UTSA Baseball Bucking the Trend

Sportico writes, “UTSA’s upset win over Texas in Saturday’s NCAA baseball regional stood as a rare and resounding counterpoint that financial might doesn’t always guarantee victory.”

June 2, 2025

UTSA Baseball’s NCAA Tournament Run Is Moneyball in Action
Sportico’s Daniel Libit writes, “As money increasingly shapes the narrative in college athletics, UTSA’s upset win over Texas in Saturday’s NCAA baseball regional stood as a rare and resounding counterpoint that financial might doesn’t always guarantee victory.

“In a classic budgetary David-vs-Goliath matchup, the Roadrunners toppled the Longhorns—a program that spends more than three-and-a-half times as much on its baseball operations. UTSA’s 9-7 victory in Austin vaulted the team into tonight’s NCAA Tournament regional final.

“According to the schools’ latest NCAA financial disclosures, UTSA reported $1.73 million in total operating expenses for the 2024 fiscal year. Texas, by contrast, spent $6.35 million—excluding an additional $5.2 million in coaching severance.”
^Sportico

Different Paths, Same Destination for the Thunder and Pacers, Who Will Face Off in the NBA Finals
“When you get to this point of the season, it’s two teams and it’s one goal and so it becomes an all or nothing thing,” Indiana coach Rick Carlisle said. “And we understand the magnitude of the opponent. Oklahoma City has been dominant all year long — with capital letters in the word ‘dominant.’ Defensively, they’re historically great and they got all kinds of guys that can score. It’s two teams that have similar structures, slightly different styles.”
^{AP News}

Trigger Warning: Depression, Suicide, Mental Health

Sport & Story is heartbroken to hear the news of the passing of our business partner and friend, John Brenkus. The story is still developing, but our hearts go out to his family and extended network.

John Brenkus, Founder and Host of ESPN's 'Sports Science' Show, Dies
“Sports Science” founder and host John Brenkus died on Saturday, his family announced on social media on Sunday night. Brenkus, who won six Emmy Awards for his show that appeared both on ESPN and Fox Sports Net, had been battling depression for years.
^{Yahoo! Sports}

And With That, an Era Ends: ‘Thanks for Watching Us. It’s the NBA on TNT
AP News’ Tim Reynolds, “Ernie Johnson could barely get the words out.

“The run of ‘Inside the NBA’ on TNT came to an end on Saturday night after nearly four decades as a fixture of the league. The show will move to ESPN and ABC next season — and keep Johnson, Shaquille O’Neal, Kenny Smith and Charles Barkley together, still doing most shows from Atlanta — but the final TNT sign-off was an emotional one.”^{The AP News}

Premier League Season Lower Across NBC Sports Amid Liverpool Domination
NBC saw its lowest mark for a Premier League season since 2021-22 as Liverpool clinched the title with over four weeks remaining. Games across NBC Sports averaged 510,000 viewers, down 7% from last season, and down just 3% from two seasons ago. Beyond Liverpool’s early clinch, popular clubs like Manchester United and Tottenham struggled on the pitch, while smaller clubs like Bournemouth, Crystal Palace and Fulham set single-season points marks.
^Sportico

WNBA Championship Ring Boom: ‘Way Bigger. Way More Diamonds’
FOS’ Annie Costabile writes, “Liberty coach Sandy Brondello has experience with championship rings. She won her first after leading the Phoenix Mercury to a title in 2014. In May, she stepped up to receive her second as the skipper of the Liberty—the last remaining original WNBA team without a title, which finally claimed one in 2024. There was a stark difference this time around. 

“‘Way bigger,’ a grinning Brondello said before the team’s ring ceremony on opening night. "‘Way more diamonds.’” 
^{Front Office Sports}

NHL Teams Bracing For Tariff Impact on Equipment Prices
SBJ’s Alex Silverman reports: “Each year around this time, Buffalo Sabres equipment manager Dave Williams submits a proposed budget to ownership for the next NHL season. Typically, he can be confident that the cost to ensure players have all the sticks, skates and protective gear they need for an 82-game schedule will be 3%-6% higher than it was the year before.

