• Canadian billionaire Steve Apostolopoulos is reportedly the latest potential bidder for the Washington Commanders after he toured the NFL team’s stadium and training facility. Apostolopoulos, who sources said previously had talks to purchase the NBA’s Charlotte Hornets, joins two other known potential bidders for the NFL franchise in Houston Rockets owner Tilman Fertitta and Josh Harris, co-owner of the Philadelphia 76ers and New Jersey Devils. (ESPN)
• Investment bank Raine Group reportedly extended the deadline for interested parties to submit bids for Premier League club Manchester United, though the date of that new deadline is unclear. Qatar’s Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad and British billionaire Jim Ratcliffe are said to be the two competing bidders for the English club, which is valued at £6 billion. (Sky News)
• Japan’s 3-2 win over the U.S. in the World Baseball Classic final drew a record combined audience of 5.2 million U.S. viewers, according to MLB, which also said the game’s domestic viewership was up 69% compared with the 2017 final. Three of the four most-watched games in WBC history also occurred during this year’s tournament, per MLB. (Reuters)
• Apple Inc. is reportedly considering a bid for media rights to multiple global soccer properties, including the ability to distribute Premier League matches in the United Kingdom. (Bloomberg) Meanwhile, Apple and MLB announced that fans who want to watch weekly “Friday Night Baseball” games in 2023 must purchase an Apple TV+ subscription for $6.99 per month after Apple granted free access to the first 12 weeks of games last season. (TechCrunch)

Baseball’s Most Valuable Teams 2023: Price Tags Are Up 12% Despite Regional TV Woes

Forbes

MLB to stream all minor league games for free on Bally’s casinos app

Josh Kosman, New York Post

Major League Baseball owners have cut a deal with a casino giant to provide free broadcasts of all minor league games this season — a bid to lure more viewers to the sport as rampant cord-cutting continues to shrink its audience, The Post has learned.

Amazon reported ‘favorite’ to land Pat McAfee’s show, but ESPN is also in the mix

Andrew Bucholtz, Awful Announcing

One of the big current free agents (in at least some sense) isn’t in the NFL, but rather in sports media. That would be Pat McAfee.

Roger Clemens will be a guest analyst on ESPN MLB Opening Night game

Andrew Bucholtz, Awful Announcing

ESPN is bringing in a guest analyst for their first regular-season MLB broadcast this year, and it’s a prominent but controversial figure. That would be Roger Clemens. 

Boston Radio Producer Under Fire for Comment About Mina Kimes

Michael McCarthy, Front Office Sports

One month after a Boston sports radio personality was suspended for “insensitive” comments, another finds himself in hot water. Longtime WEEI producer Chris Curtis is on the hot seat for his racist/sexist comment about ESPN’s NFL analyst Mina Kimes.

Women hope Sweet 16 next step to own March Madness TV deal

Doug Feinberg, The Associated Press

South Carolina coach Dawn Staley believes the question of whether women’s hoops merits its own March Madness TV contract has already been answered, even though the women’s tournament loses money under the current deal.

N.F.L. Teams Are Bullish on Cornerbacks and Bearish on Running Backs

Mike Tanier, The New York Times

Recent off-season deals also show that trades are hot, free-agent signings are not, and “bridge quarterback” is one of the greatest jobs ever.

Morant scores 17 off bench in return to Grizzlies’ lineup

Clay Bailey, The Associated Press

The two-time All-Star guard was welcomed back with a standing ovation and cheers throughout the arena in his first action after missing nine games — eight because of an NBA suspension.

N.B.A. ‘Bad Boy’ Wants Players to Do as He Says, Not as His Teams Did

Jonathan Abrams, The New York Times

Joe Dumars was on the 1980s Detroit Pistons teams known for their hard fouls. But players and coaches who step out of line today can expect fines and suspensions — from him.

Mark Cuban to file protest of Mavericks’ loss to Warriors

Tim MacMahon, ESPN

The Mavericks will file a protest of Wednesday’s loss to the Warriors after what team governor Mark Cuban called “the worst officiating non call mistake possibly in the history of the NBA.”

