, ESPN and TNT Sports, dedicated to hockey in 2024-25.
^{Sports Business Journal}

Tom Brady Reportedly Allowed to Attend Fox Broadcast Meetings With Coaches and Players Despite Raiders Ownership Stake
Yahoo Sports’ Chris Cwik writes, “Even in retirement, Tom Brady gets all the calls. The future Hall of Famer — and current broadcaster — will reportedly be allowed to attend Fox production meetings with coaches and players in 2025 despite holding an ownership stake in the Las Vegas Raiders, according to Andrew Marchand of The Athletic. That's a reversal from last season, when the league barred Brady from attending those pre-broadcast meetings.”
^{The Athletic via Yahoo! Sports}

Audience Analysis: IndyCar up 28% Ahead of Finale; CBS Wraps Record WNBA Season
IndyCar will head into its championship race with viewership up 28% on Fox compared to the same point on NBCU networks last season. The 16 races on Fox/FS1 this season have averaged 1.38 million viewers, above the 1.07 million that NBC/USA/CNBC had. Fox drew 779,000 viewers on Sunday for the race from Milwaukee, up 6% from the same race last year.
^{Sports Business Journal}

Cam Newton to Expand ESPN ‘First Take’ Role After Shannon Sharpe Exit
FOS’ Ryan Glasspiegel writes, “Cam Newton is spreading his wings on First Take. The former MVP quarterback is expanding his role on ESPN’s daily morning debate show hosted by Molly Qerim and Stephen A. Smith, sources told Front Office Sports. Newton began appearing regularly on Fridays during football season last October. Now, he has signed a multi-year deal, and the network expects to have him on more than once a week.” 
^{Front Office Sports}

San Jose Approves Sharks’ SAP Center Lease Deal
The San Jose City Council yesterday “unanimously approved” an agreement that extends Sharks Sports & Entertainment’s lease at SAP Center to 2051 and “commits hundreds of millions of public dollars towards modernizing the 32-year-old arena.” The deal “binds the city” to a $325M investment into the municipally owned facility, with the Sharks contributing $100M.
^{San Jose Mercury News via Sports Business Journal}

Groundwork for the T’Wolves’ Caldwell Hire Was Years in the Making
SBJ’s Tom Friend writes, “When Alex Rodriguez and Marc Lore pursued a purchase of the New York Mets in 2020 -- their first foray into business together -- their partner on the bid was Florida Panthers owner and billionaire Vinnie Viola. Viola had someone he wanted them to meet: Matthew Caldwell.

“That familiarity -- along with Caldwell’s championship pedigree, his leadership qualities, and his background in facility development -- all led to his hire as T’Wolves and Lynx CEO at a time the franchise is in transition after a bevy of departures and a round of roughly 40 layoffs last week.”
^{Sports Business Journal}

ESPN Re-Org Has Scott Clark Overseeing ‘SportsCenter’
SBJ’s Austin Karp reports: “ESPN is promoting VP/Production Scott Clark to VP & Executive Producer, overseeing all of ‘SportsCenter,’ ‘ESPN Bet Live’ and ‘Fantasy Football Now.’ He’ll continue to report to SVP/Sports Studio & Entertainment Mike Foss within Roberts’ group. Clark, who has been at ESPN since 1999, was also the lead exec on the recent ‘SportsCenter: 50 States in 50 Days’ initiative. All other producers on various editions of ‘SC’ will report into Clark now.”
^{Sports Business Journal}

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College Football Week 1: Three Top-10 Games So Early in Season is a First; Texas-Ohio St is Topper
AP News’ Eric Olson writes, “Until this year, there had never been three top-10 matchups so early in a college football season.

“The excitement for Texas-Ohio State in Columbus on Saturday has been building since the teams met in a College Football Playoff semifinal at the Cotton Bowl. The Buckeyes went on to win the national championship; the Longhorns are the preseason No. 1 team for the first time.

“But there’s more!

“No. 9 LSU visits No. 4 Clemson on Saturday night for a matchup featuring Heisman Trophy candidates Garrett Nussmeier and Cade Klubnik.”
^{AP News}

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