“Given the uncertainty brought on by the second-term tariff policies of President Donald Trump’s administration, however, Williams and his counterparts across the league are planning for a much larger jump for the 2025-26 season.”
^{Sports Business Journal}

Sources: FBI Probes Finances From Business Owned by MLBPA, NFLPA
ESPN’s Jeff Passan and Don Van Natta, Jr. reports: ‘The sources, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said they had direct knowledge of law enforcement calls to at least three players involved in union leadership in recent days. Sources said the players are not targets of the investigation.

“Law enforcement agents inquired about money related to OneTeam Partners, established in 2019 by the NFLPA, MLBPA and a private-equity partner, RedBird Capital, and used to strike media deals and monetize athletes' name, image and likeness.”
^ESPN

Pritzker Was a Hard ‘No’ on Bears Stadium. Now Maybe Not
Gov. J.B. Pritzker has previously and tersely said, “Right now, there’s no building any new stadiums” in Illinois. A new report in the Chicago Tribune, however, said Pritzker has spent $100,000 in public funds on an outside legal consultant to aid in discussions with the Bears. The team, meanwhile, has brought in an outside adviser with ties to the governor and other top Democratic state leaders. 
^{Chicago Tribune via Front Office Sports}

U.S. Soccer Begins 2031 Women’s World Cup Host City Selection Process
SJB’s Alex Silverman report: “FIFA confirmed in April that U.S. Soccer is the only national federation that has expressed interest in the event, which it is seeking to host with Mexico and other Concacaf nations. Most of the event, which is expanding to 48 teams for the first time, would be held in the U.S.

“Multiple sources confirmed the national federation reached out via email to representatives from the 11 U.S. host cities for the 2026 men’s World Cup — Atlanta, Boston, Dallas, Houston, K.C., L.A., Miami, N.Y./N.J., Philadelphia, the S.F. Bay Area and Seattle — as well as a handful of other municipalities it believes may have interest.”
^{Sports Business Journal}

Is Coach Moving In Michele Kang’s Soccer Empire A Sign For NWSL?
FOS’ Annie Costbaile writes, “Washington Spirit coach Jonatan Giráldez is reportedly in discussions with OL Lyonnes to become the clubs next head coach. Coaches and players jump between the United States and Europe all the time. What makes this move unique is that Michele Kang owns both teams.”
^{Front Office Sports}

Newly American-Owned Italian Hoops Team Hires Ex-Pelicans Exec as GM
Napoli Basketball in Italy has poached a former Pelicans and Warriors executive to serve as its general manager under the new ownership group led by U.S. investors Matt Rizzetta and Dan Doyle, Rizzetta confirmed to Front Office Sports. It’s the latest move in a growing trend of U.S. money pouring into European basketball. 
^{Front Office Sports}

Steve Cohen Taps USTA’s Lew Sherr to Reshape Mets Off Field
The remaking of the Mets under owner Steve Cohen has taken yet another big step as the MLB club has hired former U.S. Tennis Association CEO and executive director Lew Sherr as its new president of business operations. 

Sherr, who led the USTA for nearly three years and had been there since 2010, will take over for Scott Havens, who departed the Mets this week after an active, but ultimately somewhat tumultuous, 18 months with the club. In announcing the departure of Havens, Cohen cited “differing perspectives on long-term strategy,” and Front Office Sports sources said the owner preferred someone with more sports experience in the key role.
^{Front Office Sports}

And in some breaking news in College Personnel News… 👇🏼

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Yormark Sounds Off on Private Equity, CFP
“Certainly we went through the exercise -- as we should -- doing our due diligence, and it was very appropriate,” Yormark said. “At this point in time, we’re putting it on pause. We understand what’s out there, the capital markets.

“...Our model was, though, very different [than a cash influx]. It was more of a bespoke model, custom tailored to the potential needs of the conference, getting some strategic expertise and areas to grow the conference, but at the same time potentially having a capital resource.”
^{Sports Business Journal}

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