Pelicans’ Zion Williamson cleared for activity, out 2 weeks

Andrew Lopez, ESPN

Pelicans star Zion Williamson, who has been sidelined since January, has been cleared for on-court activity and will be reevaluated in two weeks.

Clippers’ George has knee sprain, reevaluated in 2-3 weeks

Beth Harris, The Associated Press

The Los Angeles Clippers may be without All-Star Paul George to start the postseason. The team said Wednesday that George has a sprained right knee and he will be reevaluated in two to three weeks.

MLB making small changes to pitch clock rules, memo says

Jeff Passan, ESPN

Major League Baseball is making slight changes to its new pitch clock rules but will not alter the most significant portions of the mandates that have shaved 25 minutes off game times this spring, according to a memo obtained by ESPN.

Red Sox Seek ‘Boston’ Trademark To Control City Name In Sports Sales

Michael McCann, Sportico

The Boston Red Sox have filed an application with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office to trademark the word “Boston.” The Seattle Mariners and Houston Astros have submitted similar applications for their cities.

AP source: Blackhawks will not wear Pride-themed jerseys

Jay Cohen, The Associated Press

The Chicago Blackhawks will not wear Pride-themed warmup jerseys before Sunday’s Pride Night game against Vancouver because of security concerns involving a Russian law that expands restrictions on activities seen as promoting LGBTQ rights in the country.

UCLA Is Bringing Some Familiar Faces—and Hairdos—to Its Rematch With Gonzaga

Laine Higgins, The Wall Street Journal

The underdog Bruins lost a heartbreaking buzzer-beater to the Zags in the 2021 Final Four. The core of UCLA’s team is still around for this year’s Sweet 16 showdown.

Princeton’s journey becomes face of March Madness’ COVID era

Michael Marot, The Associated Press

Now, the Ivy League tourney champions are the talk of the nation and an illustration of the impact two pivotal COVID years have had on the college basketball world.

FAU Men’s Hoops Still Dancing Despite Being A Financial Underdog

Amanda Christovich, Front Office Sports

Last year, FAU spent $2.7 million on its team, according to Department of Education data. The Owls’ opponents, the Tennessee Volunteers, spent $14.4 million. 

Women’s basketball players see surge in brand NIL deals

Erika Wheless, Ad Age

Their highly-engaged social audiences make them strong choices for brands.

The South Carolina Player Taking Basketball to Girls in West Africa

Jeré Longman, The New York Times

“I’ve never coached anybody that comes with that much determination,” Coach Dawn Staley said of Laeticia Amihere.

At last, NWSL players hopefully have a season in which they can focus on soccer, not scandal

Jeff Carlisle, ESPN

Women’s soccer has been plagued by scandal, but in 2023 as the league works on implementing reforms, the players can worry solely about the game.

For Argentina’s Champions, Back to Work Means Back to Earth

Rory Smith, The New York Times

Lionel Messi and his Argentina teammates have reunited for the first time. Most are finding a day job feels different after you’ve won the World Cup.

New Atlanta United CEO Garth Lagerwey aims to ‘corporatize’ the club in chase for more titles

Felipe Cardenas, The Athletic

In Atlanta, Lagerwey will work under Steve Cannon and with Rich McKay. Cannon is the vice chairman of AMB Sports & Entertainment (AMBSE). He was previously the president and CEO of Mercedes Benz USA.

Forged After a Tumultuous Era, World Golf Championships Fade in Another

Alan Blinder, The New York Times

A match play event in Texas may be the last W.G.C. event, ending an international competition that preceded golf’s high-rolling present.

Russia, Belarus ban not beneficial for world hockey – Russian governing body

Aadi Nair, Reuters

Russia’s exclusion from the world championships for safety reasons “is neither constructive, nor beneficial”, the country’s ice hockey federation said after the sport’s governing body barred Russia and Belarus from international competition in the 2023-2024 season.

Jake Paul reaches settlement with SEC in crypto touting case

Anthony Olivieri, ESPN

Jake Paul was one of six celebrities who agreed to pay a combined $400,000 to settle claims they touted crypto assets without disclosing they were being paid to do so.