Sport & Story Daily June 21, 2024

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June 21, 2024

Good morning! Is Stephen A. Smith The Next Howard Cosell?

The NFL Could Be the Key to Stephen A. Smith’s ESPN Future
According to Front Office Sports’ Michael McCarthy, with contract extension talks upcoming, ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith is looking to be more involved in the media company’s NFL coverage.

Smith, whose current deal expires in July 2025, has made it crystal clear he wants to be the highest-paid talent at ESPN. That title currently sits with Troy Aikman at $18 million per year.

Could Smith become the next Howard Cosell, who he idolized as a child growing up in Queens?
^{Front Office Sports}

One Year Ago, Qatar Broke Into U.S. Team Sports. No One Followed.
A year ago this week, the Qatar Investment Authority invested in the Washington Wizards and Washington Capitals, becoming the first sovereign wealth fund to own equity in a Big Four U.S. franchise.

There was an expectation that there would be a rush of sovereign money into other franchises. It didn’t happen. Why?
^Sportico

Women’s PGA Championship Tees Off With a Big Investment, Record Purse
On top of increasing the purse by 4% up to a record $10.4 million, the Women’s PGA Championship will feature ShotLink technology for the first time, a technology primarily used at men’s major championships and PGA Tour events.
^{Front Office Sports}

Learfield, Opendorse Diverge On Tech, NIL And Their Partnership
Learfield has announced a technological escalation, with plans to expand its in-house NIL platform, Compass, after previously collaborating with Opendorse in NIL-related endeavors.
^Sportico

Inside the Lakers’ decision to hire JJ Redick and how he shapes their future
The Los Angeles Lakers’ seven-week long coaching search has finally come to and end, hiring the presumptive frontrunner, JJ Redick. According to The Athletic’s Shams Charania, the Lakers had zeroed in on Redick more than a month ago, despite rumors of UConn’s Dan Hurley being in the mix.
^{The Athletic}

Cubs Sue Wrigley View Rooftop Owner Over Seat Sales
The Cubs organization is accusing the rooftop, which sells tickets in a building adjacent to Wrigley Field, of unlicensed sales and intellectual property theft.
^Sportico

Missouri unlikely to respond to Kansas plan to lure Chiefs, Royals before August
The state of Kansas has passed “an ambitious plan to lure the Chiefs and Royals” across the border. Missouri likely won’t pass a counteroffer until after the August elections, according to Kacen Bayless of the K.C. STAR.
^{Sports Business Journal}

SMU Raises Whopping $159 Million for Sports Ahead of ACC Move
Southern Methodist took a financial hit when it decided to make the jump to the ACC and not receive any media rights money for the first nine years in the league. SMU boosters stepped up, however, with more than $100 million in donations pouring in the week after the ACC announcement was made.
^{Front Office Sports}

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