Did you see this ad?
Plus: More gamblinggate fallout, the new NFL math, and a question about Cooper Flagg's debut
Back by popular demand, here are six sports business items that we’re talking about to start your week. Happy Sports Equinox!
Sportico Story of the Week 🃏: If you’ve just emerged from under a rock, “Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier, Portland Trail Blazers head coach Chauncey Billups and former NBA player and assistant coach Damon Jones were arrested by federal law enforcement on Thursday morning on gambling-related charges.” A lot of people have—wrongly, imo—taken the opportunity to complain about gambling’s integration into sports media (there are plenty of other reasons to be upset about that). Lev—rightly—says the scandal should raise new questions about tanking. After all, how different to the outside eye is losing a game on purpose for draft position compared to fixing a game for gamblers? We’re already seeing fans latch on to suspicious endings and inaccurate injury designations as signs of potential malarkey. Sports’ skepticism age is here.
Non-Sportico Story of the Week 💰: Goldman Sachs is nearing a deal to buy a majority stake of Excel Sports Management, Financial Times reported, the group that represents Tiger Woods, Caitlin Clark and Derek Jeter, among others. This is a story to watch.
What Caught My Attention 👀: One of the downsides of our streaming-first world is that I never know whether I’m seeing the same ads as everyone else. During last week’s ALCS Game 7, I had to text a couple friends, “Other people get an ad for Ontario?1 … With a voiceover of Reagan decrying tariffs?”
Yes, they responded. Evidently so did President Trump, who has escalated his trade war over the commercial, which continued running during Games 1 and 2 of the World Series (which, of course, were played in Toronto).
Most effective ad of the year?
What I Didn’t See Coming 🧮: NFL math has quietly changed, thanks to updates to kickoffs that bring touchbacks to the 35-yard line and kickers’ consistent ability to nail 55-yarders. Suddenly, field goals are both safer bets and less valuable, given that they mean kicking the ball off and likely giving the other team a very quick scoring opportunity of their own. The result—mathematically—should be even more teams going for fourth down conversions more often, even deep in their own end. Just when coaches, announcers and fans, were getting used to the idea of teams getting aggressive around midfield, it looks like it’s time for another radical rethinking. But I wouldn’t want to be the first coach making the call.
Greg Olsen explained it all where here.
What Bothers Me (Irrationally) 👕: No. 1 overall NBA pick and expected generational player Cooper Flagg made his debut last week. The jersey from that game instantly became a prized collector’s item. Except, he wore multiple jerseys!? According to Ben Burrows, “it’s not uncommon for players to wear multiple jerseys during debuts or games featuring major milestones.” Well, that’s lame.
Who Has a Big Week 🏀: The WNBA’s labor negotiations deadline is here. The two sides have until Friday to work out a new deal—or, more likely, an agreement to keep talking until the end of the year. Assuming conversations continue past this week, it’s worth watching just how public the fight becomes… and how much players begin talking about alternatives to the W.
Extra Point: Scott Hanson is right!
Club Sportico is a community organized by Sportico, a digital media company launched in 2020 to cover the business side of sports. You can read breaking news, smart analysis, and in-depth features from Eben, Jacob and their colleagues at Sportico.com, and listen to the Sporticast podcast wherever you get your audio. Contact us at club@sportico.com.
The ad was actually from Ontario, one friend correctly pointed out.